Umpire's Guide to England Hockey Outdoor Hockey All Ages 2026/27

FIH default (Rule 5.1, 2026): four quarters of 15 minutes with a 10-minute half-time. Competition regulations can set other timings. England Hockey's 2026/27 timings:

Stopping time after a goal or penalty corner (new FIH Rules 8.2 and 13.3 a): this does not apply by default in England Hockey competitions.

Other new rule (11.8): if the ball hits an umpire or unauthorised person on the field, play continues. If it gives one team an advantage, restart with a bully.

Where (FIH Rule 13.1):

• A free hit is taken close to where the offence happened. That means within playing distance and with no significant advantage gained, and more precisely inside the 23-metre area.
• A free hit to the defence within 15 m of the back-line may be taken up to 15 m out, in line with the offence and parallel to the side-line.
• A defensive free hit in the circle may be taken anywhere in the circle.

How (Rule 13.2, which also covers centre passes and restarts after the ball has gone out):

• The ball must be stationary.
• Opponents must be at least 5 m from the ball. An opponent within 5 m must not interfere or try to play the ball. If they aren't doing so, the free hit doesn't need to be delayed.
• For an attacking free hit inside the 23-metre area, all players other than the taker (attackers too) must be at least 5 m away. The exception is for free hits within 5 m of the circle (see the self-pass question).
• The ball can be moved with a hit, push, flick or scoop. It may be raised immediately with a push, flick or scoop, but not intentionally with a hit.

When (Rule 12.2): a free hit goes to the opposing team for:

• any offence between the 23-metre areas;
• an offence by an attacker in the 23-metre area they're attacking;
• an unintentional offence by a defender outside the circle but in their own 23-metre area.

FIH Rule 13.2: the player taking a free hit may play the ball themselves, which is a self-pass.

Attacking free hit inside the 23-metre area (13.2 f):

• The ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres (not necessarily in one direction) or been touched by a defender.
• A player taking a self-pass may play the ball as many times as they like, but it must travel 5 m before they play it into the circle.
• Once a defender has touched it, anyone, including the taker, may play it into the circle.
• The ball may be played high over the circle to land outside it, unless that's dangerous or the ball is legitimately playable by another player inside or above the circle during its flight.

Free hit within 5 m of the circle:

• Taken immediately: defenders inside the circle and within 5 m may shadow a self-passing player around the inside of the circle. They may not play or try to play the ball, or influence play, until it has travelled 5 m or been touched by a defender who can legitimately play it.
• Not taken immediately: all other players must be at least 5 m away before it's taken.

Defenders still wearing penalty corner kit may pass straight away from a defensive free hit, but may not self-pass (13.3 n).

Any other playing of, attempt to play, or interference with the ball by a player who wasn't 5 m away should be penalised.

FIH Rule 9.10 (2026), now permanent in all England Hockey competitions:

• Opponents must not approach within 5 metres of a player receiving a falling raised ball until the receiver has touched it. Previously, defenders had to wait until the receiver had controlled it and brought it to the ground.
• The initial 5 metres of space for a safe reception must still be respected. After the first touch, there can be a fair contest, including inside the circle.
• The ball may be intercepted within 5 m but outside playing distance, provided it's done safely.
• The initial receiver has a right to the ball. If it isn't clear who that is, the player from the team that raised the ball must let the opponent receive it.

Player safety stays paramount. England Hockey asks umpires to emphasise this at all times.

Related: players must not intentionally raise the ball from a hit, except for a shot at goal (Rule 9.9). From a free hit, the ball may be raised straight away with a push, flick or scoop, but not intentionally with a hit.

FIH Rule 12.3: a penalty corner is awarded:

1. for an offence by a defender in the circle that does not prevent the probable scoring of a goal;
2. for an intentional offence in the circle by a defender against an opponent who does not have possession of the ball or an opportunity to play it;
3. for an intentional offence by a defender outside the circle but within the 23-metre area they are defending;
4. for a defender intentionally playing the ball over the back-line. Goalkeepers may deflect the ball in any direction, including over the back-line, with their stick, protective equipment or any part of the body;
5. when the ball becomes lodged in a player's clothing or equipment in the circle they are defending.

For comparison, an unintentional offence by a defender outside the circle but inside their 23-metre area gives a free hit to the attack (Rule 12.2 c).

Goalkeepers (Rule 10.2, clarified for 2026): when the ball is inside the circle a goalkeeper is defending and they have their stick in hand, they may use their stick and body to deflect the ball over the back-line or play it in any direction.

FIH Rule 12.4: a penalty stroke is awarded:

• for an offence by a defender in the circle that prevents the probable scoring of a goal, or
• for an intentional offence in the circle by a defender against an opponent who has possession of the ball or an opportunity to play it.

Compare this with a penalty corner, which is given for an offence in the circle that does not prevent a probable goal, or an intentional offence against an opponent without possession or an opportunity to play the ball.

If there's another offence or misconduct before an awarded penalty is taken, you may award a more severe penalty, give a personal penalty, or reverse the penalty if the team first awarded it committed the later offence (Rule 12.5).

FIH Rule 13.3:

• Time: FIH Rule 13.3(a) stops time when a corner is awarded. England Hockey's 2026/27 guidance says this does not apply by default in its national or area competitions. Its junior regulations say time is not stopped after a corner is awarded unless the umpire stops it.
• The ball goes on the back-line inside the circle, at least 10 m from the goal-post, on whichever side the attack chooses.
• The injector pushes or hits the ball without intentionally raising it, with at least one foot outside the field. They must not play it again or come within playing distance until another player has played it.
• Other attackers must be on the field, outside the circle, with sticks, hands and feet not touching the ground inside the circle.
• Defenders: no more than five, including the goalkeeper, go behind the back-line. The rest must be beyond the centre-line. Until the ball is played, no defender may cross the back-line or centre-line, and no attacker other than the injector may enter the circle.
• 5 metres: nobody except the injector may be within 5 m of the ball when it is played.
• Before scoring, the ball must travel outside the circle.
• First shot a hit: it must cross the goal-line at no more than 460 mm (backboard height), or be on a path to do so, before any deflection. This applies even if it touches a defender first.
• Flicks, scoops, deflections and later shots may be at any height, provided they aren't dangerous.
• Danger: a defender within 5 m who is hit below the knee by the first shot means another corner. If they're hit on or above the knee in a normal stance, the shot is dangerous and the defence gets a free hit. A defender running into the shot or the taker without trying to play the ball with the stick is penalised for dangerous play.
• End of quarter: the quarter is prolonged until the corner, and any further corner or stroke from it, is completed.

FIH Rule 4.2 (field players):

• Face mask: recommended when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke. It must be smooth, preferably transparent or a single colour, or a metal grill mask that follows the contours of the face. Headgear isn't allowed at any other time, except for medical reasons.
• Knee pads and leg protection are allowed when defending a corner. Knee pads may be worn outside the socks only if they're exactly the sock colour or black.
• Hand protection must fit comfortably, without compressing, into an open-ended box 290 mm x 180 mm x 110 mm.
• Players must not use their protective equipment to play dangerously.

Taking it off (Rule 13.3 n, updated for 2026):

• Players should remove corner equipment safely and as soon as they can after the penalty corner is completed.
• They may keep it on while inside the 23-metre area if there's no suitable chance to remove it. All of it must come off before they leave the 23-metre area, or when you tell them to.
• Wearing equipment, a defender may pass the ball immediately from a free hit or back-line restart, but may not take a self-pass.
• If thrown equipment hits an opponent, an umpire or anyone outside the field on or above the knee (in a normal stance), the thrower must get a yellow card. Restart with a free hit if the ball was outside the circle. If it was inside the circle, restart with a penalty corner, or a penalty stroke if Rule 12.4 applies.
• If the ball hits discarded equipment: a free hit outside the circle, or a penalty corner inside it (a penalty stroke if it prevents a probable goal).

FIH Rule 14.1: for any offence, a player may be:

• The team plays one player short for every green or yellow card suspension, and for the rest of the match after a red card.
• A personal penalty can be given on top of the normal penalty for the offence.
• Temporarily suspended players stay in a designated place until the umpire who suspended them lets them return. They may rejoin their team during a quarter-time or half-time interval, but then return to finish the suspension.
• A temporary suspension can be extended for misconduct while suspended.
• A red-carded player must leave the field and its surrounding area.

After a red card (England Hockey Disciplinary Regulations from 1 October 2026):

• Send the red card form within 72 hours.
• The mandatory minimum suspension is 16 days, counting the match day as day 1.
• Longer minimums apply for some offences. Dissent with foul or abusive language towards the umpire is 23 days, and allegations of bias or cheating are 30 days. Violence towards a person other than an official is 30 days, and towards an umpire or match official 60 days.
• A red card given for two yellow cards for the same minor offence carries no mandatory minimum suspension.

Under FIH Rule 2.1 (2026 guidance, applied by England Hockey to all competitions from 1 September 2026):

• Stop time to correct the situation.
• If having too many players materially affected the match, the captain must receive a yellow card. This is the 2026 change; previously the rule just referred to "a personal penalty".
• If it had no material impact, you may still give a personal penalty at your discretion.

No. Under England Hockey's Junior Competition Regulations (Under 14 to Under 18 outdoor, 2026/27, reg 2.3.7), when a Young Umpire (under 18) is appointed, the appointing club must make sure a qualified adult umpire is present for the whole match, on the pitch or on the sideline, to support them.

The same regulations set the umpire accreditation levels for junior league matches:

If an appointed umpire doesn't meet the acceptable level, the game can only go ahead if both teams agree. Umpires don't rule on competition regulations, and the competition organisers don't adjudicate on umpires' decisions.

England Hockey has adopted the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport for all hockey under its jurisdiction. The message is "If in doubt, sit them out."

• Anyone with visible signs or symptoms of a head injury must be removed from play immediately. They take no further part, even if the symptoms go.
• They should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional, or through NHS 111, within 24 hours. Red flags or other serious injuries need urgent assessment, calling 999 if necessary.
• No return to training, competition or PE within 24 hours. They shouldn't drive, ride a bike, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours either.
• No return to competition within 21 days of the injury, after a graduated return to activity and sport. The only exception is a player managed by sports-concussion specialists in an enhanced care pathway.
• Symptoms still there after 28 days need GP assessment.

Loss of consciousness happens in fewer than 10% of concussions, so a player doesn't need to be knocked out to be concussed.