Hockey Terminology

• Hockey terminology includes terms for gameplay, rules, and equipment.

Gameplay Terms

• Free Hit: Awarded to a team when the opposing team commits a rule infringement.
• Dodging: Evading an opponent through deceptive movements.
• Tackling: Attempting to gain possession of the ball from an opponent.
• Melee: A scramble for the ball involving multiple players.
• Cross: Passing the ball in front of the opponent’s goal to create a scoring opportunity.
• Go and Give: An offensive tactic where a player passes to a teammate and immediately receives the ball back.
• Through Pass: Passing the ball forward to a teammate between defending players.
• Advantage: Referee allows play to continue after a foul if the fouled team benefits.
• Centre Pass: Used to start the game, the second half, or to restart play after a goal, the ball is placed in the center and passed backwards at least one meter to a teammate.

Rules and Infractions

• Back Stick: Hitting the ball with the back of the stick is a foul.
• Hooking: A two-minute penalty is given to a player who impedes an opponent by hooking their stick around them.
• High Stick: Penalty when a player raises their stick above the waist when contacting another player.
• Dangerous Play: Actions that could cause injury, like pushing, tripping, or raising the ball dangerously close to an opponent.
• Obstruction: Penalty for using the body or stick to block opponents from pursuing the ball.
• Raised Ball: While flicking, scooping, or chipping the ball is legal, undercutting that leads to dangerous play results in penalties.
• Undercutting: Penalty for swinging the stick hard under the ball to lift it dangerously.
• Foot: A foul that results from unintentionally or intentionally kicking the ball or using the feet to gain an unfair advantage.
• High Ball: A foul is called for lifting the ball above the knee within 5 meters of another player.

Field Positions and Areas

• Right Back: A defensive player positioned on the right side of the field near the goal.
• Corner: A free hit from the defenders’ sideline near where the ball crossed.
• Penalty Corner: A push or hit taken from a spot on the goal line, at least 10 yards from the goal post.
• 16 Yard Hit: A free hit for the defending team 16 yards from their goal line after the attacking team hits the ball over the base line.
• Shooting Circle: The semi-circular area at each end of the field, extending 16 yards from the back line.

Skills and Techniques

• Scoop: Hitting under the ball to lift it; it’s a foul if the ball is raised dangerously.
• Flick: A stroke using a jerking wrist action.
• Forehand: Playing the ball on the inside of the stick curve.
• Rebound: A ball that bounces back into play off the goalie’s pads.
• Reverse Hit: Hitting the ball from left to right with the flat side of the stick with the stick turned 180 degrees.
• Reverse Stick: Turning the stick so the blade faces right for a hit or push in that direction.

Equipment and Field

• Astroturf: Artificial ground used for playing hockey.

Player Roles

• Rusher: A defensive player who sprints toward an opposing player taking a shot during a penalty corner.

Dribbling Techniques

• The act of running with and maintaining control of the ball using the stick.
• Straight Dribbling: The most common dribble where the ball remains in constant contact with the stick. The stick is in front of the body, slightly to the right.
• Loose Dribbling: Similar to straight dribbling but involves continually tapping the ball forward while sprinting, allowing for quicker advancement. The stick is in front, slightly to the right.
• Indian Dribbling: Alternating pushing the ball from left to right across the body, considered difficult to defend against due to the ball’s constant movement.
• Dribbling Pull Back: Combining a straight dribble with a pull back motion and rotating the stick to the front of the ball, before continuing forward.
• One Handed: Right Hand: Executed on the right side of the field, keeping the ball on the right side of the body, protected by the sideline.
• One Handed: Reverse Side: Similar to the right-hand dribble, but on the left side of the field, using a reverse grip and keeping the ball to the left.

Passing Techniques

• Push Pass: Used for short, controlled distances, the hands are about 30 cm apart, the feet are apart, knees bent and the back foot is in line with the ball. The weight shifts from back to front foot, keeping the stick in contact as long as possible.
• Drive: Used for longer distances, with both hands together at the top of the stick, perpendicular to target, ball a stick’s length away, and a backswing no higher than the mid-chest.
• Sweep: Typically used on turf, this pass begins with your body perpendicular to your target. The ball is over a stick’s length away from your body. Create a backswing with the bottom edge of the stick in contact with the ground, get low enough for the entire stick to be on the ground and shift your entire weight to your front foot.