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.

Semester break has just arrived in Philippines and are you ready for another adventure? Most of us young at heart tend to sit down the couch and watch TV all the time with popcorn on our laps. We tend to get lazy whenever vacation arises. I would personally suggest that you would get up and engage in sports. This would not only kill the boredom experienced by most, but it would also generate a sense of fun and laughter being able to exercise making yourself physically fit in the process. What are you waiting for? Prepare your masks, your clubs, a pair of roller blades, two goals or rings and a puck for we are to enter the world of HOCKEY.

Hockey is a game adapted from two distinct versions according to the place of the game. These are on ice and on the field. These two versions differ from each other but more or less have the same set of rules to follow. In differentiating both, ice hockey is played with two teams of six and on ice skates. The playing area is then called a rink. This type of hockey could either be played indoors or outdoors depending on the preferences of the players and depending on the climate of place also. Field hockey, on the other hand, is played with two teams of eleven players each. In both types, hooked wooden sticks are used to propel or accelerate an object to the opponent’s goal. In ice hockey, the object propelled is a disk-shaped hard rubber puck while in field hockey is a leather covered ball. By its name alone, one could decipher that ice hockey is played on ice while field hockey on any surface other than ice as long as you have the needed materials, then you are set to go.

The objective of the game is similar to that of soccer. Instead of kicking a ball, you have to propel a puck or ball into the opponent’s goal using stick or clubs.

No one is sure of how hockey started. There are many stories of hockey starting here and there but there is no definite place as to where it originated. Some say that hockey was played in the ancient times by Greeks and other by Egyptians and still others by Romans. One could not possibly say so, for there have been no evidence of such. The odds are equal and each of these presumptions has a chance of originating hockey. But for now further investigations have been made.

The name hockey was thought to have originated from the French word “hoquet,” meaning shepherd’s crook, and is adapted in English. The use of the word became familiar to most and has made bookmarks on books. Still, some insist of another origin of such. It is said to originate when British explorers in 1740 found a group of Indians playing such a game in St. Lawrence Valley of Canada. They described such as “Ho-eee,” because in the game every time a player clubbed the ball, they would say “Ho-eee!”

Although little is known of the history of the said game, it still emerged to be one of the games mists played by some countries in the world. It is even shown in sports channels in TV. Furthermore, it further developed leagues that up to now are still active and continue to support hockey and entertain viewers of such a fascinating game. One of the most popular leagues is the NHL or National Hockey League. In this league, different states of the United States of America battle it out as to who will garner gold and be announced as champions. Some may lose and some may be victorious but in the long run, they will be going home bringing honor to their state.

That is why; I must suggest this game among Filipino people. We are always fed up of playing basketball, volleyball and sepak takraw. Why not try a new sport for once. In this manner, one could see other talents a pinoy could do. Who knows, we might be better than those playing international. There is no harm in trying. It’s better to try than doing nothing at all. At the end of this all, who knows, hockey will be a major sport in the Philippines. Stand up and swing every blow in the world of hockey.