Hockey
Hockey-like games involving sticks and balls have been played for thousands of years by people such as the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Irish, the Scots and the Indians of South America.
Historical records show that a crude form of hockey was played in Egypt 4,000 years ago, and in Ethiopia around 1,000 BC. Various museums offer evidence that a form of the game was played by Romans and Greeks, and by the Aztec Indians of South America several centuries before Columbus landed in the New World .
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens holds a square marble slab measuring 60 cm x 20 cm with four bas-reliefs of ancient sporting events. One of these shows Athenian youths playing field hockey. These bas-reliefs date back to 514 BC and show that a type of hockey was being enjoyed in Greece at that time.
This type of hockey, called "ÊÅÑÇÔÉÆÅÉÍ" (Keritizin) in ancient Greece , was very popular. Called such names as "paganica" by the Romans, "hurling" by the Irish and "shinty" by the Scots, the name "hockie" seems to have been first recorded in Ireland in 1527 and probably comes from the French word "hoquet" meaning "shepherds crook".
Hockey in England in the 17th and 18th century consisted of whole villages playing the game with the objective of hitting the ball into the opposing villages' common ground. Teams often consisted of 60 to 100 players and games occasionally lasted several days or so with injuries such as broken arms and legs not uncommon. Umpires could only arbitrate a decision if called upon to do so by a player from one of the teams. (a situation that sounds familiar even in these days!)
In 1852 the sports master of Harrow, an English Public School , advised his pupils that, among other things, no more than thirty players per team were allowed on the field at any one time. In those early days, team formation consisted of having more forwards than defenders, a situation that persisted up until the late 1800's.
The game that we know today emerged at Eton College in England in the 1860s when the first rules were written down. Further rules were written in 1875 when the first Hockey Association was formed. The game was played on a field nearly 200 metres in length and all players chased the ball for the whole of the game. In 1886 the Teddington Cricket Club effectively lead a movement which resulted in the British Hockey Association being formed which included amongst its rules a striking circle for hitting goals.
Changes in rules and play quickly developed from this beginning and by 1889 the pyramid system - five forwards, three halves, two backs and a goalkeeper - became the accepted method of playing hockey.
In 1890 the English, Irish and Welsh hockey associations formed the International Rules Board and umpires were given power to make decisions without waiting for players to appeal for a free hit - something that a large number of players have yet to learn.
Hockey, or "Field Hockey" as it is also known, is now played in every continent with many nations competing in the three major competitions - The Olympic Games, The World Cup and The Champion's Trophy.
Hockey was first played at the Olympic Games in 1908 when men's teams were included. Women's hockey was not included in the Olympics until 1980. Hockey was played at the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 1998 (until 1998, the Commonwealth Games were mainly individual sports - swimming, athletics, boxing, etc.. 1998 saw the introduction of four team sports and hockey was one of the four.)
The first Olympic Hockey Competition for men was held in London in 1908 with England , Ireland and Scotland competing separately. After having made its first appearance in the 1908 Games, hockey was subsequently dropped from the 1912 Stockholm Games, and reappeared in 1920 in Antwerp before being omitted again in Paris in 1924. The Paris organisers refused to include hockey on the basis that the sport had no International Federation.
The aim of the game is simple - to hit the ball into the opponents' net. The team scoring the most goals wins.
If both teams score the same amount, or no goals are scored, the match is a draw.
Field hockey is a game in which two teams attempt to score a goal by using sticks that are curved at one end. One of the basic rules of hockey is that you can only use the flat side of the stick to hit or control the ball. They rules say players must "hold their stick and not use it in a dangerous way". Players must not play the ball with any part of the stick when the ball is above shoulder height except that defenders are permitted to use the stick to stop or deflect a shot at goal at any height.
A match between two teams consists of two halves, each 30-35 minutes in duration. Field hockey is usually played outdoors on grass or an artificial turf field. The field is 100 yards long and between 55 and 60 yards wide.
The ball is moved toward the goal by use of the stick, using only the flat left-hand side. Players make advances towards the opposition's goal by either dribbling, pushing the ball along or by passing to a teammate. They will either take the ball on or pass to another teammate until they reach the striking circle. This is the zone in front of the goal that is a semicircle with a radius of 16 yards , affectionately nicknamed the “D”. All goals have to be scored from inside this space.
If play becomes too intense, fouls or infractions become more common. The infraction that is made most often is obstruction. This is called when a player deliberately blocks an opposing player from reaching a ball while not trying to play it themselves. No player, except for the goalkeeper, is allowed to touch the ball with any part of their bodies during play. Hitting the ball with anything other than the flat side of the stick is also considered an infraction. Last but certainly not least is dangerous play. This is not specifically defined, but is based on the judgment of the officials. It is usually called when the ball comes above the knees of nearby players or when a high ball goes into a crowd of players. A foul is also committed if the stick is used in a dangerous manner. Officials may award a free hit, a penalty corner, or a penalty stroke to the offended team
Because this game is more a defensive game than an offensive game goals tend to be infrequent. Rules regarding overtime vary depending on the leagues.
A match between two teams consists of two halves, each 35 minutes in duration (2x35). There is a five minute half-time interval, or longer if previously agreed plus time-outs for penalty-strokes and injuries.
At halftime the teams take a short break before changing direction and defending the opposite end.
The game is started with a pushback from the centre spot.
At the beginning of each half play begins with a pass from the centre of the halfway line. After a goal, the match is restarted in the same way. The teams change ends at half time. If one team starts the game then the other team shall start it after half time.
Play begins from the center spot; a coin deciding which team has first hit. One player from the team that wins the toss starts the game by hitting the ball into play with a pass to a teammate.
If there is a stop in action, the re-start is called a Bully. This is when the ball is placed on the ground between two players, one from each team. The players tap the ground with their sticks once, then tap their sticks together three times before going for the ball. The other players must be at least 5 yards from the ball during a Bully.
A bully-off, where two players line up opposite each other and tap their stick on the ground and then against each other's stick before competing for the ball, is no longer used to re-start a match.
The bully is only used to re-start a match when time or play has been stopped for an injury or for any other reason when no penalty has been awarded.
The game is played between 2 teams of not more than 16 players each. Not more than 11 players from each team shall be on the field at the same time. So, there are 11 players in a hockey team and up to five substitutes. Every team must have a goalkeeper. The other 10 are field players. Each team will normally divide its players (the field players) into 3 groups. These are known as the defence, the midfield, and the attack. Obviously all players attack and defend, but you would soon get tired if you tried to do everything, and that is why there may be specialist positions for players.
Each team is comprised of 11 players, usually 5 forwards, 3 halfbacks, 2 fullbacks, and 1 goalkeeper. However, the exact line up will depend on the team strategy and so the exact number of forwards, midfielders and backs will vary.
For example:
Attack (forwards) |
Left (striker) |
Centre (striker) |
Tight (striker) |
|
Left inside |
|
Right inside |
Midfield (halfbacks) |
|
Centre half (midfielder) |
|
|
Left half (midfielder) |
|
Right half (midfielder) |
Defence (fullbacks) |
Left full back (back) |
|
Right full back (back) |
|
|
Goal keeper |
|
Substitutions:
Each team can substitute up to five players at any time throughout the game. All substitutions take place at the half-way line, from one side of the pitch only. No player can enter the field until the player to be replaced has left the field.
When a goal-keeper is to be substituted the umpires must stop-time. When field players are substituted time is not stopped.
These days, most matches are played on synthetic or artificial pitches.
The pitch is only slightly smaller than a football pitch, measuring 91.4m ( 100 yards ) long and 58m ( 60 yards ) wide.
The long sides are called the sidelines and the short sides are the backline.
To score a goal the ball must be in the shooting circle. The circles line count as part of the circle. The shooting circle is marked 14.63m ( 16 yards ) from each goalpost.
Goals are 2.14m (7ft) high, 3.66m (12ft) wide and 0.91m (4ft) deep. The front of the goal-posts must be touching the outer edge of the back-line. All lines are 75mm ( 3 inches ) wide and are part of the field of play.
The boards, inside the goal, are made of wood and are 460 mm ( 18 inches ) high.
The penalty spot is 150mm ( 6 inches ) in diameter and is marked 6.40m ( 7 yards ) in front of the centre of each goal.
The penalty corners are taken 9.10m ( 10 yards ) from the goal-post on the back-line.
Each goal is worth one point. A goal is scored when the ball passes over the goal line between the two goal posts and has completely crossed the goal line. It must be touched by an attacker's stick inside the shooting circle. Therefore, they can only be scored from inside the shooting circle - a semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. Goals scored from outside this area are disallowed.
Two umpires control the game in hockey.
They are primarily responsible for decisions in their half of the field. Together they are responsible for the entire field. The 2 umpires work together, to form the 3 rd team on the field. They are responsible for penalising fouls and maintaining safety and control. The umpires need to co-operate and communicate with skill and judgement. Umpires need to stay calm and concentrate at all times.
Players who break the rules are verbally warned and can then be shown a green, yellow or red card. Cards are shown for rough or dangerous play, misconduct or intentional offences. The umpire will issue an official warning to a player by showing the green card. Prior to that, the player would probably have been given a verbal caution. A yellow card means you will be off the pitch for five minutes or more. A red card is given for more serious offences and sees the player leave the match for good.
Umpires are also responsible for keeping time and recording goals.
There are three types of penalties in hockey.
The type awarded will depend on the seriousness of the offence and the location on the pitch where it took place.
FREE HIT: Given for a technical offence in open play. It means that this is awarded for any minor fouls occurring outside the circle. Taken from close to where the offence occurred, but opposition players must be given time to move back five metres. If the hit is within five metres of the circle, all players except the person taking the free hit must be five metres away.
PENALTY CORNER: Given for a minor offence inside the shooting circle or an intentional foul within the 22m area. A penalty corner is also awarded if a defender intentionally plays the ball over the back line. It is taken from the back line, between the 10 metre mark and the circle edge.
- Position:
A penalty corner is taken on the backline inside the circle from a mark at least 10 metres from the goal post, from whichever side of the goal the attacking team prefers.
The ball can be hit or pushed, but the attacker must have at least one foot outside the field of play.
The other attackers must be outside the circle with sticks, hands and feet not touching the ground inside the circle and at least five metres from the person taking the corner.
The defending team can have no more than five players, including the goalkeeper, behind the back line and must have their sticks, hands and feet not touching the ground inside the field.
The other defenders must be beyond the centre line until the ball has been played.
- Ball:
A goal cannot be scored until the ball has travelled outside the circle.
If the first shot at goal is a hit or slap hit (as opposed to a push, flick or scoop), the ball must cross the goal-line, or be on a path which would have resulted in it crossing the goal-line, at a height of not more than 460mm (the height of the backboard) before any deflection, for a goal to be scored.
The ball is allowed to be higher than the backboard during its flight (provided there is no danger) as long as it drops of its own accord below the backboard before crossing the line .
Second and subsequent hits at the goal and first-time flicks, deflections and scoops, can be raised to any height - as long as they are not dangerous.
The penalty corner rules no longer apply if the ball travels more than five metres from the circle.
- Timing:
The umpire will allow time for a penalty corner or any subsequent penalty corner or penalty stroke to be completed even if full or half time have elapsed.
The penalty corner is completed when:
- a goal is scored
- an attacker commits an offence
- the ball travels more than five metres outside the circle
- the ball travels outside the circle for a second time
- the ball is played over the back-line and a penalty corner is not awarded
- a defender commits an offence which does not result in another penalty corner
- a penalty stroke is awarded.
PENALTY STROKE: For a more serious offence inside the shooting circle, such as illegally stopping a probable goal. It means that a penalty stroke is awarded for an intentional foul by a defender in the circle that prevents a probable goal from being scored, or an unintentional foul by a defender in the circle which prevents a certain goal from being scored. Taken from the spot, directly, in front of goal. The ball is placed on the Penalty Stroke Spot (6.40m from the centre of the goal line). If a goal is scored then the game is re-started with a centre pass to the team who has just conceded the goal. If a goal is not scored, the game is re-started with a 14.63 m free hit to the defence.
- Penalty taker
The player taking the stroke must stand behind and within playing distance of the ball before beginning the stroke.
They must not take it until the whistle has been blown to signal both they and the goalkeeper are ready (neither are allowed to unnecessarily delay the flick).
The player taking the stroke must not pretend to play the ball.
The player taking the stroke must push, flick or scoop the ball and is permitted to raise it to any height
Using a "dragging" action to play the ball at a penalty stroke is not permitted.
Rebounds are not allowed. If the goalkeeper makes a save, as soon as the ball has been prevented from crossing the goal line, the penalty stroke is over. The attacker cannot approach the ball again.
- The goalkeeper:
The defending goalkeeper must wear protective headgear .
If the goalkeeper prevents a goal being scored but leaves the goal-line or moves either foot before the ball has been played the penalty stroke is taken again.
For the first offence of this type, the goalkeeper must be warned (green card) and for any subsequent offence the goalkeeper must be suspended (yellow card).
For an offence by the goalkeeper which does not prevent a goal being scored, the penalty stroke is taken again
- Other players:
All players on the field other than the player taking the stroke and the goalkeeper must stand outside the 25-yard line.
If they commit an offence, the flick is taken again.
- Timing:
Time is stopped once a flick is awarded. When the umpires award a penalty stroke he/she must stop the clock.
The penalty stroke is completed when:
- a goal is scored or awarded
- The ball comes to rest inside the circle, lodges in the goalkeeper's equipment, is caught by the goalkeeper, or goes outside the circle.
Obstruction:
Unlike footballers, hockey players aren't allowed to deliberately shield the ball from the opposition.
A player is not allowed to:
- back into an opponent
- physically interfere with the stick or body of an opponent
- shield the ball from a legitimate tackle with their stick or any part of their body
- run in front of or block an opponent to stop them legitimately playing or attempting to play the ball (this is third party or shadow obstruction).
This is to make sure all players have an equal chance to gain control of the ball.
However, a stationary player receiving the ball is permitted to face in any direction.
And a player with the ball is permitted to move off with it in any direction (except into an opponent) - so as long as you keep moving, you should not be penalised for obstruction.
Stick tackling:
You can't hit, hook or hold an opponent's stick with your stick. You aren't permitted to play the ball with the back of the stick (including the shaft) either.
The rules state that players must not tackle unless in a position to play the ball without bodily contact.
Feet:
Only goalkeepers are allowed to use their feet in hockey. Field players are not allowed to use their feet, or any other part of their body, to control the ball or to gain an advantage.
If no advantage is gained, the umpire will allow play to continue.
Offside:
There is no such thing as offside in hockey.
Dangerous play:
Players on the field must hold their stick and not use it in a dangerous way - for instance lifting it over the heads of others.
Players must not play the ball with any part of the stick when the ball is above shoulder height (except: defenders are allowed to raise the stick to any height if they are attempting to stop or deflect a shot at goal ).
Players must not play the ball dangerously or in a way which leads to dangerous play - the umpire deems it to be dangerous if it causes legitimate evasive action by players.
Players must not intentionally raise the ball from a hit except for a shot at goal.
If it is raised unintentionally, the umpire will allow play to continue unless it is deemed dangerous.
Players are permitted to raise the ball with a flick or scoop provided it is not dangerous - if it is within five metres of an opponent it will be considered dangerous.
Players must not approach within five metres of an opponent receiving a falling raised ball until it has been received, controlled and is on the ground.
Conduct:
Players must not force an opponent into offending unintentionally.
Playing the ball clearly and intentionally into any part of an opponent's body may be penalised as an attempt to manufacture an offence.
Forcing an opponent to obstruct (often emphasised by running into an opponent or by waving the stick) must also be penalised.
Over the side-line
A hit-in shall be awarded. The ball shall be played along the ground, from the spot where it went out, and all opponents shall be at least 5 metres from the ball.
Over the back-line –(by an attacker):
A hit-out shall be awarded to the defenders. The ball shall be played along the ground on a spot opposite where the ball crossed the back-line up to 14.63m into the pitch. All opponents shall be at least 5 metres from the ball.
Over the back-line – (by a defender):
If the defender accidentally hits or deflects the ball over their own back-line from anywhere on the field, a corner shall be awarded. The ball shall be played along the ground, on the sideline, from a spot 5 metres from the corner flag. All opponents shall be at least 5 metres away. This applies only when the ball has unintentionally been put over the back-line by a defender.
When it has been intentionally put over the back-line by a defender anywhere on the field, the umpire shall award a penalty corner.