Player's Guide to Hockey Australia Masters Hockey Ages 35+ 2026

• Younger only: a player may only play in an age group younger than their actual age group. For example, a 47-year-old may play in the 35s, 40s or 45s competition but not the 50s or older. Players cannot play in an older age group.
• Dispensation: before the tournament and in exceptional circumstances, a member association may apply to HAMC for age dispensation for up to 2 players who are a further 12 months younger than the age definition for that age group (see the Age Group Matrix).
• Changing during the tournament: once a player has played a game in their nominated age group, they cannot change age groups unless exceptional circumstances apply and the Tournament Director gives express written permission. If a move is approved, the player cannot return to their original age group or seek a further exemption in the same tournament. Disciplinary statistics (such as suspension cards and points) follow the player into the new age group, but best and fairest points do not.
• Division 2: Division 2 players may be promoted into the Division 1 team in exceptional circumstances with the Tournament Director's written permission. Once promoted, the player cannot return to Division 2 or move age groups.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (Appendix 10), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

• What they are: the Hockey Australia Masters Championships are held every year between representative teams from each state and territory, over 9 to 12 days. Men's and women's championships usually run as separate events. They are sanctioned by Hockey Australia and administered by the Hockey Australia Masters Committee (HAMC).
• Age groups: contested in 5-year age groups where viable. HAMC confirms each year which age-based competitions run, and may adjust age groups that are not viable, or add a second division where an age group is oversubscribed.
• Format: teams play a pool, then Finals and Classification Matches.
• 2026 dates: Men's, Gold Coast, Queensland, 24 September to 10 October 2026. Women's, Adelaide, South Australia, 24 September to 3 October 2026.
• Medals: the top three teams in each age group receive gold, silver and bronze medals, up to 22 medals per team.

Sources: Hockey Australia Masters page, https://www.hockey.org.au/play/masters; event pages https://www.hockey.org.au/national-championship-events/2026-hockey-australia-men-s-masters-championships and https://www.hockey.org.au/national-championship-events/2026-hockey-australia-women-s-masters-championships; Tournament Regulations, https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

Residency: to compete in a Masters National Championships you must be considered a resident of the state or territory you want to represent. If you play for more than one association across borders, your primary registration takes precedence. You are a resident if either:

• you live, are employed or have retired in that state or territory for a continuous period of more than three months in the previous 24 months before the tournament, or
• the association you play in is affiliated with that state or territory (for example, living in Tweed Heads NSW but playing in the Gold Coast association, which is affiliated with Hockey Queensland).

Exception: a player whose last three consecutive appearances at HAMC Masters National Championships were for a state or territory other than the one they live in may keep representing it, and counts as a local player.

Exemptions: a player with a historical connection to a member association can apply to HAMC for an exemption, for example through long-term (over 10 years) participation in that association's competition, or the state for their last three consecutive appearances. Up to two international players are permitted in a team if they meet all other requirements.

Import players: a member association may import players it did not select from another association's pick-up roster. Associations arrange this between themselves, not through the player. An imported player pays the levies of the association they join and the transfer is valid for one Championships only. The home association can recall the player up to 14 days (or another period set by HAMC) before the Championships start.

Team name: a team can use a state or territory name only if more than 50 percent of its players are local players of that state or territory.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (sections 4.2 and Appendix 8), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

• Registration: to take part in a Hockey Australia sanctioned event, all participants must be fully financial and appropriately registered with Hockey Australia and their own member association.
• HAMC portal: players and officials using the Revsport portal for HAMC (Hockey Australia Masters Committee) events are often required to be members to complete event information. This is separate from local association membership. Your membership details carry through once you complete the steps, which needs only your name and date of birth. To renew, use the HAMC registration page and select the Returning Members option.
• Integrity education: all participants must complete the prescribed integrity education requirements by the pre-event deadline. A player who misses the final pre-event deadline is ineligible to play their team's first game. A player who misses a deadline set in a sanction is disqualified from the entire event and cannot be replaced on the team entry form.
• Code of conduct and policies: the Hockey Australia Code of Conduct applies throughout the event, along with Hockey Australia policies including the National Integrity Framework, Concussion Policy and Pitch-siding Policy.

Sources: Hockey Australia Masters page, https://www.hockey.org.au/play/masters and Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026, https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

Masters hockey is governed by the FIH Rules of Hockey. The Masters Championships are played under the Rules of Hockey in force on the first playing day, except as varied by the Hockey Australia Masters regulations.

The regulations' schedule of variations covers:

• Green card: a warning and temporary suspension of 2 minutes of playing time. The team plays with one less player for the suspension.
• Yellow card: temporary suspension of a minimum of 5 minutes of playing time, with the team one player short.
• Match periods and stoppages: four 15-minute quarters, and the penalty corner timing and countdown clock.

Other Masters-specific provisions in the regulations include penalty strokes instead of shoot-outs in competitions for players aged 70 or older, up to 16 field players plus one or two goalkeepers, and permission to use medical aids with a medical certificate.

Sources: Hockey Australia Masters page, https://www.hockey.org.au/play/masters and Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026, https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

• Length: four quarters of 15 minutes.
• Quarter breaks: 2 minutes at the end of the first and third quarters. Teams may not leave the field of play during these intervals.
• Half time: 10 minutes, or another period between 5 and 10 minutes advised by the Tournament Director at the Event Briefing. Team officials and players may leave the Technical Facility Area during half time.
• Penalty corners at a quarter's end: the interval starts after any penalty corner that prolongs the quarter has been completed.
• After a goal: time is not stopped.
• Penalty corner awarded: time is stopped for up to 40 seconds.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (Appendix 1), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

• Clock: when a penalty corner is awarded, the match is stopped for up to 40 seconds, and time is also stopped for that period. This lets defenders put on protective gear. Play restarts by whistle after no more than 40 seconds if both teams are ready.
• Re-awards: time stops immediately but teams do not get another 40 seconds.
• Face masks: all players defending a penalty corner must wear a face mask.
• If a team is not ready: the umpire decides whether the delay is intentional. If defenders just need a little more time to get fully protected, extra time is given without penalty.
• Intentional delay: the responsible player gets a green card, and a yellow card for repeat offences. If the offender is a defender, the defending team defends with one less player. If it is the goalkeeper, the team defends with no goalkeeper and only four field players.
• After a penalty corner: a goalkeeper substitution is allowed under the normal Rules of Hockey if a second goalkeeper is fully kitted up and ready.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (Appendix 1), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

• Team entry: up to 18 players (listed with shirt numbers 1 to 99 and dates of birth), within a total list of up to 25 participants including team officials.
• In a match: a team may use a maximum of 18 players, of whom no more than 16 can be field players. A Masters team is permitted up to 16 field players plus one or two goalkeepers wearing full protective equipment.
• Starting lineup: 11 players on the field, with up to 7 starting on the team bench.
• Changes to the entry list: amendments to players must be given in writing to the Tournament Director by 12:00 (local time) on the day before the first match, or at the Event Briefing if that is later. After that deadline no further changes to listed players are accepted.
• Substitutions: made as specified in the Rules of Hockey and the regulations, from the players named in the Match Report, under the supervision of the Technical Officer. A substituted player must go to the team bench.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (sections 4.1, 5.1, 5.4), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

Pool points: every team in a pool plays every other team. A win is 3 points, a draw is 1 point each and a loss is 0.

Ties on points are separated in this order: matches won, then goal difference, then goals for, then the result of the match between the tied teams (for two teams). If more than two teams are level, the results among only those teams decide, and then field goals scored in pool matches. A shoot-out then decides any remaining tie.

Drawn finals: if a Finals or Medal Match is drawn at the end of regulation time, a shoot-out decides the winner. A drawn Classification Match means the teams share the ranking, unless an outright winner is needed for the competition to progress, in which case a shoot-out is played.

Age 70 and over: in competitions that cater for players aged 70 or older, the shoot-out is replaced with a traditional penalty stroke competition.

Division 2: Hockey Australia Masters encourages member associations to enter a second team in the same age group in a Division 2 competition. It aims for at least four Division 2 teams. If four are not viable 12 weeks before the tournament, no Division 2 competition runs in that age group, and teams may be offered a place in Division 1.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (Appendices 2, 3, 4 and 9), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf

Required equipment: field players must wear shin guards inside the socks and below the knee, and must wear an approved protective face mask when defending a penalty corner.

Medical aids and non-standard equipment: Hockey Australia Masters permits a player to use a medical aid or non-standard protective equipment on provision of a medical certificate. You must apply in writing to the Tournament Director, with a medical certificate confirming the item is fit for purpose and does not endanger you or other players. Examples listed include hearing aids and cochlear implants, rigid knee or elbow braces with metal components, "football" style soft headgear, watches for monitoring medical conditions (which must be covered) and prescription glasses or sunglasses. Eyewear must have durable polycarbonate or shatterproof lenses.

Jewellery: all jewellery (watches, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and so on) is forbidden and must be removed. Jewellery that cannot be removed must be covered or taped. A watch used to monitor a medical condition can be worn if it is covered and a medical certificate plus a completed WMH Medical Declaration Form is provided to the Tournament Director.

Concussion: a player showing signs or symptoms of a suspected concussion must be removed from play immediately and must not return to the game or training on the same day. They may return to hockey only after medical clearance from an appropriately qualified healthcare practitioner.

Source: Hockey Australia Tournament Regulations, Masters Championships 2026 (updated 14 August 2026), https://cdn.sanity.io/files/a5i57b7j/production/fc7698484262da8869940ecbd55575c2becb7c23.pdf