Field hockey is a team sport. In which a team of players attempts to score a goal in the opposing team’s goal by hitting the ball, pushing it or using sticks. In some countries, it is referred to as ‘hockey’, however, the name field hockey is used in countries where the term hockey is usually reserved for another form of hockey such as ice hockey, street hockey or roller hockey. Here you will know some interesting and informative facts about Field Hockey.
Origin and History Of Field Hockey game
There are 4000 years old paintings from Egypt. Hurling dates back to 1272BC and there is a depiction in ancient Greece from 500BC when the game was called “kerytezin” because it was played with a horn and ball-like object. In Inner Mongolia, China, the Daur people have been playing Beikou (a game similar to modern field hockey) for nearly 1,000 years.
During the Middle Ages, hockey was practiced throughout Europe, and the word “hockey” was recorded in the Galway Statute of 1527. The modern sport developed from English public schools in the early 19th century. The first club was formed in 1849 in Blackheath, south-east London, but modern rules evolved from a version played by Middlesex cricket clubs for winter sports.
Teddington Hockey Club formed the modern game by introducing striking circles and changing the ball from a rubber cube to a sphere. The Hockey Association was established in 1886. The first international tournament took place in 1895 (Ireland 3, Wales 0) and the International Rules Board was established in 1900.
Field Hockey was played at the Summer Olympics in 1908 and 1920. This was dropped in 1924, leading to the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) as an international governing body by seven continental European countries, and the introduction of hockey in 1928. Hockey’s first Women’s World Cup was held in 1974 and women’s hockey became an Olympic competition in 1980.
History of Indian Hockey
Field Hockey has been the national sport of India for a long time and has a golden chapter in the Olympic Games. The game was taken to India by British serviceman and the first club was formed in 1885 in Calcutta.
The Beighton Cup and the Aga Khan tournament began within ten years. Entering the Olympics in 1928, India won all five games without scoring a goal and went on to win from 1932 to 1956 and again in 1964 and 1980.
Hockey in India is administered by the apex body of the country, Hockey India (HI) where they have a sole mandate of conducting all the activities for both Men’s & Women’s hockey in the country.
Hockey India is affiliated to International Hockey Federation (FIH), Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Rules Of Field Hockey
- A field hockey match consists of two parts, usually 35 minutes each, and a pass back (starting with a non-defending pass that is fielded from one teammate to another).
- There are 11 players on a side, one of whom is the goalkeeper. The object of the game is to score more target more than the opposition. A team consists of a maximum 16 players.
- A match consists of four quarters of 15 minutes. The interval between quarter 1 and 2 and quarter 3 and 4 is 2 minutes. A half-time interval between quarter 2 and 3 is 5 minutes (15-2-15-5-15-2-15).
- Goals are scored when a ball made of solid plastic, weighing between 5 1/2 ounces and 5 3/4 ounces with a circumference of 8 13/16 inches by 9 1/4 inches, touches the goal post. crosses the goal line between From an attacker’s stick inside the circle. Each goal is worth one point.
- The ball can only be touched with the flat side of a curved, hardwood stick. Unique to field hockey is the handicap rule. In virtually every other sport, protecting the ball from your body is an integral part of game strategy. But, this is not allowed in field hockey.
- All players have an equal chance of gaining control of the ball as the ball is dribbled or passed down the field. Other violations include advancing (no player other than the goalkeeper may play the ball with any part of the body), dangerous use of a stick, and hitting the ball in a manner that may result in dangerous play.
- For a violation of the rules, the umpire may award a free hit, a penalty corner or a penalty stroke. Most of the scoring opportunities in every match come from penalty corners.
Field Hockey Ground Measurement
The field of play is rectangular, with a length of 91.4 metres and a width of 55 metres. A centre-line is marked across the middle of the field. Penalty spots 150 mm in diameter are marked in front of the centre of each goal with the centre of each post 6.47 metres from the inner edge of the goal line. All lines are 75 mm wide and are part of the playing field.
