NEW RULES 2026
Aerial Ball Rule (Rule 9.10):
An opponent must now remain 5 metres away until the falling ball has been touched.
Previously, the rule required the receiver to have "control" before an opponent could close in;
The 2026 update allows immediate pressure once the ball is touched, provided the initial 5-metre distance was respected.
If no clear receiver is identified (multiple players in the landing space), a free hit is awarded to to the defending team (team that did not raise the ball).
Under the amended Rule, opponents may approach once the receiver has touched the ball, provided that the initial 5 metres of space to allow for safe reception has been respected.
This adjustment maintains player safety while allowing a fair contest after first touch, including inside the circle.
Aerial balls will continue to be closely monitored by the FIH Rules Committee to ensure that safety standards are upheld, and considerations of 7 consistency of adjudication and fairness are taken into account.
Penalty Corner (PC) Equipment (Rule 13.3n):
Requirement: Defenders must remove all PC protective equipment (like masks) immediately after the PC is completed.
Sanction: If a defender plays the ball while still wearing a mask after the PC phase has ended (e.g., during a subsequent free hit), another PC may be awarded.
Exception: A defender may play the ball immediately if a free hit is awarded to their team within the 23m area while they are still wearing equipment, but they cannot take a self-pass in that gear.
Penalty Corner (PC) Equipment (Rule 13.3n):
Rule 13.3 (n).
Following a penalty corner, it is considered dangerous and negligent behaviour if a defender throws protective equipment (such as a face mask, hand protector or knee pad) and it strikes an opponent, an umpire, or it strikes any other person outside the field of play. In such cases, the player must receive a yellow card if the person is struck on or above the knee in a normal stance.
This guidance is preventative in nature and is intended to protect both players and umpires by discouraging careless disposal of equipment, regardless of whether an injury occurs. If equipment is thrown deliberately at another person, more serious sanctions, including a red card, may apply. It has also been clarified how play is to be re-started in such situations. If time and play are stopped for this reason and the ball is outside the circle at the time of the incident, play will be re-started with a free hit to the opposing team at the place where the ball was.
if the ball is inside the circle, the restart will be a penalty corner unless the criteria of Rule 12.4 are met, in which case a penalty stroke will be awarded. Where the ball is already out of play when the incident occurs, no additional team penalty is awarded, and the match is re-started in accordance with the original decision.
Rule 10.2 has been updated to explicitly state the conditions under which goalkeepers may use their body to play the ball.
The new wording clarifies that when the ball is inside the circle a goalkeeperis defending and they have their stick in their hand; they are permitted to use their stick and their body to deflect the ball over the back-line or to play it in any other direction.
Earlier editions contained a separate provision allowing goalkeepers wearing full protective equipment, and players with goalkeeping privileges, to use their arms, hands and other parts of their body to push the ball away – but only as part of a goal-saving action, or to move the ball away from the possibility of a goal-scoring action by opponents.
They were not permitted to propel the ball forcefully with arms, hands or body so that it travelled a long distance.
Umpire Contact (Rule 11.8):
If the ball hits an umpire or an unauthorised person, play continues unless an advantage is gained. If an advantage occurs, the game restarts with a bully.
Rule 11.8 has been revised to prevent a match from being unfairly influenced by an accidental deflection off an umpire. Under the previous wording, play continued if the ball struck an umpire, an unauthorised person or any loose object on the field. T
The new wording now specifies that if the ball hits an umpire or an unauthorised person on the field, play shall continue unless the contact results in an advantage to one team, in which case the match shall be restarted with a bully.
This amendment ensures that an unfortunate touch by an umpire cannot decide the outcome of a match. For reasons of systematic clarity, the situation in which the ball makes contact with a loose object on the field is no longer part of Rule 11.8 but has been moved to Rule 9.16.
APPLYING THE RULES 2026 FIH
The FIH Rules Committee continues to be concerned that some Rules are not applied consistently.
Rule 7.4.c: ball intentionally played over the back-line by a defender and no goal is scored. If it is clear that the action is intentional, umpires should not hesitate to award a penalty corner.
Rule 9.10: aerial ball. Umpires must ensure that aerial balls can be received safely, if the ball is falling into a crowd of players, they should blow the whistle early to avoid danger.
Rule 9.12: obstruction. Umpires should penalise shielding the ball with the stick more strictly. They should also look out for a tackling player who by pushing or leaning on an opponent causes them to lose possession of the ball.
Rule 13.2.a: ball stationary at a free hit. Umpires are sometimes not strict enough on requiring the ball to be stationary, albeit very briefly, for a free hit, especially if it is taken using a self-pass
