Field Hockey

There are several situations in which the ball might be raised, and there are some general statements about what to do in most. Note that this is a long list, but by no means complete or exact. Only experience will help in applying the rules or ideas behind them.

Danger:

• These statements always hold, no matter what.
• If the ball is raised at or into another player, the player who raised it should be penalised appropriately.
• If the ball is raised at or into another player, but the second player made no attempt to play the ball - i.e. just ran in the way - then they should be penalised instead.
• A player with goalkeeping privileges does not count as "another player" for the purposes of having a ball raised at them.

From a free hit:

• If the ball is raised directly from a free hit of any kind, in any way, it should be penalised. This should not be confused with first playing the ball in an autopass, then raising it.

Deliberately raising the ball:

• If the ball is deliberately raised by a hit while in play, it should be penalised as this is directly against the rules.
• The exception to the above is for a shot at goal. This is fully permitted.

The penalty corner:

• The exception to this exception is for the first shot at a penalty corner, if that shot is a hit (a sweep or slap is a hit). The shot cannot enter or be on a path that will make it enter the goal at above 460 millimetres, but can go above this height while travelling there.
• After the first shot has been played, any further shot is considered in the normal way.
• Any flick as a shot at goal may be raised to any height. If a player is hit below the knee, this is the same as a foot. If they are within 5 metres and hit above the knee, the ball is raised dangerously. If they are outside 5 metres and hit anywhere on the body, then a penalty corner or stroke may be awarded as appropriate. This is the only exception to the "danger" statements.

The aerial ball/overhead pass:

• A ball may be raised by a flick or scoop while in play. If the ball would land in a crowded area, the team who did not raise the ball is given a free hit where it was raised.
• If there is a clear initial receiver, all opposing players must be 5 metres from them until the ball is controlled and on the ground.
• If there is no clear initial receiver, a free hit is given to the team that did not raise the ball at the point it would have landed.
• The goalkeeper may be the initial receiver. In this case, they are permitted to stop or deflect the ball in any way they usually would.

Via Wiki's World Cup Squads page on Germany:

1 GK Manuel Neuer27 March 1986 (aged 24) 5 Schalke 042 DF Marcell Jansen4 November 1985 (aged 24) 31 Hamburger SV3 DF Arne Friedrich29 May 1979 (aged 31) 72 Hertha BSC4 DF Dennis Aogo14 January 1987 (aged 23) 2 Hamburger SV5 DF Serdar Tasci24 April 1987 (aged 23) 12 VfB Stuttgart6 MF Sami Khedira4 April 1987 (aged 23) 5 VfB Stuttgart7 MF Bastian Schweinsteiger1 August 1984 (aged 25) 74 Bayern Munich8 MFMesut Özil15 October 1988 (aged 21) 10 Werder Bremen9 FW Stefan Kießling25 January 1984 (aged 26) 4 Bayer Leverkusen10 MF Lukas Podolski4 June 1985 (aged 25) 73 1. FC Köln11 FW Miroslav Klose9 June 1978 (aged 32) 96 Bayern Munich12 GK Tim Wiese17 December 1981 (aged 28) 2 Werder Bremen13 MF Thomas Müller13 September 1989 (aged 20) 2 Bayern Munich14 DF Holger Badstuber13 March 1989 (aged 21) 2 Bayern Munich15 MF Piotr Trochowski22 March 1984 (aged 26) 31 Hamburger SV16 DF Philipp Lahm (c)11 November 1983 (aged 26) 65 Bayern Munich17 DF Per Mertesacker29 September 1984 (aged 25) 62 Werder Bremen18 MF Toni Kroos4 January 1990 (aged 20) 4 Bayer Leverkusen19 FW Cacau27 March 1981 (aged 29) 8 VfB Stuttgart20 DF Jérôme Boateng3 September 1988 (aged 21) 5 Hamburger SV21 MF Marko Marin13 March 1989 (aged 21) 9 Werder Bremen22 GK Hans-Jörg Butt28 May 1974 (aged 36) 3 Bayern Munich23 FW Mario Gómez10 July 1985 (aged 24) 34 Bayern Munich

Assuming that you know what the situations referred to mean, the signals an umpire should use to indicate a decision or penalty follow. Note: unless otherwise stated, signals are done standing still, facing the centre of the field/back to the nearest outline, and palms open.

Time signals:

• To indicate readiness to the co-umpire (in order to start time/play): One arm straight up.
• Time stopped (in play): Both arms crossed at the wrist above the head.

General signals:

• To indicate an advantage or free hit: One arm straight, horizontally, in the direction of play for the team receiving the advantage/free hit.
• Sideline hit: One arm straight, pointing in the direction of play for the team taking the hit.
• 16-yard-hit: Both arms straight, horizontal, and facing the centre of the field.
• Long corner: Pointing to the corner flag on the side of the field from which the hit should be taken.
• Penalty (short) corner: Both arms pointing at the goal of the team defending the corner.
• Penalty Stroke: One arm straight up, the other pointing at the penalty spot the stroke will be taken from; also indicates time stopped.
• 10 metre advancement: One arm straight up above the head, with the fist clenched.
• Bully: Both hands moved up and down in front of the body with palms facing.
• Two/One minute remaining: Both/One arm(s) straight up with finger pointing.
• Goal scored: Both arms straight, horizontally towards the centre of the field.

These signals are used to indicate what the offence was or why the call is given. They should be done after the decision signal if there is any doubt about why the call was made. A vocal (spoken) signal is just as effective as these - both in combination is even better.

• Danger: One forearm diagonally across the chest.
• Football/Kick: Touch one foot or ankle with the hand.
• Raised ball: (Now more usually called for danger) Both arms in front of and near to body, one above the other, palms facing.
• Obstruction: Both arms crossed at the wrist in front of and near the body.
• Shadow (Third-party) obstruction: Alternately cross forearms in front of and near body.
• Stick interference (back of stick, hacking, checking, etc.): One arm extended in front of the body, the other hand touching the forearm.
• 5 metres' distance: One arm straight above head with all five fingers extended.

Too many to list.

There would be upwards of 50 hockey stick suppliers around the world. Each has several lines (taken to mean between 5 and 10, depending on the size and focus of the company), and each line usually has between 5 and 10 sticks - some with many more. Besides this, there are extras like goalkeeping sticks, of which most companies make two or three (on average) and choices in stick such as length and weight, and for ice hockey the curve as well. Basically, you are looking at ten thousand sticks in total.