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Think you know the fast-paced world of field hockey? Test your knowledge on how this ancient game is played, its quirky rules, and its surprising history!
Green Pitch Beginner 0–4 · Tactical Enthusiast 5–8 · Master of the Turf 9–10
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Players may hit the ball with the flat face and the edges of the stick, but never with the rounded back. All sticks are made with the flat face on the left side, so left-handed people play with exactly the same stick as everyone else.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Copyrighted free use.
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Outfield players are strictly forbidden from using their feet, hands, or body to play or stop the ball. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their body to defend within the shooting circle.
Photo: Chabe01, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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To score a valid goal, the ball must be touched by an attacker's stick inside the semi-circular shooting circle, often called the 'D'. If a player strikes the ball from outside this circle and it goes into the net without being touched inside, it does not count as a goal.
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Since 2014, international hockey has been played in four quarters of 15 minutes, with short breaks in between and a longer one at half-time. The clock stops after a goal and when a penalty corner is awarded, so every second of play really counts.
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Tied knockout matches are decided by a thrilling penalty shootout. An attacker starts from the 23-meter line and has eight seconds to score one-on-one against the goalkeeper, who can move freely to block the shot.
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India dominated men's field hockey for decades, winning six consecutive Olympic gold medals between 1928 and 1956, and eight in total (the last in 1980). During this golden era, the legendary player Dhyan Chand was so skilled that, according to legend, opponents once broke his stick to check for a magnet inside.
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Unlike soccer, where a yellow card is a warning, a green card in field hockey carries an automatic two-minute suspension where the team must play with one less player. A yellow card results in a minimum five-minute suspension.
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Defenders may wear plastic face masks during a penalty corner because the ball is hit at incredible speeds. They must take them off as soon as the play is cleared. Some top players can flick the ball at over 120 kilometers per hour.
Photo: The Hammer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Just like in football, each team fields eleven players: ten outfield players and one goalkeeper. Unlimited rolling substitutions are allowed, so players can rush on and off the pitch at almost any moment to stay fresh.
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The tomahawk is a powerful backhand shot where the player swings the stick horizontally and strikes the ball with the edge. Because players cannot use the rounded back of the stick, they must rotate their wrists to hit the ball with the flat edge of the shaft.
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