Field hockey: What it is & How it is played
Field hockey is quite a popular sport nowadays and it is also an Olympic sport. It takes place mainly in autumn and although it used to be a men’s sport, women have now joined the field too!
A few words about hockey
Hockey is now played in many countries around the world such as England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany etc. It is a sport that people have loved to play since the ancient times. In fact, there was a statue of Isocrates in ancient Athens where he appeared to play ball with a curved piece of wood. The required skills for someone to play hockey can be provided by coaches in high school, as well as summer hockey camps. This is a perfect way for a beginner to learn and improve, but it’s also a great quality activity for any age.
What is field hockey?
Field hockey is played in specially designed large venues, with synthetic grass floor mat. It also takes place in indoor halls, and that’s why it’s called “indoor hockey”.
How it’s played
The “outdoor” hockey team consists of 11 players each, whereas indoor hockey requires 6 players. Every athlete holds a cane that is curved on one side and flat on the other. The flat side helps you to knock and carry the small hockey ball, which is made of rubber and sand. So, one team should score to the opponent’s goal to get points. It is a similar to football, since there are fouls, penalty shots, miscarriages but several regulations are different.
More specifically
- First touch: The first stroke with the stick must be done in a space filled direction.
- Attack players: Being an attack player acquires a special skill, as you keep trying to find a good spot on the field throughout the game. The player’s intelligence to predict the rival’s team moves is crucial.
- Pass: Regardless of location, overtaking and passing can lead to critical overturns during a game. There are different overtaking styles depending on the position the player occupies during the game.
- Hit: A strong hit requires great skill as well, as different body parts must all work together and in line with the ball.
- Flat stick tackle: Or in other words… stealing the ball! This attack requires technique, so that the effort is not thwarted in the end and none of the players is in danger of getting hurt. The attack player should be aware, methodic and in no rush whatsoever.
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