The first thing you might do when you start learning about field hockey is look at the equipment. In field hockey there are a lot of terms that are important to know as a new field hockey parent. Understanding phrases, sayings, game and equipment terms is a great way to familiarize yourself with the world of field hockey. This article discusses some of the terms you might hear when you start hanging out with field hockey players or play yourself. Now that you know the rules, the positions, and you can talk some of the talk, you are on your way to being a field hockey player.
In Part 1 of this blog, we answered the big question: What is field hockey? Part 2 will focus more on all those weird words you might hear field hockey fanatics use.
A field hockey pitch with markings.
Basic Terms
Field hockey: You might think that this is too obvious a term. And it is. It is only listed in order to point out that you might also hear it referred to as hockey.
The ball: Ice hockey uses a puck. This is not ice hockey.
Read also: Choosing the Right Hockey Stick Size
The stick: This is what you call that giant stick you carry around. It is pretty self-explanatory.
The pitch: The field of play can be called a field, so don’t be intimidated to just call it what it is. However, you might also hear it referred to as a pitch.
Goalkeeper Equipment
Helmet with a full cage: You probably already know what a helmet is (that thing you put on your head), but maybe you have never heard of a full cage.
Throat protector: This looks almost like a really thick choker or a priest’s collar.
Goalkeeper girdle and hot pants: Girdles and hot pants might not seem like sporty terms, but in this case they are.
Read also: East Stroudsburg Field Hockey: A Look Back
Blocker: This kind of looks like a snorkeling fin, but you wear it on your hand. You use it to block the ball from going in the glove. See?
Kickers: These are paddings worn over the shoes.
Remember, this is a list of definitions, not a list of necessary gear. Some things, like cleats, do not need to be defined but do need to be worn.
Gameplay Terminology
Playing the ball: This is the action of stopping, deflecting or moving the ball with the stick.
Bully: Used to restart the play when possession is unclear. Ball is placed between two opposing players, and they must tap their sticks above the ball three times before playing.
Read also: US Field Hockey in the Olympic Games
Dribble: Dibbling and shifting the ball from left to right, while rotating the stick in your hands.
Push: Moving the ball around by a pushing movement of the head of the stick.
Striker: Also called a center forward. This player covers the middle of the offensive area.
Closing down: Another defensive tactic.
Cover: This defensive tactic occurs when a defender protects the goal by sticking to an opponent.
Commonly Used Terms
Add-10: Occurs after a delay of game. During a free hit, the ball is placed another 10 yards up the field.
Advancing: Penalty when the ball is hit with any part of the body.
Back stick: Penalty called for hitting the ball on the rounded back side of the stick.
Circle: Also known as the shooting circle. The semi-circle that is in front of the goal.
Charging: Running into an opposing player to draw a foul by getting the player to block the ball with his or her body and be called for obstruction.
Channel: A move used by the defense to draw the attacker away from the goal and towards to the sidelines.
Clear: Used by defense to hit or dribble the ball out of the 25-yard area.
Chip: A pass or hit at the ball that becomes airborne.
Crumbs: A loose ball in the goal circle after a save by the goalkeeper.
The “D”: The shooting circle.
Drag flick: A legal lifted shot on goal during a penalty corner.
Flagrant foul: A rough or dangerous play that results in a red card and an ejection from the game.
Flick: To raise the ball in the air during a pass no higher than 18 inches above the ground.
Flat-stick tackle: When a defender puts their stick parallel to the ground and waits for an attacker to run into it.
Foot: A foul that will occur from kicking the ball.
Green Card: Received when a player breaks the rules and will also get a 2-minute send off.
Hacking: Hitting another player’s stick instead of the ball that results in a penalty.
High Stick: Raising the stick above the shoulder, which results in a foul.
Hooking: When a player uses their stick to hook an opponent’s stick or leg, which results in a foul.
Indian Dribble: Dibbling and shifting the ball from left to right, while rotating the stick in your hands.
Jink: Lifting the ball in a controlled way over the defenders stick.
Leading pass: A pass where a player sends the ball a few yards a head of their teammate to guide them to an open area.
Long corner: A free hit for the offense on the sideline five yards from the backline. This is awarded to the offense when the defense hits the ball back over the backline.
Marking: When a defender is closely guarding an opponent whether they have the ball or not.
Obstruction: When one player blocks another player from having an equal chance to get the ball.
Pitch: The playing field, divided by a center line and a 25 yard-line on each half of the field.
Penalty Corner: Is awarded to the attacking team for an offense foul committed by the defensive team in the attacking area. The ball is placed on the baseline, and then passed to the teammates at the top of the shooting circle for a shot on goal.
Penalty Stroke: A shot on goal awarded to the attacking team.
Push: Moving the ball around by a pushing movement of the head of the stick.
Raised ball: A foul for lifting the ball more that 18 inches off the ground.
Red Card: Occurs when a player is guilty of an intentional foul such as body checking. The result is a red card where the player is ejected from the game and suspended for the next game.
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