FIH Men's Hockey5s World Cup 2024: All Rules and Regulations For Shorter Version Of Field Hockey

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The FIH Men's Hockey5s World Cup 2024 is scheduled to start on Sunday (January 28) in Muscat, Oman. A total of 16 nations will participate to vie for the inaugural World Cup in the shorter version of field hockey.

The men's Hockey5s World Cup will be played in group stage followed by the knockouts. All 16 teams are divided into four groups with two teams with the most points progressing to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage included four quarterfinals, two semifinals, a third place and a final.

The tournament will conclude on January 31. Hockey5s is deemed to be known as the shorter and quicker version of field hockey. It was first introduced in 2013 by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to entertain the audience and attract more viewers in the wider spectrum of the globe. Let's try to understand the rules of the Hockey5s in detail below.

Hockey5s Court

The Hockey5s court is around the half size of the traditional field hockey court. The maximum size is 55mx42m and the minimum size can be 40mx28m. The goalpost is dimensioned of 3.66m in length and 2.14m in height. There are no Dees and striking circles like the ones seen in field hockey, while the sidelines (boundary lines) and backlines (around the goalposts) are present. A circular penalty spot is present between quarter line and the two goalposts.

Scoring

A team needs to score more goals to outsmart their opponent. However, the player in Hockey5s can strike the ball from anywhere in the court unlike field hockey, where the player is allowed only to score from the Dee.

Number of players in a team

A Hockey5s team consists of five players, including a goalkeeper, on the field. Each team is permitted to use as many as four substitutes in the entire match.

Match Duaration

A Hockey5s match is of 30 minutes with each half consisting of 15 minutes. A two-minute interval is given to both teams between the two halves. In case of a draw in the stipulated time, the match is either considered to be a drawn affair or is determined through a penalty shootout.
Just like the field hockey, both teams take alternate chance to score in a best of five.

Boundary Boards

The boundary boards are present outside the larger space of the rectangular field. When the ball crosses the sidelines in field hockey, the possession is awarded to the opposition. However, the game continues in Hockey5s unless the ball sails over the boundary boards. This means the game has fewer stoppage times.

If the ball goes over the backline off the stick of a defending player or the goalkeeper, play is re-started with the ball on the quarter line in their own half. If the attacking player hits the ball over the boundary board without scoring then the play resume with the defending team taking free hit after putting the ball inside the quarter line.

Fouls

There are no penalty corners awarded in the Hockey5s in the absence of striking circle and Dee. Instead, if a player commits foul then a challenge is awarded to the opposition. When a defender commits foul by denying the opposition player a clear goal-scoring opportunity then attacking side earns a challenge.

Only one attacking player and the goalkeeper of opposition is allowed to be present inside the half during the challenge. If the attacker is successful in finding the back of the net in the challenge then his team is awarded with a goal.

A penalty stroke can also be awarded to the attacking side if the defender puts foot on the goal line or the goalkeeper deliberately attempts a foul on an attacking player. The attacking player can place the ball on the penalty circle to take the shot with only the opposition goalkeeper allowed to defend the penalty stroke.

Cards sanctioned

There are different cards sanctioned by the match referee depending upon the level of offense. A green card is shown to a player, resulting in a one-minute suspension off the field. A yellow card is given for higher offenses and the player is benched for two minutes.

A red card is the highest level of breach of rules, resulting in a player to be out for the remaining period of the match. This includes misconduct by a player or being warned several times in the game.

The top three teams from five continental events -- EuroHockey5sChampionship, Oceania Cup, African Hockey5s Qualifier, Pan American Hockey5s Cup and Asian Hockey5s Qualifier -- have qualified for the inaugural World Cup apart from hosts Oman.