Playing the Game of Hockey

Hockey – also known as “Stick and Ball” game were played in diverse countries like South America, Egypt, Scotland, and Rome since antiquity. Considered as one of the oldest sports, Hockey traced back from the era of ancient civilization more than 4000 years ago. With this sport closely intertwined with civilization, at certain times this game acquired a brutally chaotic form. In England during the early years of the 18^th century, Hockey evolved into a game of manhood and pride. Played by competing villages – each team numbering 100 players, the sport would last almost a month with many injured and fatally hurt players.

As civilization evolves, so as Hockey, it developed into many variations with each differs uniquely with others but retaining most of the original concept. Some of these variations developed into more logical and organize sports with revisions on its rules. Some of these popular variations are; Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Roller Hockey, Street Hockey, and other fewer popular forms like Beach Hockey, Air Hockey, Ball Hockey and the likes.

Hockey is a team sport in which the two opposing teams try to score by maneuvering the puck into the adversary’s goal using a stick. The puck is a round, hard, rubber or plastic disc, while the stick is made of hard plastic, wood in a J-shape. The team who garners the most score wins the game.

The Field Hockey is a variation played on natural grass or gravel and is popular in Asia, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. It is only firmly established in 19^th century after its appearance in the England during the middle of the 18^th century. This is now under the governance of the International Hockey Federation and is drafted at every Summer Olympics.

The Ice Hockey – considered the most popular among Hockey variations, is played on a vast area of flat ice. The game is played by two ice-skater teams and is popular on countries like Europe, North America, Canada, Latvia, Czech, Slovakia, and Finland. Its first appearance was reported in Netherlands in the 19^th century but was already organized and codified in 1875. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the governing body of Ice Hockey and this sport is consistently played during Winter Olympics and occasionally on Summer Olympics.

The Roller Hockey is very similar to Ice Hockey from which it is derived. However, instead of flat ice it played in a smooth flat concrete area in which players use Roller skates instead. Its rules are basically copied from Ice Hockey and was demonstrated during the Summer Olympics in 1992 at Barcelona.

Street Hockey, another popular derivation is basically copied on Ice Hockey or Roller Hockey including its rules. However, instead of a disk puck, Street Hockey uses a ball as a puck. This game is played on the street and the ball is most suitable considering the friction of the asphalt street.

Here are some basic and general rules and standards in Hockey.

• The playing field should be rectangular with standard dimensions of 91.40 meters by 55.00 meters.
• Goals are positioned at opposing sides of the rectangular field with the brim touching the perimeter.
• A standard of eleven (11) players for each team can play at a time.
• A game consists of two 35-minute period and a 5-minute interval on half-time.
• Teams can each has a captain and a goalkeeper or a player with a goal keeping privileges.
• Substitution of players is allowed subject to Penalty rules.
• Each player must wear protective gears during the game subject to governing rules.
• When the ball went outside the field, the ball goes to the opposing team of the player that last touches the ball and the game is restarted.
• A score is awarded on every goal if and only if the ball is played inside the circle before passing directly into the goal line.
• The ball must not be hit by the stick when above the shoulder level.
• Penalties are clearly laid down on the rules and implemented by the umpire.
• Players are penalized when they interfere with other players, their stick or clothing.
• The team scoring the most goals wins the game.