High School Field Hockey Makes Goalkeepers Uniform Changes for 2023

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (February 6, 2023) – Rule changes in high school field hockey for 2023 include the goalkeeper’s uniform number. Rule changes made the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Committee were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A note was approved for Rule 1-8-1a which will bring uniform requirements for goalkeepers in line with the player’s uniform number. This requires that numbers shall be clearly visible, in a solid color contrasting any surrounding colors, no more than two digits (00-99), at least 3 inches in height on the front and 6 inches in height on the back of the uniform top and a visible number worn on the uniform bottom shall be the same number as on the uniform top. A team may not use 0 and 00 because duplicate numbers are not permitted on the same team.

A note was added to Rule 1-8-1h as follows: “Shoes worn under the kickers shall be rubber-soled shoes. Plastic, leather or rubber cleats may be worn.” In Rule 1-5-5, players will now be allowed to wear jewelry with their uniform. According to the committee, permitting jewelry aligns with current trends in other rules codes for consistency of officiating and coaching.

Sixteen NFHS member state associations conduct state championships in field hockey, a sport that includes 55,829 girls participants in 1,767 schools nationwide according to the 2021-22 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.