FIH Requirements

Pitch and Pitch Equipment (Indoor Hockey)

2.1      The pitch is rectangular, 36.00 to 44.00 meters (118 to 144 ft.) long bounded by sideboards and 18.00 to 22.00 meters (59 to 72 ft.) wide bounded by back lines.

Wherever possible the size of a pitch should be the maximum permitted. Where the maximum is not possible, a width of 21 meters is recommended so that the circle lines meet the back lines before they reach the side-boards.

Minimum “run-off” areas are recommended outside the back lines (3 meters) and side-lines (1 meter).

2.2      Markings:

1. No marks other than those described in this Rule are to be made

on the playing surface. If indoor hockey is played on a surface marked with lines for other sports, which cannot easily be removed, they must be a distinctive color.

2. Lines are 50 mm wide and must be clearly marked along their entire length

3. The back-lines and all markings enclosed between them and the side-boards are part of the pitch

4. All marks must be made in a color, which contrasts with the playing surface.

2.3      Pitch sideboards:

a.      Mark the 36.00 to 44.00 meters long perimeter of the pitch

b.      Are based of a square 100 mm cross-section

c.      The upright surface facing the pitch is inclined by 10 mm towards the pitch.

Sideboards must be made of wood or materials with similar physical properties. They must not have fittings or supports, which are dangerous to players or umpires.

2.4      Lines and other marks:

a.      Back-lines: 18.00 to 22.00 meters long perimeter lines

b.      Goal-lines: the parts of the back-lines between the goal-posts

c.      Center-line: across the middle of the pitch

d.      Lines 300 mm long marked inside the pitch on each back-line on both sides of the goal at 6 meters (19.68 ft.) from the outer edge of the nearer goal-post, as measured between the furthest edges of each line

e.      Lines 150 mm long marked outside the pitch on each back-line 1.50 meters from the center of the back-line, as measured between the nearest edges of these lines

f.       Penalty spots 100 mm in diameter marked in front of the center of each goal with the center of each spot 7 meters (22.9 ft.) from the inner edge of the goal line.

2.5      Circles:

a. Lines 3.00 meters long and parallel to the back-lines are marked inside the pitch with their centers in line with the centers of the back-lines; the distance from the outside edges of these

3.00 meters lines to the outside edges of the back-lines is 9.00 meters (29.5 ft.)

b.  These lines are continued in uninterrupted arcs in both directions to meet the back-lines in the form of quarter-circles with centers at the inside front corner of the nearer goal posts

c.  The 3.00 meters line and the arcs are called the circle-lines; the spaces enclosed by these lines, including the lines themselves, are called the circles

2.6      Goals:

a.      Two vertical goal-posts joined by a horizontal cross-bar are placed at the center of each back-line on the external marks

b.      The goal-posts and cross-bar are white, rectangular in cross section, 80 mm wide and 80 mm deep

c.      The goal-posts must not extend vertically beyond the cross-bar and the cross-bar must not extend horizontally beyond the goal-posts 

d.      The distance between the inner edges of the goalposts is 3.00 meters (9.84 ft) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.00 meters (6.56 ft.)

e.      The space outside the pitch, behind the goal-posts and crossbar and enclosed by the net is a minimum of 800 mm deep at the cross-bar and a minimum of 1.00 meters deep at ground level.

Goal side-boards and back-boards are not mandatory but if fitted should conform to the following specification:

a.      Goal side-boards are 1.00 meters long (3.28 ft.) and 460 mm high (18 inches)

b.      Back-boards are 3.00 meters long and 460 mm high (18 inches)

c.      Goal side-boards are positioned on the ground at right angles to the back-line and are fixed to the back of the goalposts without increasing their width

d.      Back-boards are positioned on the ground at right angles to the goal side-boards and parallel to the back-line, and are fixed to the end of the goal side-boards

e.      Goal sideboards and backboards are of a dark color on the inside.

2.7      Nets:

a.       The minimum mesh size is 45 mm

b.       Attachment to the back of the goal-posts and cross-bar is at intervals of not more than 150 mm

c.       The nets hang outside the goal side-boards and back-board if fitted

d.       The nets are secured so as to prevent the ball passing between the net and the goal-posts and cross-bar and between the net and the side-boards and back-boards if fitted

e.       The nets are fitted loosely to prevent the ball rebounding.

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