Sports Cockpit · Ball & Team · FIH Rules of Hockey (from 1 Nov 2026)
Hockey — FIH rules, Hockey India selection, SAI camps & the Hockey India League
Education Margdarshan's hockey map for India: the FIH Rules of Hockey in force internationally from 1 November 2026, Hockey India's national championships and how core probables are picked for national camps, the SAI centres that train hockey, who pays, the HIL auction rules and the medals, awards and jobs that follow.
01 Core rules & selection formats
The Rules of Hockey in force from 1 November 2026
- A match is four quarters of 15 minutes, with 2-minute breaks after quarters 1 and 3 and a 10-minute half-time.
- A team is at most 16 people: 11 players on the field and up to 5 substitutes. A team may play with a goalkeeper (in headgear, leg guards and kickers) or with field players only.
- The field is 91.40 m × 55.00 m.
- Personal penalties: green card = 2 minutes off, yellow card = 5 or 10 minutes, red card = out of the match. [1]
What changed on 1 November 2026 [1]
| Rule | Change |
|---|---|
| 2.3 Goalkeeper substitution | Time no longer has to be stopped; the goalkeeper may be replaced during play, even by a field player |
| 4.6 Devices | No device to send or receive communication may be worn or used by players |
| 13.3 Penalty corner | As a guideline, no more than 40 seconds from award to start; the injector must play the ball immediately |
| 14 Personal penalties | The same player or team official should not get two green or two yellow cards in one match — the next card must be a higher one |
| 1.9 Flag-posts | No longer compulsory under the Rules |
National associations may choose their own start date for these rules at national level, and FIH has promised no major rule changes before the LA 2028 Olympics. [1]
Hockey India national championships in the 2026 calendar [3][4][2]
| Championship | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Sub Junior Women National Championship | 1–12 Apr 2026 | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| 16th Sub Junior Men National Championship | 1–12 Apr 2026 | — |
| 16th Junior Men National Championship | 28 Jul – 8 Aug 2026 | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| 16th Senior Men National Championship | 2026 | Division 'A' at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh |
Nationals are played in three divisions. At the 2026 Junior Men's event 30 teams played: 12 in Division 'A' for the title, 10 in 'B' and 8 in 'C'. The bottom two of 'A' drop to 'B'; the top two of 'B' move up and the bottom two drop to 'C'; the top two of 'C' move up. [4]
The age cut-off for each Sub Junior and Junior championship is set in that championship's circular — check it with your state hockey unit before trials. [3]
02 Institutional & global recognition
Olympics, Asian Games, World Cup and the HIL
India's latest major results [7][8][9]
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Paris 2024 Olympics (men) | Bronze — beat Spain 2-1; second Olympic medal in a row |
| Asian Games 2026 (men) | Gold — beat Malaysia 5-1; direct place at the LA 2028 Olympics |
| Asian Games 2026 (women) | Gold — beat China 1-0; direct place at the LA 2028 Olympics |
Government cash award for a senior hockey medal (₹ lakh, before the team-event rule) [11]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 75 | 50 | 30 |
| Asian Games / Commonwealth Games | 30 | 20 | 10 |
| FIH Hockey World Cup (every 4 years) | 40 | 25 | 15 |
| Asian Championship, senior (every 4 years) | 15 | 10 | 5 |
In team events each squad member, including bench and reserve players, gets 75% of the individual amount above. [11]
The men's and women's hockey teams were part of the TOPS core group (August 2024), the government's Olympic-podium scheme. [12]
03 Physical benchmarks & anti-doping
Equipment limits, selection criteria and anti-doping
Stick and ball limits (FIH) [1]
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Stick weight | Not more than 737 g |
| Stick length | Not more than 105 cm |
| Stick width | Must pass through a ring of 51 mm inside diameter |
| Bow of the stick | Up to 25 mm deep |
| Ball | 156–163 g |
- The selection committee judges campers on position balance, physical ability, the ability to carry out the team's tactical plan, contribution to team dynamics and experience.
- The Chief Coach reports each camper's progress and can recommend dropping under-performers or adding new probables.
- Final trials are held 60–45 days before the team leaves for an overseas event (45–30 days for events in India); SAI is told at least a week ahead and gets the minutes within 48 hours. [5]
- Team-game entry to SAI Training Centres is for ages 10–18, after a battery of motor-quality and skill tests; a player who misses the motor-quality level can be taken provisionally for six months. [10]
- Anti-doping: be available for testing, check every medicine against the Prohibited List and apply for a TUE when no permitted treatment exists. [13]
04 Grassroots-to-elite roadmap
From the state team to the national camp
The full Hockey roadmap has its own page
📍 See The Journey / Full RoadmapEvery stage from first club to the international level, the detailed route, the age-by-age ladder and what to eat from stage 1, with sources.
05 Top training academies & cities
Where India's hockey players are trained
SAI National Centres of Excellence with hockey [10]
| Centre | Other disciplines there |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting |
| Bhopal | Athletics, boxing, judo, wushu, kayaking & canoeing |
| Lucknow | Athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling |
| Patiala | Athletics, cycling, fencing, judo, weightlifting |
| Sonepat | Archery, athletics, kabaddi, wrestling |
| Hamirpur | Athletics, badminton, boxing, judo, wrestling |
| Kandivali (Mumbai) | Kabaddi, wrestling |
| Aurangabad | Boxing, fencing, weightlifting, gymnastics |
| Imphal | Archery, athletics, cycling, fencing, football, judo, weightlifting, wushu |
| Kolkata | Archery, athletics, gymnastics, table tennis |
| M.D.C.N.S., Delhi | Hockey only |
The senior national camps run mainly at the SAI Centre, Bengaluru — Hockey India's 2025-26 pathway to the Asian Games put almost every men's and women's preparatory camp there, plus Pro League matches in Bhubaneswar. [5]
Lucknow and Bhopal are development NCOEs for scouted juniors; the national team itself camps at SAI Bengaluru. [10][5]
06 Equipment costs & who pays
Who pays a hockey player at each level
Who pays — hockey [10][12][6]
| Stage | Paid by | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Adopted school (age 8–14) | SAI National Sports Talent Contest | Kit, competition exposure and a stipend each year |
| SAI centre trainee | SAI | Coaching, boarding and sports science at an STC or NCOE |
| Khelo India athlete | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | ₹6.28 lakh a year incl. ₹1.20 lakh cash |
| Olympic squad | TOPS core group | The hockey teams were in the core group |
| HIL player | Franchise | Auction price within the team's salary cap |
- Your stick must meet the FIH limits — 737 g, 105 cm and the 51 mm ring — whatever it is made of.
- Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices for sticks or kit: no governing body publishes them. [1]
- Food first with a certified nutritionist — no supplement is 100% safe and the athlete is responsible for whatever is found in the sample. [14]
07 Earning channels & central job quotas
HIL contracts, prize money and sports-quota jobs
Hockey India League 2026 auction rules [6]
| Rule | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Salary cap per team | ₹4 crore | ₹2 crore |
| Squad | 20 players (2 goalkeepers + 18 outfield) | 20 players (2 goalkeepers + 18 outfield) |
| Overseas / juniors | Max 7 overseas · min 3 Indian juniors | Max 7 overseas · min 3 Indian juniors |
| Base price slabs | ₹2 lakh · ₹5 lakh · ₹10 lakh (₹2 lakh minimum) | ₹2 lakh · ₹5 lakh · ₹10 lakh (₹2 lakh minimum) |
After the Paris 2024 bronze, Hockey India paid ₹15 lakh to each player and ₹7.5 lakh to each support-staff member. [7]
Unlike the BCCI, Hockey India publishes no graded central-contract list; national campers are trained through SAI camps, and earnings come from the HIL, awards and jobs.
- Hockey is one of the 65 sports in the central sports quota for Group C posts, with up to 5 years' age relaxation (10 for SC/ST).
- Medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championships can bring up to three out-of-turn promotions; in team events only if the player played at least 50% of the matches. [15]
Coaching route after playing: Hockey India runs its own HI Level 1 and Level 2 certification and lists FIH Academy Level 1–4 certified coaches. [2]
08 Disqualification traps
Mistakes that cost hockey players their place
- Skipping camp — no outside athlete can be considered for tournament selection; only campers and core probables.
- Unsatisfactory camp performance — the Chief Coach can recommend elimination. [5]
- Picking up a second green or yellow card in a match — from November 2026 the next card must be a higher one.
- Carrying a communication device on the field. [1]
- Age fraud or doping — grounds for removal from SAI centres; age is verified when admission rests on Sub Junior or Junior results. [10]
09 Official sources & verification
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from the governing body's own rule book or a Government of India file below, read on 15 October 2026. Federations change rules, weight classes and scheme amounts — open the current file before you act on it.
- FIH — Rules of Hockey including explanations (effective 1 November 2026) (opens in a new tab) Match length, team size, field size, cards, 2026 rule changes, stick and ball specifications · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — official website (opens in a new tab) Senior Men National Championship 2026 (Jhansi), HI coaching education pathway and FIH Academy levels · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — National tournaments calendar (opens in a new tab) Sub Junior and Junior national championships 2026, dates and venues · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — Preview: 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026, Coimbatore (opens in a new tab) 30 teams in Divisions A, B and C, promotion and relegation · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — Policy & Guidelines for Selection Trials and Selection of Campers for National Camps (May 2026) (opens in a new tab) Core probables, selection criteria, trial timelines, Asian Games 2026 camp pathway at SAI Bengaluru · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — Hero HIL 2026 mini auctions (24 Sep 2025) (opens in a new tab) Salary caps, 20-player squads, overseas and junior quotas, base price slabs · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hockey India — Cash prizes for the men's team after the Paris 2024 bronze (8 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Bronze win over Spain, ₹15 lakh per player, ₹7.5 lakh per support-staff member · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- FIH — Indian men seal LA28 Olympic qualification with Asian Games gold (3 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab) 5-1 final win over Malaysia, direct LA28 place · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- FIH — India clinch Asian Games gold to seal LA28 Olympic qualification (2 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab) 1-0 final win over China, direct LA28 place · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) Hockey NCOEs, STC team-game entry, NSTC support, weeding-out rules · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) Award amounts, FIH World Cup and Asian Championship listing, 75% team rule · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India ₹6.28 lakh, TOPS core group incl. hockey teams · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing duties, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Food first, supplement risk, strict liability · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Hockey in the 65-sport list, Group C, out-of-turn promotion in team events · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- FIH — Masters hockey flourishing on the world stage (26 June 2018) (opens in a new tab) World Masters Hockey as one unified body with FIH; Masters World Cup 35+ to 60+; Grand Masters 60+ to 75+ · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- SAI NSNIS Patiala — Six Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching (opens in a new tab) 6 weeks (4 online, 2 offline), ₹14,800, Class 12 + district-level top 3 or state / inter-university / SGFI / national participation · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- SAI NSNIS Patiala — Diploma in Sports Coaching (course page, 2026-27) (opens in a new tab) 1 year, ₹63,800, 785 + 104 seats in 26 disciplines at Patiala, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram; Category A (Class 12 + international record), B (graduation + national record) · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, Level 5/4, 3/2 and 1 sports norms, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) 521 posts, age 18–23 on 1 Aug 2026 with sportsperson relaxation (+5 UR, +8 OBC, +10 SC/ST), qualifications, fee, ₹1 lakh bond · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- Khelo India Youth Games 2026 (Telangana) — Sports (opens in a new tab) The 25 disciplines listed for KIYG 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.
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