You can keep score for field hockey using an app to control your scoreboard. ScoreVision's Advanced Scoring now includes field hockey as a sport—so we're giving you a quick overview of how to keep score for field hockey. 

How to Keep Score for Field Hockey

Field hockey shares many similarities with lacrosse and soccer, but it is still not the same. The game is played with 11 total players per team—10 on the field and 1 goalie. Here's how to keep score: 

1. Game Setup & Tracking Time

A coin toss starts the game. The winner of the coin toss chooses first possession or defending goal. Similar to lacrosse, field hockey is played in four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes rather than 12, with two-minute breaks between quarters and one 10-minute halftime. If you're using ScoreVision, the app defaults to this setting, so your scorekeeper won't have to set it up each time, but you can also change it at any time.

The clock only stops for timeouts, carding, penalty strokes, official reviews, and injuries. The clock DOES NOT stop when penalty corners are awarded unless there is a standard stoppage, as listed before. The game is extended at the end of quarters to complete either penalty. 

2. When to add points in field hockey

Points can only be awarded for field hockey when the goal takes place within the shooting circle. According to the official rules by the FIH guidelines, if a goal is scored from outside the shooting circle ("the D"), it does not count as a goal—even if the ball goes into the net. In such a case, no goal is awarded, the scoreboard does not update the score, and it is not recorded as a goal or shot on goal in official statistics. 

If you're using ScoreVision, you'll notice the "Goals" button is inside the circle, reminding you that it only counts if the shot is within the shooting circle. You can also track shots and saves, which will display on the scoreboard. 

3. Tracking penalty cards

Similar to soccer, field hockey uses green, yellow, and red cards to indicate the severity of penalties. Green cards get two minutes, yellow cards get five minutes, and red cards are for ejections. Unlike in lacrosse, these penalties cannot automatically expire or be terminated early when the opposing team scores. If you're using ScoreVision, you can assign a penalty and set the duration, so a timer and player number will appear on the scoreboard.  If it's a red card, the player will be removed permanently from the scorekeeper, and no timer will be shown. 

4. What happens in a tie 

Field hockey can end in a declared draw, but in a tournament where one team must be the winner, teams will have a shootout. The ball will be placed on the 23-meter line, directly opposite the center of the goal. The attacker starts behind the ball and the goalkeeper starts on the goal line. Upon the umpire's whistle, the attacker has 8 seconds to try and score. The shoot-out concludes when a goal is scored, the ball exits the field of play, the attacker or goalkeeper commits an offense, or the 8-second time limit expires. The team with the most points after the initial 5 shoot-outs wins. If the game is still tied, they proceed to sudden death rounds, maintaining the same player order until a winner emerges. 

Scoreboards for Field Hockey

Many scoreboard manufacturers do not offer a scoreboard that works specifically for field hockey, so teams end up using a similar sport—unless you have ScoreVision. Our field hockey scoring app turns any LED display into a professional scoreboard that displays goals, shots, saves, and penalties. It recognizes the rules of the game specific to field hockey and guides the scorekeeper in applying them. It's an easy, reliable way to keep score.