Field Hockey Research Paper

Field hockey is a game in which two teams attempt to score a goal by using sticks that are curved at one end. Each team is comprised of 11 players, usually 5 forwards, 3 halfbacks, 2 fullbacks, and 1 goalkeeper and 5 substitutes. A match between two teams consists of two halves, each 30-35 minutes in duration. At halftime the teams take a short break before changing direction and defending the opposite end. Field hockey is usually played outdoors on grass or an artificial turf field. The field is 100 yards long and between 55 and 60 yards wide. A coin toss is done to figure out who will start the game with the ball. One player from the team that wins the toss starts the game by hitting the ball into play with a pass to a teammate. This procedure
The players tap the ground with their sticks once, then tap their sticks together three times before going for the ball. The other players must be at least 5 yards from the ball during a Bully. The ball is moved toward the goal by use of the stick, using only the flat left-hand side. Players make advances towards the opposition’s goal by either dribbling, pushing the ball along or by passing to a teammate. They will either take the ball on or pass to another teammate until they reach the striking circle. This is the zone in front of the goal that is a semicircle with a radius of 16 yards, affectionately nicknamed the “D”. All goals have to be scored from inside this space. Goals are scored when the ball passes over the goal line between the two goal posts. These are centrally positioned on each end line. For the goal to count, however, the ball must either be struck by a player inside the striking circle or touch the stick of an attacking player, standing inside the striking circle, before crossing the line. If play becomes too intense, fouls or infractions become more common. The infraction that is made most often is
It is usually called when the ball comes above the knees of nearby players or when a high ball goes into a crowd of players. A foul is also committed if the stick is used in a dangerous manner. Officials may award a free hit, a penalty corner, or a penalty stroke to the offended team. A free hit means that the offended player gets possession of the ball with defenders at least five yards away. This is awarded for any minor fouls occurring outside the circle. In a penalty corner, the ball is placed on the goal line at least 10 yards from the nearest goal post. One attacking player hits the ball to a teammate just outside the striking circle line. No shot on goal may be taken until the ball is stopped outside the circle. All attackers must be outside the circle before the shot is taken. On defense, a maximum of five defenders may be behind the goal line while the remaining defenders must be positioned beyond the centerline. Penalty corners are awarded for any infraction within the striking circle or when a defender intentionally sends the ball into touch beyond the goal line. A penalty stroke is one-on-one between an offensive player seven yards in front of the goal vs. a goalkeeper on the goal