FIELD HOCKEY

Program Info
Registration Form & Waiver
Preseason Practice Schedule
Game Schedule
Team Rosters
Standings
Summaries
Red / Black All Star Squads
Archive- view past rosters, summaries and standings

INTRODUCTION TO PARENTS AND KIDS TO FIELD HOCKEY
Field Hockey Rules and Lingo:

1. Wrong side of stick: striking the ball with the rounded back part of the stick. The ball must be struck with the flat side of the stick. Everyone plays “right handed”. It is not like ice hockey where both sides may be used.
2. Obstruction: Called against a player who cuts between an opponent and the ball or uses her stick, shoulder, or body as an obstruction to the ball.
3. Third-party obstruction: The most difficult rule to understand. Occurs when a player positions herself between the ball and an opponent allowing a teammate an unobstructed play on the ball. Like setting a pick in basketball but in field hockey it is a violation.
4. Advancing: occurs when a player shoves, pushes, or advances the ball in any way, using her feet, hands or body. The goalie is the only player able to touch the ball with any part of her body, but only within the scoring circle.
5. Stick interference: called against a player who intentionally or unintentionally uses her stick to hit an opponent’s stick.
6. Undercutting: chopping at the ball, to lift it in an unsafe manner.
7. Sticks: a foul called against a player who raises her stick unsafely around a nearby player, or plays the ball while carrying her stick above shoulder level.

A free hit will be awarded on any of the above violations that occur outside the scoring circle. The free hit takes place at the location of the violation. All opposing players must stand at least 5 yards away from where the hit is taken.

A penalty corner is awarded to the offensive team when the defensive team commits any of the above violations within the scoring circle, or when the ball is hit across the end line by the defensive team.

A penalty stroke is awarded to the offensive team when the official feels a defensive violation occurred within the scoring circle has prevented what would have been a goal.

A 16 yard or top of the circle hit is awarded to the defensive team when the attacking or offensive team either sends the ball over the end line or commits a violation in the scoring circle.

A goal counts as one point and is scored when the ball, having been hit by a player inside the scoring circle, completely crosses the opposing goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.

In NVA we play two 16 minute halves, separated by a halftime break where we will switch goalies. Games end in a tie, except for tournament games where we must have a winner. After two four minute overtimes, we than go into penalty strokes formatted just like a soccer match.