Field hockey / Rule 08
Scoring a goal
FIH · 2026In short
The circle requirement · After a goal
The circle requirement
An attacker must play the ball inside the circle, and it must stay inside before crossing the entire goal-line beneath the crossbar. A defender may touch it before or after that attacking touch. A shot from outside alone cannot qualify as a goal.
After a goal
Time and play stop when a goal is awarded and restart when the teams are ready. The team conceding takes the centre pass. Competition arrangements may permit alternative timing procedures; the basic goal definition still depends on the attacking touch inside the circle.
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 ↗