Field Hockey Tip
Parents Guide to Field Hockey: Basic Field Hockey Terminology
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. Use this easy guide from Nike Field Hockey Camps to study up on some of the unique lingo heard at game.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Raised ball: A foul for lifting the ball more that 18 inches off the ground.
Scoop: Lifting the ball off the ground by shoveling the ball forward.
Side-in: When you put the ball in play after it goes out-of-bounds, this goes against the team who made the last contact.
Swatting: Foul called against the goalkeeper for making a swinging motion at the ball.
Sweep hit: When a player uses the motion of swinging the stick low to the turf in a sweeping motion.
Third-party obstruction: A foul called when a player blocks an opponent so a teammate can play the ball.
Tackle: An attempt by a defender to take the ball away from an opposing player.
Tomahawk: Also know as a reverse shot, involves the player turning their stick upside down and swinging it, making contact with the ball on the inside edge.
Yellow Card: A card pulled when there has been an intentional foul such as high stick. It results in the player being suspended for at least five minutes.
Now that you have learned some terminology, have fun using these sayings at your child’s next field hockey game! Check out more helpful field hockey tips and join us next summer at a Nike Field Hockey Camp!