Hockey

Hockey is a sport that involves two teams playing against each other by trying to maneuver a ball, or a puck, into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick. There are many types of hockey including ice hockey, field hockey, and roller hockey.

History

Hockey is believed to date back to early civilizations which may have been played on the ice of frozen lakes in Northern Europe. The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton. The first Hockey Association was formed in the UK in 1876 and drew up the first formal set of rules.

Types of Hockey

There are several different types of hockey:

• Ice Hockey: Played on a large flat area of ice, using a three-inch-diameter (76.2 mm) vulcanized rubber disc called a puck. This puck is often frozen before high-level games to decrease the amount of bouncing and friction on the ice. The game is contested between two teams of skaters.

• Field Hockey: Played on gravel, natural grass, or sand-based or water-based artificial turfs, with a small, hard ball. The game is popular among both males and females in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South Africa.

• Roller Hockey: Also known as "quad hockey" or "inline hockey". Played on both quad and inline skates, the quad hockey is played using a ball and the inline hockey is played using a puck.

Rules

The rules of hockey are very similar to the rules of football except that players must use their sticks to hit the ball and not their feet. The game is played between two teams of 11 players who try to score a goal by hitting the ball into the opponent's net using their hockey sticks.

Equipment

The main pieces of equipment required in hockey are a stick, a ball or puck, and protective gear. The hockey stick is usually between five and six feet long, made of wood, plastic, carbon fibre or a composite material. The ball or puck is made of hard rubber and is usually black.

See Also

• List of Hockey Leagues
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• Hockey Equipment

References

Hockey Resources
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