The Game of Field Hockey

3 UMPIRES

Two umpires shall control the game and apply the Rules; they are the sole judges of fair play. Players and substitutes, whether on or off the field, including any period of temporary or permanent suspension, are under the jurisdiction of the umpires.

3.1 Umpires shall be:

a. primarily responsible for the decisions in their half of the field, for the whole of the game without changing ends

b. responsible for ensuring that the full or agreed time is played

c. solely responsible for decisions on the ball going out of play for the full length of their nearer side-line and back-line

d. solely responsible for decisions on corners, penalty corners, penalty strokes and goals in their own half and free hits in their own circle

e. responsible for keeping a written record of goals scored and warnings/suspensions

f. debarred from coaching during a game and during the interval.

3.2 Umpires shall blow the whistle to:

a. start and end each half of the game

b. enforce a penalty

c. start and end a penalty stroke

d. indicate, when necessary, that the ball has passed wholly ouside the field

e. signal a goal

f. re-start the game after a goal has been scored or awarded

g. re-start the game after a penalty stroke in which a goal was not scored or awarded

h. stop the game for any other reason and re- start after such stoppage.