Rule Books
The Rules of Hockey are on the International Hockey Federation Web page and can be viewed there. The following link has the rules of both indoor and outdoor hockey as well as beginners guides. IHF Rules page
Theory tests can be downloaded from the Hockeynz page
FIH Umpires Briefing See the Briefing
FIH Rules of Hockey
Effective from the 1st May See the Rules
Modern Hockey and Danger!
New Interpretation of Rule. March 2008
The following is an excerpt from the 2008 FIH Umpires briefing:
Penalty Corners
a. A goal cannot be scored unless the ball has travelled outside the circle. If the ball has stayed inside the circle, it is not an offence to take a shot at goal - allow play to continue; if a defender commits an offence which normally would have prevented the probable scoring of a goal, a further penalty corner should be awarded
This means that at a penalty corner if the ball does not travel outside the circle and a shot at goal is made the umpire should not blow his/her whistle.
Following on from this: If the ball goes over the back line, including inside the goal, then depending on who touched it last it will either be a 16 yard hit or a long corner. If there is an infringement in the circle then either a penalty corner or a free hit to the defenders will be awarded, depending on which team infringed. If the ball strikes the foot of a defender on the line then a penalty corner will be awarded, not a penalty stroke. This is because the foot is not preventing a goal from being scored because the ball had not yet travelled outside the circle.
Alastair Kerr
Chairperson Umpires Committee