Hockey 9s

The fast-paced, high-scoring Field Hockey variant!

Written by Josh Bryce, Hockey Coach

Published by Sportplan Ltd.

What is Hockey 9s?

• Fast-paced, high scoring, ultra attacking variation of Field Hockey
  • 9 a side game
  • 15 minute halves
  • Larger goals (if available)
  • One player in attacking half at all times
  • Altered Long & Penalty Corners
  • Penalty Shuffles not Strokes

60 seconds of Action!!

General Rules

• 9 players
  • One player must always be in the offensive half
    • Green card at next stoppage when a team fails to do this, with the offending team nominating a player
• 15 minute halves, with 5 minutes for half time
• Goals are 1 metre wider than standard goals

General Rules

• Pushback replaced with competitive bully on halfway
  • Halves start with an on-side bully (players stand in own half)
  • Game restarts with an off-side bully (players can stand anywhere)
• Foot and Stick challenge rules are more relaxed than standard
  • Promoting a smooth flowing game
• A Penalty Shuffle is awarded in place of a Penalty Stroke

Penalty Corner

• Play 4 Forwards vs 3 Defenders
  • i.e usually 2 Defenders and 1 Goalkeeper
• One player injects ball from either of the 10 metre baseline markers
  • The 3 remaining Forwards involved behind the 23 metre line
• Defenders line up behind the baseline, between the 5 metre markers
• All other players from both teams must be behind the half way line

Penalty Corner

• 25 seconds are allowed to set up the Penalty Corner
  • If the defending team prevents play in this time, a defender is sent to the halfway line
  • If the attacking team prevents play in this time, a 16 yard hit out is awarded
• The injection must cross the 23 metre line before a strike on goal can take place
• The first strike on goal can be played above the backboard
  • i.e. the game is live once the ball has passed the 23 metre line

Penalty Corner 1

• Attacking Set Up

Penalty Corner 2

• Defensive Set Up

Penalty Corner 3

• First shot over the backboard

Long Corner

• 5 Forwards play 5 Defenders
  • usually 4 Defenders and 1 Goalkeeper
• One forward plays the ball from the usual 5 metre long corner marking
  • The 4 remaining forwards must be behind the 23 metre line
• Defenders line up anywhere along the baseline within the D markings
• All other players from both teams must be behind the half way line
• There is no time limit for a long corner

Long Corner 1

• Long from the right hand side

Long Corner 2

• Long Corner from the left hand side

Penalty Shuffles/Strokes

• During the game, a penalty shuffle will be awarded instead of a penalty stroke
  • Deemed a more exciting variation
• On the blow of the whistle, the forward has 8 seconds to score
  • Failure to score will result in a 16 yard hit out
• The only time penalty strokes are required is in the final of a Cup game
  • Usual best of 5 stroke format applies, with sudden death rules if necessary

Penalty Shuffle 1

• In game penalty shuffle

Conclusion

• Have a go at this fast-paced, high goal scoring game
  • Still great fun even without the larger goals
• A perfect variant for:
  • an alternate to the standard Summer League
  • a different approach to Pre-Season
  • New End of Season Tournament