Field hockey scorekeeping guide
How to Keep Score in Field Hockey
Field hockey awards one goal when the ball is legally played into the goal after an attacker touches it inside the circle. The running total carries through four quarters.
Start a field hockey scoreboard- Goal
- 1 point
- Outdoor match
- 4 × 15-minute quarters
- Winner
- Most goals
How field hockey scoring works
- 01
Add one after the umpire awards a goal.
- 02
Carry the score through four regulation quarters.
- 03
A tied pool or league match may remain a draw.
- 04
Knockout competitions may use a shootout to determine which team advances.
Choose the rules your event uses
Governing bodies, age groups, and tournament directors can use different formats. Confirm the format before play.
FormatScoringWhen it applies
Outdoor hockey4 × 15-minute quarters
The international standard.
Indoor hockeyCompetition-specific periods
Use the event timing while keeping the same one-goal scoring.
YouthShorter quarters
Local associations set age-appropriate duration.
Courtside checklist
Keep the scoreboard clean
- ✓Wait for the umpire’s goal signal.
- ✓Advance one quarter at a time.
- ✓Keep a shootout result separate when the competition requires it.
Read the complete rules
This guide covers scoreboard essentials, not every playing rule. Local competition rules take precedence.