Hockey (Olympic sport since 1908)

   About

   Hockey is the oldest known ball and stick game. Records exist of it having been played in Persia in 2000 BC. In medieval Europe, pictures of men playing a game with hooked sticks appear on stained-glass windows at both the Canterbury and Gloucester cathedrals. It became so popular by the Middle Ages that it was banned in England for a time because it interfered with the practice of archery, which was the basis for national defense. The name hockey probably derives from the French hocquet, or shepherd's crook, and refers to the crooked stick.

   India dominated the sport for three decades, winning all six Olympic gold medals and 30 consecutive games from 1928 to 1956. The first Balbir Singh, who was followed by four more players of the same name who also played for victorious Indian teams, scored five goals in a 6-1 gold-medal victory over the Netherlands at Helsinki in 1952.

   Competition

   Men's event: Teams are placed into two pools of six for the preliminary rounds. Each team plays the other teams in that pool. The top two teams in each pool proceed to the semi-finals. The remaining teams play classification matches for places 5 - 12. Semi-final winners play for the gold and silver medals. Semi-final losers play for the bronze.

   Women's event: Teams are placed into two pools of five for the preliminary rounds. Each team plays the other teams in that pool. The top two teams in each pool proceed to the semi-finals. The remaining teams play classification matches for places 5 - 10. Semi-final winners play for the gold and silver medals. Semi-finals losers play for the bronze.

   List of events

   -- hockey Men

   -- hockey Women

History

   Discipline's origin

   Records exist of it having been played in Persia in 2000 BC. In mediaeval Europe, pictures of men playing a game with hooked sticks appear on stained-glass windows at both the Canterbury and Gloucester cathedrals. It became so popular by the Middle Ages that it was banned in England for a time because it interfered with the practice of archery, which was the basis for national defence. The first hockey club is considered to be the Blackheath Football and Hockey Club in south-east London, which dates back to at least 1861, and possibly the 1840s. The first groups to organise the game were formed in Great Britain. These included the National Hockey Union that was located in the Bristol area from 1887-1895, and the national governing body, the Amateur Hockey Association, that was formed in London in 1886. Hockey truly developed as a British sport, before being carried to the four corners of the British Empire by the nation's armed forces and other workers. Most of the dominant nations in the sport are, or were, members of the British Empire. This includes India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and England. Other nations have come to the fore in more recent times to make the game a truly worldwide sport.

   Olympic history

   Hockey for men first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908 and after its return in 1920 has been on the programme ever since. In 1980, hockey for women was first introduced as an Olympic sport. At the 2000 Sydney Games men competed in a 12-team tournament, while women competed in a 10-team tournament, an increase of two teams for women from 1996.

Equipment

   Kicker

   A protective device worn by a goalkeeper and fastened over the front and sides of the shoe to allow him or her to kick the ball.

   Pitch

   The playing field for hockey measuring 91.40m by 55m.

   Stick

   A hook-shaped device made from wood and/or composite materials) with a flat face on the left side for hitting the ball.

   Helmet (goalie)

   Used to protect head and face

   Elbow pads (Goalie)

   Used to protect the goalkeeper's body.

   Leg pads (goalie)

   Used to protect the goalkeeper's body.

   Blocker (goalie)

   Shoe blocker

   Used to protect feet.

   Shin pads

   Used to protect shins.

   Shoes

   Special shoes are worn to give good grip for running and turning.

   Ball

   Made of hard plastic, usually white and with a circumference of approximately 230mm.

   Goal

   3.66m wide and 2.14m in the middle of each shorter side (end) of the pitch.

   Hand protectors "blocker" (goalkeeper)

   Used to protect the goalkeeper's body.

Glossary

   23 metres area: The quarter of the field at each of its ends which includes the circle and the goal.

   Attacker: A player positioned at the offensive end of the pitch for a team; also known as a "forward".

   Back-line: The line marking the end of the pitch and including the goal-line between the goal posts.

   Bully: A method of restarting play following a stoppage not caused by a breach. Two players face each other, tap their sticks on the ground and together before contesting the ball.

   Centre line: The line across the pitch that divides it in half.

   Centre mark: The mark in the centre of the field played in any direction to start a half or following a goal.

   Circle: Short for the "striking circle", "goal circle" or "shooting circle", a D-shaped area in front of each goal that an attacking player must enter to score a goal. An attacker must take a shot from inside (not outside) the circle to score a goal. A goalkeeper is permitted to use any part of the body to stop the ball while inside the circle.

   Corner hit: Corner hit: Taken five metres from the corner flag after the ball is hit unintentionally by the defending team across the back-line. Also known as a "long corner".

   Defender: A player positioned at the defensive end of the pitch for a team; also known as a "fullback".

   Dribble: To move while controlling the ball with the stick.

   Field goal: A goal scored from open, continuous play.

   Field players: The 10 players on the field besides the goalkeeper.

   Flick: To push the ball with the stick and raise it into the air: also called "scoop" when the ball is raised high in the air.

   Forward: A player positioned at the offensive end of the pitch for a team; also known as an "attacker".

   Free hit: A passing opportunity awarded to a player for any offence by the opposition outside the circle.

   Fullback: A player positioned at the defensive end of the pitch for a team; also known as a "defender".

   Goal circle: A D-shaped area in front of the goal where a goalkeeper is allowed to use any part of the body to stop the ball; also called the "striking circle", the "circle" and the "shooting circle".

   Goalkeeper: The player on each team who defends the goal.

   Goal-line: The back-line between the goal posts.

   Golden goal: A sudden-death method of resolving a tied match where the first goal scored during two 15 minute periods of extra time decides the match.

   Green card: A card signifying the umpire is warning a player about a specific act committed.

   Halfback: A player positioned generally around the middle of the field for a team; also known as a "midfielder".

   Hit: To strike the ball with a swinging motion of the stick.

   Hit-in: A free hit from the sideline after the ball has gone out of play over the line. It is taken by the team which was not last to touch the ball.

   Kicker: A protective device worn by a goalkeeper and fastened over the front and sides of the shoe to allow him or her to kick the ball.

   Long corner: The common name for a "corner hit".

   Match: A single game lasting for two periods or "half's" each of 35 minutes duration.

   Midfielder: A player positioned generally around the middle of the field for a team; also known as a "halfback".

   Obstruction: The offence of using the body or stick to shield or hinder another player from hitting the ball, or of physically interfering with an opposing player.

   Pass back: The opening pass of a half or following a goal, from a centre to a team-mate behind him or her; also called "push back".

   Penalty corner: A free hit awarded to a team ten metres from the nearest goalpost, allowing a player to pass the ball to a team-mate just outside the goal circle for a shot; also called a "short corner".

   Penalty stroke: A free shot awarded to a player from a spot 6.4 metres from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to stop it.

   Push: To move the ball along the ground with the stick after the stick has been placed close to the ball.

   Push back: The opening pass of a half or following a goal, from a centre to a team-mate behind him or her; also called a "centre pass" or "pass back".

   Red card: A card shown by the umpire to suspend a player permanently.

   Scoop: To push the ball with the stick and raise it into the air.

   Shooting circle: Also called the "goal circle", the "striking circle" and the "circle" (see "circle" in this glossary).

   Shot at goal: The action of an attacker attempting to score by playing the ball towards the goal from within the circle.

   Sideline: A side boundary on a hockey field.

   Stricking circle: Also called the "goal circle", the "shooting circle" and the "circle" (see "circle" in this glossary).

   Striking circle: A D-shaped area in front of each goal, which an attacking player must enter before shooting a goal; also known as the "circle", "goal circle" and "shooting circle".

   Substitute: A player who replaces a team-mate on the pitch. Substitutions can take place any number of times and at any point in the match except when a penalty corner is being taken.

   Tackle: To attempt to steal the ball from a player of the opposing team.

   Team: The eleven players taking part in a match on the pitch (10 field players and a goalkeeper) together with up to five substitutes.

   Umpires: The two officials on the pitch who control a match.

   Yellow card: A card signifying the umpire has suspended a player.

   Yellow card: A card signifying the umpire has suspended a player. The umpire usually indicates the length of suspension.