Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Field Hockey Basics - Listen

Field Hockey is now a fully sponsored MHSAA sport. So let’s start by getting up to speed on some basics.

Field Hockey is a fall sport.

Games are administered by two officials.

Each team plays with 11 players on the field – including the goalkeeper.

The field is 100 yards by 60 yards – roughly the same size as a football field.

The goals are 12 feet wide and seven feet high, with the penalty stroke line being drawn seven yards in front of the center of the goal.

Players are not allowed to play the ball with the rounded side of the stick – nor are they allowed to charge, hit, shove, or trip an opposing player.

Field hockey games are 60 minutes long, played in four 15-minute quarters.

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PHOTO by Jamie Crawford/JC Sports Photography.