Bully off

Bully off is a term used in the sport of field hockey to denote the start or restart of the game. It is a unique method of starting the game where two players, one from each team, face each other and tap their sticks together before attempting to hit the ball.

History

The term "bully off" has its origins in the early days of field hockey. It was a method used to start the game or to restart it after a goal was scored. The term "bully" is derived from the French word "bouillir", which means to boil or to bubble up, signifying the start of action or excitement.

Procedure

In a bully off, two players, usually the centers, stand opposite each other with the ball between them. They then tap their sticks together once above the ball and once on the ground to the right of the ball, after which they can compete for the ball. The bully off is also used to restart the game from the center of the field after a goal has been scored.

Modern Usage

The bully off was a common sight in field hockey games until the late 20th century. However, with changes in the rules of the game, the bully off has been replaced by a pass from the center spot. Despite this, the term "bully off" is still used colloquially to refer to the start of a field hockey game.

See Also

• Field hockey
• History of field hockey
• Rules of field hockey