The rules of field hockey are just like soccer and they have changed many times over the years. The game starts when the umpire flips a coin to see which team goes first. The team that won the coin toss gets to choose if they want to defend or take possession of the ball at the start of the game. There are 10 players and 1 goalie on each team. You have the option to take the goalie out and add an extra player so that you have 11 players or you can have a goalie and have 10 players. The team is arranged into defence, midfield and attack, but someone can also be a sweeper which is a last line of defence before the goalie. The right side of the stick is rounded and the left side of the stick is flat, you are only allowed to use the left side of your stick. There are 3 different ways to score a goal in field hockey; a field goal, a penalty corner, and a penalty stroke. Umpires are the people that inforce the rules, if you want to learn about them click here. If you would like to learn about the history of field hockey, proceed to the next page.​