All you need to know about Field Hockey Balls

Field hockey balls are a vital part of the game of field hockey. You only need one ball per game, but without one, you can’t play. It’s a good idea to keep several balls for practice sessions, as they can get lost if you’re not careful. If the ball is too hard it may do damage to your stick, while different nuances in design help the hockey ball perform better on different surfaces.

Hockey Ball size and weight

The Hockey Rules Board of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) stipulates that field hockey balls should have a circumference of between 224 mm and 235 mm, and weigh between 156 grams and 163 grams. In inches, balls must weigh between 5 1/2 ounces and 5 3/4 ounces, with a circumference of 8 13/16 inches to 9 1/4 inches.

Additionally, high school players in the USA must use a ball that has an official NFHS stamp to certify the ball size and weight.

Hockey Ball colors

The hockey ball standard hue is white. However, by agreement, often in tournaments they may use bright colors. The referee may select a white, orange, or another color depending upon lighting and field conditions. Choosing whichever color is more likely to help the players and referee see the ball clearly.

Different textures of Field Hockey Balls

Two types of ball texture are used today depending on the playing surface. With a polished, shiny ball often used on sand-based pitches. Meanwhile, the dimpled hockey ball’s increasing popularity reflects the ever gaining popularity of water-based artificial pitches. Dimples allow water to disperse quicker off the ball. The ball can then go faster and travel further on water-based pitches.

The better field hockey balls nowadays, have a cork interior to bring more softness to the feel of the ball for better control. While a softer ball also offers better protection for hockey sticks.

The Australian hockey manufacturer, Kookaburra, has become the go-to brand for hockey balls. At the international level, ‘Kooks’ as they’re fondly called, are well established, due to their cork inners, colorful exteriors, and dimples for water dispersal (leading in a truer pass and shot on water-based astroturf).

Hockey Quote of the day:
“ The interesting thing about coaching is that you have to trouble the comfortable, and comfort the troubled. ”
– Ric Charlesworth

Let's have a look at some hockey balls available world wide

NFHS stamped, this 12 pack of hockey balls should keep you well-stocked for a couple of seasons. With hollowed-out interiors, the balls are light enough not to damage stick hooks. Bright colors will keep vision at full max in training, or more competitive games. Certified by the NFHS, makes them a solid choice of field hockey players in USA high school JV and Varsity leagues. The advantages of buying a 12 pack mean your training can go interrupted if you misplace a few.

You can buy a 12 pack of these NFHS stamped balls in red, white, purple, or yellow for only a couple of dollars each.

For dimpled balls that are readily varied, look no further than the ‘Kook’ range. An ideal college-level ball is the Saturn. The ball is a rotationally cast PVC casing dimple ball, good for water-based hockey fields.