Young Umpire Award
Let’s get
whistling!
© England Hockey 2006
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The Teams
Mini Hockey is played between 2 teams and
there are a maximum of 10 players in each
team.
Only 7 players from each team can play at
the same time – 6 field players and 1
goalkeeper.
© England Hockey 2006
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Substitutions
Substitutions are allowed at any time in the
game - except following the award of a
penalty corner.
The only player that can be substituted at a
penalty corner is the defending goalkeeper
– but only if injured.
© England Hockey 2006
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Duration of the Game
The game is made up of 2 halves - a 1st
half and the 2nd half.
Each half is usually 12 minutes.
© England Hockey 2006
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Captains
Each team must have a captain.
They toss a coin and choose to have possession
of the ball at the start of the game or which end
of the pitch to attack or defend.
Each captain must wear an arm-band.
© England Hockey 2006
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The Pitch
55 metres long and 43 metres wide.
Two shooting circles (one at each end).
One line across the middle – the centre line.
© England Hockey 2006
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Pitch Markings
Penalty Corner – 10 metres from each goal
post on the back line.
Corner - 3 metres from each corner on the
side-line.
Penalty Stroke - 5 metres from the centre of
the goal-line in to the circle.
© England Hockey 2006
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The Goal
A bit like a football goal but smaller!
It is 3.66 metres wide & 2.14 metres high.
Each goal has a backboard in it.
© England Hockey 2006
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The Ball
A bit like a giant golf ball!
It’s hard, it can hurt if it hits you!
That’s why players should wear shin
and ankle pads and a gum shield at all
times.
© England Hockey 2006
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The Stick
The stick has a flat side and a rounded side.
Players must not play the ball with the rounded side.
© England Hockey 2006
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Players Equipment
Field players are strongly recommended to wear
- shin and ankle pads (protectors)
- mouth guards (gum shields) at all times
Goalkeepers must wear
- helmet and throat guard
- body, legs, feet and
hand protectors
© England Hockey 2006
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Umpires
Mini hockey is controlled by 2 umpires.
They work together but each should control a
half of the pitch.
Each controls one shooting circle.
One times the first half.
The other times the second half.
© England Hockey 2006
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Umpires Equipment
Whistle
Pen / pencil
Score pad
Warning cards
Stopwatch
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Signals
Make them clear
Make them big
Look confident
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Mobility
Avoid standing still
Move up and down the pitch.
Always make sure you can see the ball!
Good umpires are fit umpires.
© England Hockey 2006
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Umpires are a team too!
The 2 umpires
- Work together
- Help each other
- Look at each other
- Support each other
© England Hockey 2006
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Umpires help each other
Especially…
When there is a penalty corner
When then is a penalty stroke
- When they are un - sighted
© England Hockey 2006
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The Rules – starting the game
The game is started with a pass made from the
middle of the centre line.
This is known as the centre pass.
© England Hockey 2006
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The Rules – starting the game
Each team must be in their own half.
Opposition players must be 5 metres from
the ball until the centre pass is made.
The ball can be played in any direction.
The ball must move at least 1 metre.
© England Hockey 2006
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Scoring a Goal
A goal is scored when the ball: - Is hit or deflected in the circle by an attacker
- Completely passes over the goal – line between
the goalposts and under the cross- bar
The ball must be in the circle but the player who
strikes it can be outside!
© England Hockey 2006
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Fair play
Players must not
-
-
Be rough with each other (hold, kick, trip etc.)
Play dangerously (high stick etc.)
Use the wrong side of the stick
Kick the ball
Umpires will send them off if they
repeatedly behave badly!
© England Hockey 2006
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Free hits
To be taken close to where the offence occurred
Ball should be still before free hit is taken
All opposition players to be 5m from the ball
Ball must move 1m before it can be played by a
member of the same team.
© England Hockey 2006
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Penalty Corners
Awarded for:
- Accidental offences by a defender in the shooting circle
- Deliberate offences by a defender in their own half
- Deliberate offences by a defender in the circle that
don’t prevent a probable or actual goal being scored
- A defender deliberately playing the ball over
the back - line from any where on the pitch
© England Hockey 2006
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Penalty Corner Positions
X
X
© England Hockey 2006
The umpires are marked X
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Penalty Corners
Taken on the back-line on a marker 10 m from the goal
posts – players choose which side.
All defenders must be a minimum of 5m from
the ball.
All attackers must be outside the shooting circle.
Before any shot can be made at the goal,
the ball must first pass outside the circle.
© England Hockey 2006
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Penalty Strokes
Awarded for:
An offence by a defending player inside the circle that
prevents a probable goal being scored
- An intentional offence in the circle by a defending
player against an opponent who has possession of
the ball or an opportunity to play the ball
Repeated early breaking off the
back line by defenders at penalty corners
© England Hockey 2006
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Penalty Stroke Positions
X
The umpires are marked X
X
© England Hockey 2006
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Incidents & Accidents
Player safety is very important
- Stop the time each if there is an incident (e.g. a dog
runs on the pitch and steals the ball) or an injury
(e.g. someone gets hit by a stick or fast ball).
Play is restarted with a hit if there was an offence
or a bully if the was no offence.
© England Hockey 2006
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What happens if…
The ball hits the umpire or a loose object
like a shin guard on the field
What do you do?
Play on

Stop play & restart with a bully x
© England Hockey 2006
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What next?
Go and have a go!
Know that it’s fun
and challenging!
Be as good as you can!
© England Hockey 2006
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