Basic 5v5 Field Hockey Rules
Diamond Middle School PE 2016
Object of the game:
 To score goals using teamwork to dribble and pass the ball into the opposing
team’s end, without fouling, and sending the ball between the cones to score.
Stick:
 Can only use flat side to strike ball
 Can not raise above your knees
General Rules of Play:
 2 teams – typically 11 on each team on the field at once.
o In Diamond PE, we play 5 players on the field for each team at once
 Game starts with the ball in the center of the field.
o Person starting with the ball can “self start” (start dribbling) or pass the
ball to a teammate.
o Ball may travel in any direction.
o Opposing team must be 3 yards away and everyone must be on side prior
to the movement of the ball.
o Once the ball moves, the opposing team can move towards it.
 After a goal is scored, the ball is brought back to the center and put it back into
play from the center of the field by the team scored on.
Fouls:
 Sticks lifted above knee height.
 Using the round side of the stick.
 Kicking, stopping, or moving the ball with your feet.
 Pushing, shoving, body contact.
 Hitting another person’s stick.
**When a foul is called, the team that did not foul may “self start” or pass the ball to
a teammate from where the foul occurred.
Boundaries:
When the ball goes out of bounds on the…
Sideline: Opposing team may “self start” or pass in from sideline where ball went
out of bounds. Everyone must be 3 yards away.
End line by offense: Defense “self starts” or passes ball to a teammate from a spot
3 yards from endline opposite where the ball went out of bounds. Everyone must
be 3 yards away.
End line by defense: Offense puts ball on corner of field on the same side it went
out of bounds and may “self start” or pass in to a teammate. Everyone must be 3
yards away.
Passes – there are several different passes in field hockey (the “drive”, the “sweep”) but
in PE class we are only going to focus on the “push pass”
 Push Pass –
o Ball is on right side of your body (“strong side”)
o Place the ball behind your back foot. This gives you more torque for more
power.
o Hands should be in a basic grip – right hand midway down handle and left
hand at top of stick
o Bend knees and keep low
o Shift weight from back foot to front foot as you push the ball forward and
across your body
o Keep stick on the ball as long as possible and follow through so tip of
stick is pointing at your target

Drive –
o Used to make long passes to a teammate or shots on goal
o Both hands together at top of stick
o Have ball a sticks length away from your body
o Swing back no higher than waist and follow through with the stick
pointing at the target

Sweep –
o Used to make long passes to a teammate or shots on goal
o Ball should be a little over a sticks length away from your body and off of
your back foot
o Keep hands spread out on stick
o On the backswing, keep the stick in contact with the ground
o As you sweep the stick forward, get low enough for entire stick to be on
the ground and shift your weight to your front foot
o Typically used on turf fields