How Many Players In Hockey Team?

In India, hockey might not be as popular as cricket, yet it definitely has a huge fan base. According to Playo, 41.4 million Indians followed the HIL (Hockey India League) in 2021. It’s a highly physically demanding game and involves constant running, quick reflexes, and making goals. Hockey is pretty exciting due to all this. Learning how many players on a hockey team in field hockey will help you understand the game better and provide you with a more enjoyable experience. In this blog, we are sharing information of in a team of hockey how many players are there. We will also share their positions and their roles.  

Hockey: How Many Players On A Team?

Field hockey is India’s national sport. This is also a reason why you should at least know how many players on a hockey team. Well, there are 11 players on the team. Scroll down and keep reading to learn about their roles and responsibilities.  

Wing Forward

Wing forwards are players positioned on the left and right sides. They run along the sidelines to send the ball in shooting circles. How many players on a hockey team play as wing forwards? There are two wing forwards on the left and two on the right, totalling four. Sometimes, wing forwards also make goals. Wing forwards are responsible for making chances of goals for the centre forward. They also pressurise an opposing team’s defender and prevent forward progress by covering the wings. 

Centre Forward

The centre forward is the lead scorer of the team. Every team has one centre forward. He operates the central area of the field. This player creates space and attempts to score with each pass from the wing forwards and midfielders. The centre forward also forces the opposite team’s defenders to make errors. You can often find centre-forward as the first line of defence.  

Midfielders

Midfielders, also known as Halfbacks, contribute to defence and offence and serve as a bridge for fullbacks and forwards. If you ask how many players on a hockey team play as midfielders, three players handle this play from this position: one in the right, one in the left, and one in the centre. Midfielders are responsible for stopping the passes from the opponent team and initiating counter-attacks. Through tackles and interceptions, they support the defenders and obstruct the opposing team’s play. Players in this position also create scoring opportunities.  

Defenders

Defenders or fullbacks are the second-last line of defence. Wondering how many players on a hockey team play as defenders? There are two defenders in a team: one on the left and one on the right side near the goalpost. They protect the area in front of the goalkeeper. These players make tackles, interceptions, and block shots to make sure the opposing team doesn’t score goals. While attacking, defenders pass the ball to midfielders and forwards. Sometimes, defenders advance to support the attack; this particularly happens during set pieces or set plays like penalty corners. 

Goalkeepers

A Goalkeeper is the last line of defence and is responsible for stopping all the opposing team’s shots so the ball doesn’t enter the goalpost. Goalkeepers wear uniforms in different colours from the rest of the team to be clearly visible. Unlike the rest of the players, goalkeepers are allowed to use any body part to block shots within the shooting circle. They are also responsible for launching fast counter-attacks by distributing the ball effectively to other players. 

In addition to the 11 players every team has some substitutes. When learning how many players on a hockey team, considering these players is also important.  

Substitutes In Hockey Team

Substitutes enter the game as replacements when permanent players get injured or excessively tired. A player can be substituted several times during the play but not in the penalty corners. 

In addition to the 11 players playing on the field, every team can have around 5 substitutes.

Field Hockey: More Than Just A Game

Hockey became popular in the 1850s and has seen multiple legends. Dhyan Chand, an Indian was known as the magician of Hockey and was one of the best players in this sport. Even now, the game is becoming more popular day by day, thanks to events like the Hockey League in India. As you now know how many players on a hockey team in a hockey team in field hockey you can enjoy the game better next time witnessing a hockey tournament.

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