Indoor hockey is a version of outdoor or field hockey. It developed in Europe in the 1950s mainly to allow keen hockey players to continue enjoying their sport during periods of bad winter weather. But as it is an exciting and enjoyable version of the game it is now played in many locations around the world. Indeed, its emerging status as a worldwide sport has been recognized by its governing body, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which organizes t
he first World Indoor Hockey Championships in Germany in February 2003.
Indoor hockey can be played on any hard, smooth and flat surface but is usually played in a sports hall. The pitch is therefore smaller than an outdoor field. It is only 44 by 22 meters at most and has 10 cm boards down the longer pitch sidelines which keep the ball in play more and so helps to create a fast, flowing and exciting game.
Two teams of 6 players (but with six more substitutes who can be used throughout the match) compete against each other. The ball may only be pushed and not hit or flicked and, except for a shot at goal, it may only be played along the ground. The head of a hockey stick has a rounded side (the right side) and a flat side (the left side). Only the flat, left hand, side of the stick can be used to play the ball. So, field players are not allowed to use their feet (or any other parts of their bodies for that matter) to control the ball. Only the goalkeepers are allowed to use stick, hands, feet, etc. to stop the ball when defending in the semi-circular area in front of their goal.
As in field/outdoor hockey, the fundamental aim of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opponents' goal. The team scoring the most goals is the winner. A field goal is scored from open, continuous play. Field goal shots may only be taken by attackers from the 'shooting circle', a roughly semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. If a ball is played from outside the 'shooting circle' and goes into the goal, it does not count as a score.
If a defending team breaks certain rules, the other team may be awarded a 'penalty corner.' Often penalty corners are awarded because a team breaks a rule while defending in their 'shooting circle'. To take a penalty corner, play is stopped to allow the teams to take their positions in attack and defense. One attacker stands with the ball on a designated spot on the back-line. (It's the line that marks the shorter boundary of the pitch and on which the goal is placed.) This player will 'push out' the ball to other attackers, waiting to take a shot at goal. The other attackers usually wait at the top of the shooting circle to receive the ball. But in
any case, all attackers have to be outside the shooting circle until the penalty corner begins.
All members of the defending team (including the goalkeeper) position themselves behind the back-line to defend against the penalty corner. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to position her/himself inside the goal. All other defenders must be outside the goal on the side furthest from where the ball is being put into play.
The ball is 'pushed out' to an attacker waiting to receive it. Before a shot on goal can be taken, the ball must first be stopped. After it is stopped, the receiver or another attacker will usually take a shot at goal. Once the attacker on the back-line begins to push the ball out, the defenders on the back line may move into the circle, and do their best to keep the other team from scoring. But quite often a goal is scored - and one team of players will be celebrating!
A penalty stroke is a shot at goal defended only by the goalkeeper. All other players must stand in the other half of the pitch. A penalty stroke may be awarded for various reasons, the most common being an offense by a defender in the circle to prevent the probable scoring of a goal. The shot is taken from a spot 7 meters directly in front of the goal. Match time is stopped when a penalty stroke is being taken.
he first World Indoor Hockey Championships in Germany in February 2003.Indoor hockey can be played on any hard, smooth and flat surface but is usually played in a sports hall. The pitch is therefore smaller than an outdoor field. It is only 44 by 22 meters at most and has 10 cm boards down the longer pitch sidelines which keep the ball in play more and so helps to create a fast, flowing and exciting game.
Two teams of 6 players (but with six more substitutes who can be used throughout the match) compete against each other. The ball may only be pushed and not hit or flicked and, except for a shot at goal, it may only be played along the ground. The head of a hockey stick has a rounded side (the right side) and a flat side (the left side). Only the flat, left hand, side of the stick can be used to play the ball. So, field players are not allowed to use their feet (or any other parts of their bodies for that matter) to control the ball. Only the goalkeepers are allowed to use stick, hands, feet, etc. to stop the ball when defending in the semi-circular area in front of their goal.
As in field/outdoor hockey, the fundamental aim of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opponents' goal. The team scoring the most goals is the winner. A field goal is scored from open, continuous play. Field goal shots may only be taken by attackers from the 'shooting circle', a roughly semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. If a ball is played from outside the 'shooting circle' and goes into the goal, it does not count as a score.
If a defending team breaks certain rules, the other team may be awarded a 'penalty corner.' Often penalty corners are awarded because a team breaks a rule while defending in their 'shooting circle'. To take a penalty corner, play is stopped to allow the teams to take their positions in attack and defense. One attacker stands with the ball on a designated spot on the back-line. (It's the line that marks the shorter boundary of the pitch and on which the goal is placed.) This player will 'push out' the ball to other attackers, waiting to take a shot at goal. The other attackers usually wait at the top of the shooting circle to receive the ball. But in
any case, all attackers have to be outside the shooting circle until the penalty corner begins.All members of the defending team (including the goalkeeper) position themselves behind the back-line to defend against the penalty corner. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to position her/himself inside the goal. All other defenders must be outside the goal on the side furthest from where the ball is being put into play.
The ball is 'pushed out' to an attacker waiting to receive it. Before a shot on goal can be taken, the ball must first be stopped. After it is stopped, the receiver or another attacker will usually take a shot at goal. Once the attacker on the back-line begins to push the ball out, the defenders on the back line may move into the circle, and do their best to keep the other team from scoring. But quite often a goal is scored - and one team of players will be celebrating!
A penalty stroke is a shot at goal defended only by the goalkeeper. All other players must stand in the other half of the pitch. A penalty stroke may be awarded for various reasons, the most common being an offense by a defender in the circle to prevent the probable scoring of a goal. The shot is taken from a spot 7 meters directly in front of the goal. Match time is stopped when a penalty stroke is being taken.
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