Field hockey / Rule 03
Captains
FIH · 2026In short
Identification and replacement · Responsibility
Identification and replacement
Each team appoints a captain who wears a distinctive armband or similar marker on the upper arm, shoulder or upper sock. When a captain is suspended, a replacement captain must be appointed so that responsibility remains clear throughout the match.
Responsibility
The captain is responsible for team behaviour and correct substitutions. Failure to fulfil these duties can bring a personal penalty. This does not transfer every individual offence to the captain: players remain responsible for their own conduct, whether on or off the field.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent summaries of the supplied FIH Rules of Hockey, effective 1 March 2026, for outdoor eleven-a-side hockey. Competition regulations and national implementation can differ. References use PDF pages.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗