stickittobreastcancer

THE HISTORY: Field hockey, known simply as “hockey” in most of the world, is one of the world’s oldest competitive pastimes. Though the exact origins of the sport are unknown, drawings from the tomb at Beni-Hasen in the Nile Valley of Egypt depicted men playing field hockey; these drawings are thought to be over 4000 years old. In the following centuries, civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, Ethiopians and Aztecs all played hockey in

The Federation International de Hockey (FIH) was formed in 1924 with representatives from Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Spain and Switzerland, soon followed by Denmark, Holland, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Portugal and India. In 1928, the United States became the 14^th member of hockey’s international federation, FIH. Today, there are 127 member nations and hockey is played in several international competitions. Behind soccer, field hockey is thought to be the second most played sport in the world.

THE GAME: Field hockey is played between two teams on a field 100 yards long x 60 yards wide, with 11 players per side: 10 field players and a goalie. The goals are 12 feet wide by 7 feet tall. The object of the game is to score points by pushing, flicking or hitting the ball into the opponents’ goal. All sticks are manufactured with a flat and a curved side. All players play with the left hand as the strong hand on the top of the stick and the right hand at the end of the grip. Only the flat side of the stick can be used when passing and maneuvering the ball and the ball cannot come in contact with the feet or any part of the body. When a foul occurs, a free hit is generally awarded to the opposing team. Field hockey is a non-contact sport, is generally low-scoring and is lots of fun!

different variations. Modern field hockey began in England in the mid-19^th century. Blackheath was the first men’s hockey club, formed in 1849. The British army brought the sport to India which led to the first international game in 1895. Constance Applebee, a physical education instructor from England, brought hockey to the United States in 1901 while attending a seminar at Harvard. The first Olympic hockey game for men was held in London in 1908 and included competition between England, Ireland, and Scotland.