Field hockey

Field hockey is a popular Olympic sport in many countries around the world, with India, Pakistan, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia the most successful international teams. It is popular for both men and women in these countries. In these countries, where (with the exception of Germany) ice hockey is not common, it is generally referred to simply as "hockey". In the United States it is widely regarded as a women's sport, but there are men's leagues as well, mostly on a collegiate level.

Origins

Though the name hockey,from the French word hoquet,dates to the 18th century,sports of the general type have existed for thousands of years in many cultures. Modern field hockey was born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England on January 18, 1886. The current governing body of the global game is the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (International Hockey Federation or FIH).

The Field of Play

The game is played between two teams of eleven players on a 91.4 x 54.8 metre (100 x 60 yard) rectangular field. Most modern fields are covered with "synthetic grass" - a smooth, carpet-like material, but the game was traditionally played on live grass. At each end there is a goal approximately 2.1 metres high, and 3.7 metres wide, and a semi-circle approximately 16 metres from the goal known as the "arc",or "shooting circle", with a dotted line one meter from the semi-circle, as well as lines across the field approximately 24 metres from each end-line and in the centre of the field.

Equipment

Each player carries a "stick", about 90 centimetres long and traditionally made of wood but now often made with fibreglass, kevlar and carbon fibre composites, with a rounded handle of approximately 2.5 centimetres diameter at the bottom flattening out on one side and with a hook at the bottom. The flat side of the hook is used to push, dribble, or hit a hard plastic, ball about 7 centimetres in diameter. Each field player is required to wear a mouth and shin guards. A goalkeeper must wear complete protective gear, the necessities are a helmet, mouth guard, neck guard, chest protector, gloves, supper padded shin guards, and booties which cover their feet and allow them to kick the ball.

Rules and play

Players are only permitted to play the ball with the flat side of the stick, which is always on the "natural" side for a right-handed person - there are no "left-handed" hockey sticks. Players are not permitted to let the ball strike any part of their body or propel the ball with any part of the stick other than the flat part. The flat part does extend up the shaft of the stick, about half way up the stick, this area is used to defend and deflect an air ball. If the ball is raised above the knee level at any time in a dangerous manner by any player the ball is turned over to the other team and they receive a free hit from the point of contact. The definition of a "dangerous ball" is a matter of interpretation by umpires, but it depends on the speed of the ball, the height at which it is raised, and the number of players near its path. Balls travelling at head height near players are almost always regarded as dangerous, whereas a flick at knee height landing into space would very rarely be so.

One player from each team is designated the "goalkeeper", and is permitted to play the ball with any part of their body whilst within their defensive circle (the arc). Goalkeepers usually wear extensive protective equipment including helmets, chest guards, body armour, heavily padded gloves, and leg and foot guards designed not only to protect the goalkeeper but to allow them to propel the ball away without the use of the stick. They do have a stick which is primarily used for dives.

If a defence field player commits one of the many fouls (kicking the ball, obstruction, lifting in a dangerous area, back side of the stick, etc) inside their defensive shooting circle, or commits a deliberate or particularly serious foul outside the circle but with their defensive quarter of the field, then a complicated and indirect penalty shot is taken, called a "penalty corner." A deliberate breach by defenders within the circle, or a rule breach that directly prevents a goal being scored, results in the award of a "penalty stroke", approximately equivalent to a penalty shot in soccer.

The goal of the teams is to play the ball into their "shooting circle" and from there, hit or push the ball into the goal. The team with the most goals after two 35-minute halves wins the game.

Tactics

The main methods by which the ball is moved around the field by players are the "dribble", where the player holds the ball on the stick and runs with the ball, pushing the ball along by their and the stick's movement, the "push", where the player uses their wrists to push at the ball, the "flick" or "scoop", similar to the push but with an addition wrist action to force the stick through at an angle and lift the ball off the ground, and the hit, where a backlift is taken and contact with the ball is made quite forcefully. Tackles are made by placing the stick into the path of the ball (and, ultimately, the player with it). To increase the effectiveness of the tackle, players will often place the entire stick close to the ground horizontally, thus representing a wider barrier. To avoid the tackle, the ball carrier will either pass the ball to a teammate using any of the push, flick, or hit, or attempt to manoeuver the ball around the tackle, trying to deceive the tackler as to their intentions in a similar to the various football codes.

At the highest level, hockey is a fast-moving, highly skilled sport, with players using fast manoeuvering with the stick, quick accurate passing, and hits that travel at up to 160 km/h in attempts to keep possession and move the ball towards the goal. Whilst phyically tackling and otherwise obstructing players is not permitted, collisions are common, and the speed at which the ball travels along the ground (and sometimes through the air, which is legal if it is not judged dangerous by the umpire) requires the use of padded shin guards to prevent injury. Some of the tactics used superficially resemble soccer, but with greater speed - the best players maneuver and score goals almost quicker than the eye can see.

Tournaments

The most prestigious tournament in hockey is undoubtedly the Olympic Games. In the men's game, The Netherlands are the current Olympic champions, with South Korea and Australia taking the minor medals. Historically, the Indian and Pakistani teams dominated the men's game for many years, but have lessened in prominence recently. Before the introduction of the women's hockey at the Olympics, the best international team in the world was the Netherlands. From the early 1990s, Australia has been by far the best in the women's game internationally, though the retirement of a number of key players has weakened the team recently.

The other major international tournaments are the quadrennial Hockey World Cups, run separately for men and women, and the annual men's and women's Champions Trophies.

Many countries have extensive club competitions for both junior and senior players. Despite the large numbers of participants, club hockey is not a particularly large spectator sport and few players can afford to play professionally.

The 5th Asian women's hockey championship will be held in New Delhi from January 31, 2004 to February 5, 2004. This was announced by the All India Women's Hockey Federation president, Vidya Stokes on December 31, 2003.

See also

• Indoor bandy
• Hurling
• NCAA Women's Field Hockey Championship

External link

• The FIH