Indoor field hockey is an indoor variant of "traditional" outdoor field hockey. It is not to be confused with other indoor hockey variants such as rink hockey.
Indoor field hockey is commonly called indoor hockey in the countries where rink hockey is not played. It is traditionally and mainly played as a pastime by outdoor field hockey players during the off-season, when the outdoor pitches are frozen. Indoor field hockey is played in regular national and international championships. The first Indoor field hockey cup was organized in 2003. It included countries which do not compete at the highest level of the outdoor game.
Indoor field hockey differs from its outdoor parent in several ways:
- The playing field is smaller than the outdoor pitch. An indoor pitch is 18m to 22m wide by 36m to 44m long, divided by a center line. The shooting circle is a semi-circle measured out 9m from each goal post. Side-board planks mark the sidelines helping to keep the ball in the field. The pitch is made of wood or synthetic gum.
- The goal cages are smaller: 2m high by 3m wide and a minimum of 1m deep.
- A team consists of 6 players on the pitch, 5 field players and 1 goalkeeper, with at most 12 players on a team.
- The game is divided into 2 periods of 25 minutes.
- The players may not hit the ball, but only push it or deflect it, and may not raise the ball except in the shooting circle, with the purpose of scoring a goal.
- The balls and the sticks are similar, but players prefer lighter sticks than for the outdoor game.
The small field and sideboards make indoor field hockey a quick, technical and physical game.
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