USA Field Hockey

ParaHockey is a further complementary version of the sport that is played in some parts of the world by athletes with intellectual disabilities. USA Field Hockey does not currently field a team but would like to assist any club or organization interested in forming a team to and make hockey more accessible to all.

One of the values of the USA Field Hockey American Development Model is Accessibility and Inclusion. In short, our goal is to make the sport available to all people to enjoy.

ParaHockey (II) is World Hockey’s (FIH) adapted format for players with Intellectual Impairment. The format for international matches is 7v7 (including a goalkeeper) on a half pitch. Games are 24-30 minutes total with a 5-minute halftime. Goals can only be scored after entering the shooting zone or “D” area. Shootouts replace penalty corners in the format. 

While at the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup London 2018, representatives of USA Field Hockey’s Sport Development team had the opportunity to learn more about ParaHockey, and to watch it being played. They met with Norman Hughes, FIH ParaHockey Sports Director, and spoke to him about the goals for ParaHockey to grow and achieve full member sport status with the Special Olympics and International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (INAS) over the next few years.

ParaHockey has grown across the globe. In 2011, four nations were delivering ParaHockey programming. In 2019, 15 nations offer ParaHockey:

• 11 European Countries: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Wales
• 1 Pan Am: Argentina
• 1 Asia: Malaysia
• 2 Oceania: Australia and New Zealand

USA Field Hockey would like to encourages anyone interested in ParaHockey to reach out to sportdevelopment@usafieldhockey.com for more information.