Outdoors, a ball that crosses the side-line means a stoppage and a restart. Indoors the long sides of the pitch are closed off by boards, and a ball that rebounds off the board stays in play. For a field player this is a new element: the board helps with passing and defending, but it can also be a trap when an opponent pins you against it with the ball. Below is what the FIH indoor rules say about the boards, and how to use them in attack and in defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FIH Rules of Indoor Hockey, both in the 2023 edition and in the new one effective internationally from 1 November 2026, place the boards along the long sides of the pitch. A board has a square cross-section of 100 mm, its face on the pitch side is inclined by 10 mm towards the pitch, and it is made of wood or a material with similar properties. The key rules for play at the board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We gathered the other differences between indoor and outdoor in the post on indoor hockey rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The board works like a team-mate who never changes position and cannot be marked. When a defender closes the direct pass, the ball can be pushed into the board at an angle so that it rebounds behind their back to a team-mate or to yourself, as in a classic \u201cone-two\u201d. The angle of the rebound roughly matches the angle of entry, but the path is affected by the weight of the pass, the floor and whether the ball is rolling cleanly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A flat, clean push gives a more predictable rebound than a bouncing ball. The ball must not be played in the air. Under the 2023 edition, it may be stopped by the team that did not raise it; after a legitimate shot rebounds off the goalkeeper, a defender or the goal frame, either team may stop it. The edition effective from 1 November 2026 allows players to stop it and press it down with the flat side of the stick. When a given competition adopts the new edition is decided by its regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under pressure near your own goal, the board covers one side of the player with the ball. A short pass off the board to a team-mate or to yourself gets you past the first presser. The risk is on the other side: at the board it is easier to get trapped, and a ball played over the board goes back to the opponents within one metre of where it went out, which means close to your circle. Play the ball before the presser arrives instead of waiting at the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In defence the board narrows the space for the opponent. The first presser positions themselves to cut off the middle and steer the player with the ball towards the board, while the second closes the route along it. The aim is to force a turnover or a misplaced pass, not to wedge the ball. The rules forbid trapping a player with sticks flat on the floor without an outlet, and a tackle is only allowed when the ball can be played without body contact with the opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When receiving a ball off the board, do not stand right against it. A step of space leaves room for the stick and lets you receive the ball in front of you rather than under your feet. Stand side-on, so that you can see the board and the pitch at the same time, with bent knees and the stick low, flat side to the ball. Receiving at the board on your backhand side can be harder, so it is worth practising on both sides of the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do stick-and-ball drills at the board wearing the protection your club requires and under a coach's supervision, especially the variants with a defender. Four suggestions to discuss with the coach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play at the board means short, quick passes along the floor. An indoor stick can be lighter and slimmer than an outdoor stick, which may make such play easier, but the effect depends on the player's technique. How an indoor stick differs from an outdoor one and how to choose it, we described in the post on the indoor stick<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe pass off the board in attack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Building out of defence along the board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pressing at the board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Body and stick at the board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Drills at the board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which features of an indoor stick help at the board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n