Field hockey is one of the most aerobically demanding team sports. Players cover 8 to 10 kilometres per game, with a continuous mix of jogging, running and high intensity bursts throughout 60 minutes of play. Top international players have been recorded covering over 11 kilometres in a single match.
Typical Scores for Hockey Players
International / Professional
Midfielders, who cover the most ground during a game, tend to score at the higher end.
Defenders / Forwards (Elite)
Slightly lower movement demands than midfielders but still requiring very strong aerobic fitness.
Competitive Club
Strong benchmark for competitive club level. Target level 11 or above for outfield players.
Recreational / Social
Adequate fitness for the demands of the game at recreational and social level.
Why Hockey Players Respond Well to Beep Test Training
Hockey involves constant short sprints, changes of direction and recovery periods — a pattern that closely matches the structure of the beep test. Beep test specific training therefore has excellent transfer to hockey fitness.
The additional challenge for hockey players is that much of their movement is in a semi-crouched position due to stick technique requirements. This places extra demand on the lower back and hamstrings during sustained running. The beep test does not replicate this, but a strong aerobic base developed through beep test training still supports match performance significantly.
National and International Standards
Published data from international hockey environments gives a useful reference point. FIH-level international midfielders consistently score in the 13 to 15 range. England Hockey national programme players at under-18 and under-21 level are expected to meet minimum aerobic standards that typically sit around level 11 to 12 for outfield players. Goalkeepers have somewhat different movement demands and tend to score 1 to 2 levels lower than comparable outfield players.
The gender difference in beep test scores is particularly pronounced in field hockey relative to some other team sports. Elite female international players typically score in the 11 to 13 range for midfielders — high relative to most female populations but below equivalent male international standards. When assessing your own score against benchmarks, always use the gender-specific norms in the score tables.
Surface Differences and Their Effect on Testing
Hockey is typically played on AstroTurf — a surface that requires different footwear and has different traction characteristics to grass or a gym floor. The beep test is usually conducted on a gym floor or athletics track rather than on AstroTurf, which means there is a slight difference between beep test conditions and actual match movement conditions.
The practical implication is that if you practise the beep test on a gym floor and then play matches on AstroTurf, your transfer should be positive — the gym floor is generally faster, so you are conditioning for a harder version of the movement. If you are running pre-season beep tests on the pitch itself, expect slightly different performance characteristics on the turn due to grass or turf resistance.
In-Season Maintenance
Maintaining aerobic fitness during a full hockey season requires deliberate planning. Match days and normal training absorb significant physical load, and adding beep test specific sessions on top risks overtraining. The approach that works for most club players is:
One interval session per week at moderate intensity, reduced from the pre-season protocol. The goal is maintenance, not improvement. Trying to improve your beep test score during a full competitive season while training and playing twice a week is very difficult and usually results in fatigue affecting match performance more than the training is helping.
Retest at the end of the season. The gap between your end-of-pre-season score and your end-of-season score tells you how well your in-season maintenance work is doing.
Pre-season Targeting
For club hockey players starting a new season, use the 6 week training plan on this site during pre-season. Target level 11 or above as your goal if you play outfield at competitive club level. The interval sessions in weeks 3 to 5 are particularly relevant.
If your pre-season is short — four to five weeks rather than six to eight — prioritise the intensity work in weeks 3 to 5 rather than building slowly from week 1. You may not have time to complete the full progression, but the high intensity sessions will have the most impact on your test score in a compressed timeframe.