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When the ball goes out of play over a side-line
it is brought back into play by a push or a
hit-in from the point where it crossed the line.
When the ball is sent out of play over the back
line (or goal line) by a player of the attacking
team, or if the ball is sent over the line by a
member of the defending team from a distance of
25 yd (23 m) or more, play is resumed by a hit
or push by one of the defending team exactly
opposite the place where the ball crossed the
line and not more than 16 yd (14.63 m) from the
line. The opponents must be at least 5 yd (4.57
m) from the ball. This is the 16-yard “hit-out”.
A push or hit from the back line is awarded to
the attacking team when the ball, having last
been touched by one of the defending team,
within the 25 yd (23 m) area, passes
unintentionally out of play behind the back
line. The hit or push in is taken with the ball
within 5 yd (4.57 m) of the corner flag and all
defending players must be at least that distance
from the ball.
Penalties can be grouped under three headings:
(a) penalty stroke for serious defensive
breaches in the circle; (b) penalty corner for
deliberate defensive breaches in the 25 yd (23
m) area outside the circle and most other
offences in the circle; (c) free hits for all
fouls other than defensive fouls in the circle
and deliberate infringements in the defending 25
yd (23 m) area.
The penalty stroke is taken from a spot 7 yd
(6.40 m) in front of the centre of the goal
line. Only the goalkeeper may defend. All other
players must be beyond the 25 yd (23 m) line.
The penalty corner is taken on whichever side of
the goal the attacking side chooses at a point
not less than 10 yd (9.14 m) from the nearer
goal post. The ball must be on the back line and
hit or pushed by an attacker (the “injector”).
Not more than five of the defending team must
stand with both feet and sticks behind the goal
line and at least 5 yd (4.57 m) from the ball.
All the attacking team must be outside the
circle and at least 5 yd (4.57 m) from the ball.
Free hits are awarded for lesser infringements
such as lifting the stick too high, obstruction,
“back-sticks” (using the wrong side of the
stick), and hooking an opponent's stick.
Indoor hockey—known in Europe as Hallenhockey—is
played under modified rules on a pitch 40-50 yd
(37-47 m) long and 20-25 yd (18-23 m) wide. The
ball and sticks are the same.
Hockey In India
Despite being anointed
India's national game, hockey lags far behind
cricket and other games in the popularity
stakes. When Indian sportspersons are rapidly
asserting themselves in the world stage, India's
hockey fortune is plummeting to an abyss in the
international fora.
During the heydays of Indian hockey, the
national team called the shots in major sporting
events, annihilating opponents with utter
disdain. But gradually things took a turn for
the worse with the Indian team failing to keep
pace with vastly improving European rivals.
With success being far and few between, hockey
is losing out to other popular sports that have
brought India international success.
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