What happens if a team has too many players on the pitch?
Rule- England
- England Hockey
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2026
- Outdoor hockey
- 11-a-side
- All ages (adult and junior)
- 2026/27
- Umpires
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.
Added 21 Oct 2026