A National Olympic Committee may enter one men's team for the field hockey competition. Mexico, the host nation along with seven other countries qualified through regional competitions.[2]
Cuba played a three match series against the men's country that would have qualified as the eighth country (Brazil, who finished in the third qualifying position from the 2009 Pan American Cup), as Cuba did not enter the Central American and Caribbean Games.[5]
Pools were based on the current world rankings (January 4, 2011). Teams ranked 1, 4, 5 and 8 would be in Pool A, while teams ranked 2, 3, 6 and 7 would be in Pool B.[6]
Eight teams competed in both the men's and women's Pan American Games hockey tournaments with the competition consisting of two rounds.[8]
In the first round, teams were divided into two pools of four teams, and play followed round robin format with each of the teams playing all other teams in the pool once. Teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.[9]
Following the completion of the pool games, teams placing first and second in each pool advanced to a single elimination round consisting of two semifinal games, and the bronze and gold medal games. Remaining teams competed in classification matches to determine their ranking in the tournament. During these matches, extra time of 7½ minutes per half was played if teams were tied at the end of regulation time. During extra time, play followed golden goal rules with the first team to score declared the winner. If no goals were scored during extra time, a penalty stroke competition took place.[9]
Argentina (8th title)
Canada
Chile
Francisco Montoya
Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados
United States
Cuba
