Indoor field hockey is a form of field hockey that is slightly different from the traditional game but a way for field hockey players to continue to train in a competitive environment during the winter months, November through February, every year. There is overlap between indoor and outdoor field hockey, but each official sport has slightly different rules, skills, and playing structures.
Indoor is strictly played inside on a court surface with dimensions of approximately 20 meters x 40 meters with 5 “field players” and a goalkeeper. Additionally, there are boards that take the place of the sidelines, which can be used to make passes or deflections in regular play, and meaning that the ball can only be played out of bounds over the endlines or above the sideboards. For youth, middle school, and high school athletes, an indoor game might typically run for either one 25-minute game or two 25-minute halves. At the international level, four 10-minute quarters are played. The game begins with a whistle when the player taking the center pass in the middle of the court may put the solid, round ball into play.
Like outdoor field hockey, the object of the game is to work the ball into the shooting circle, a semi-circle extending 9 meters out from the goal, and score. Goals are only counted if touched by an offensive player in the shooting circle. Indoor goals have the same dimensions as outdoor goals: 3.66 meters x 2.14 meters x 47.24 meters, including the 18” board and above netting. Nevertheless, there are many differences between indoor and outdoor field hockey that separate the two and make each its own unique game.
Continue to follow along as we dive into the exciting world of indoor field hockey!
