Field Hockey Overview-
JHicks
Information obtained from website Dictionary by Laborlaw Talk @
www.Sheehttp://dictionary.laborlawtalk.com/Field_hockey#History and Ashley Clark with
modification and addition for Vincent Massey Field Hockey Unit
History & Facts
Field Hockey is the oldest known stick-and-ball game (perhaps apart from Irish Hurling which dates
back to pre-historic times). Historical records show that games resembling modern field hockey were
played in various ancient civilizations, although it is not possible to know exactly when and where the
game began. While Modern hockey appears in the mid-18th century in England, primarily around
schools institutions, it is not until the first half of the 19th century that hockey became firmly
established, when the first club, Blackheath, is created in 1849 in Southeast London, England.
In the early 1970s, artificial turf fields began to be used in competition. The introduction of the
synthetic pitches instead of the grass ones has completely changed most aspects of hockey. The game,
as well as the material used to play, has taken a definitive turn, gaining mainly in speed. In order to
take into account the specificities of this surface, new tactics, new techniques have been developed and
new rules have been settled, often, in order to frame, this new techniques.
Field Hockey is the second most played sport in the world. Field hockey is a popular sport for men
and women in many countries around the world. It is simply known as hockey in most countries,
especially those in which ice hockey is not very prominent.
Field hockey has several regular, prestigious international tournaments for both men and women such
as the Olympic Games, the quadrennial World Hockey Cups, the annual Champions Trophies, and
World Cups for juniors.
Indian and Pakistani national teams have traditionally dominated men's hockey, but have become less
prominent recently, with Australia, The Netherlands, and Germany the strongest since the 1980s. The
Netherlands was the predominant international women's team before hockey was added to Olympic
events. In the early 1990s Australia emerged as the strongest women's country, though retirement of a
number of key players has weakened the team.
Many countries have extensive club competitions for both junior and senior players. Despite the large
numbers of participants, club hockey is not a particularly large spectator sport and few players can
afford to play professionally. In the United States for instance, hockey is widely regarded as a women's
sport, but there are men's leagues as well, mostly on a collegiate level.
In the countries where the winter conditions prevent from playing on the outdoor fields, field hockey is
played indoor during the off-season. This indoor variant, known as Indoor field hockey differs from its
outdoor parent at some levels. For example, the players may not raise the ball outside the shooting
circle, nor hit it.
The field of play
Diagram of a hockey field
The game is played between two teams of eleven players on a 100 × 60
yard (91 × 55 metre) rectangular field. At each end there is a goal
approximately 7 feet (2.1 metres) high and 12 feet (3.6 metres) wide, and a
semi-circle 16 yards (15 metres) from the goal known as the "arc", or
"shooting circle", with a dotted line 5 yards from the semi-circle, as well as
lines across the field 25 yards (23 metres) from each end-line and in the
center of the field. A spot, called the penalty spot, is placed 7 yards from
the center of each goal.
Equipment
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Each player carries a "stick", normally a little over 3 feet (90 centimetres) long and traditionally
made of wood but now often made with fibreglass, kevlar and carbon fibre composites
with a rounded handle flattening out on one side and with a hook at the bottom.
The flat side of the hook is used to push, dribble, or hit a hard plastic ball.
The flat side is always on the "natural" side for a right-handed person — there are no "left-handed"
hockey sticks.
Each field player normally wears a mouth and shin guards.
A goalkeeper must wear complete protective gear: normally a helmet, neck guard, chest protector,
gloves, super-padded shin guards (known as pads), and kickers which cover their feet and allow
them to kick the ball.
Rules and play
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11 Players per side including goaltenders
Players are only permitted to play the ball with the flat side or edges of the stick.
The flat side is always on the "natural" side for a right-handed person — there are no "left-handed"
hockey sticks.
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The flat part does extend about half way up up the shaft of the stick: this area is used to defend and
deflect a ball that is in the air.
If the ball is raised off the ground in a manner that is in the umpires opinion dangerous the ball is
turned over to the other team and they receive a free hit from the point of contact.
Stick can not be raised above the knees.
The definition of a "dangerous ball" is a matter of interpretation by the umpires, but it depends on
the speed of the ball, the height at which it is raised, and the number of players near its path. Balls
travelling at head height near players are almost always regarded as dangerous, whereas a flick at
knee height landing into space would very rarely be so. When shooting at goal any height is
permitted as it is a shoot on goal; as long as it is not dangerous to a player within 3 yards (about 3
metres) of the striker.
The ball must be moved into the shooting area before a shot can be attempted at the net.
One player from each team is designated the "goalkeeper", and is permitted to play the ball with
any part of their body whilst within their defensive circle (the arc). NO GOALIES IN VINCENT
MASSEY FIELD HOCKEY
If a defence field player commits one of the many fouls (kicking the ball, obstruction, lifting in a
dangerous area, back side of the stick, etc) inside their defensive shooting circle, or commits a
deliberate or particularly serious foul outside the circle but within their defensive quarter of the
field, then a complicated and indirect penalty shot is taken, called a "penalty corner".
A deliberate breach by defenders within the circle, or a rule breach that directly prevents a goal
being scored, results in the award of a "penalty stroke", approximately equivalent to a penalty shot
in soccer.
Penalty Corner - A hit on the ball awarded to the team on offense when the defense either
commits a foul inside the striking circle or intentionally hits the ball out-of-bounds over the end
line. A penalty corner is taken by an attack player along the end line at a spot ten yards away from
the nearest goal post. All other attack players must stand with both their sticks and feet outside of
the striking circle. Five defenders, including the goalie, stand behind the end line until contact is
made with the ball. All remaining offensive and defensive players then rush into the circle to either
help defend or shoot the ball at the goal.
To start the game a team is warded a centre pass (Centre of the field) in any direction after a coin
toss.
If the ball crosses the side lines, a free hit is awarded to the non offending team at the position
where the ball went out.
If the ball goes out the back-line by the defense, then a free hit at the 15m line is awarded.
Use the "bully" to put the ball into play when play has been stopped for injury or simultaneous
penalties by each team. To do this, two players from opposing teams face each other, the ball
between them. They simultaneously hit the ground and then hit stick faces above the ball. Do this
three times and then try to be the first to hit the ball back into play
In Regular Field hockey there is two 35 minute halves.
The teams' object is to play the ball into their "shooting circle" and, from there, hit or push the ball into
the goal. The team with more goals after two 35-minute halves wins the game.
Skill: Grip
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Everybody has to do it the same way, there is not left and right handed sticks
because then you would be playing floor hockey
Skill: Push Pass
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Left hand on top, right hand a few cm below
Don’t let the right index finger point down the stick
Bend your knees or you will get a sore back
Stand sideways, feet shoulder width apart, transfer weight from back to front
No back swing, keep stick in contact with ball and ground as long as possible
Follow through by pointing at your target
Used for shorter passes, very concise
Skill: Receiving
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Watch ball all the way to the stick
As ball contacts stick, player allows the stick to absorb the ball
Increase surface area for receiving by getting lower in the knees and putting stick
horizontally
When receiving the ball on the left side of your body cross your arms so the stick
is upside down. Otherwise the wrong side of the stick will contact the ball.
Skill: Trap
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Bend knees such that both hands and the stick can be laid on the ground
Spread hands apart on handle and lay stick down on the ground on right side of
the body so the flat part of the stick is facing the ball
Absorb the ball when it makes contact with the stick
When receiving the ball on the left side of your body cross your arms so the stick
is upside down. The hook facing down. Otherwise the wrong side of the stick
will contact the ball.
Skill: Contact (Push) Dribble
- Ball is to the right of the body
- Ball is in constant contact with the stick
- Ball is pushed along the ground
Skill: Speed Dribble
- Series of tapping to keep ball moving
- Only done in the open
- Is not running and chasing the ball
Skill: Indian Dribble
- moves ball from left to right of body and back
- roll the stick over the top of the ball by twisting the stick with left hand
- left hand twists and stick slides through right hand
Skill: Shooting
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Legs shoulder width apart
Keep eyes on ball
Lead shoulder towards target
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Stick back to knee level; follow through by bringing stick back up in front to knee
level.
Please keep ball below waist level
Watch for others in front before shooting
Skill: Tackling
- Used as a defensive move to slow the offense down, prevent shots in the circle, and
sometimes to steal the ball. Defenders can not lift the offensive player’s stick or hit it
in any way.
Skill: Jab tackle:
used to ‘poke’ at the ball so the offensive player loses control. Can also be used as a
fake to slow the offense down
stay low in ready position with both hands on the stick
release stick with right hand, jabbing with the left hand. Keep head of stick on the
ground and aim for bottom half of ball
maintain balance position: don’t lean too far forward
quick movement, then bring stick back to right hand and get into ready position
class practices action without ball
Skill: Block tackle:
used to channel a player towards one direction
when the player tries to pass or dribble past the defender, the defender lowers the
stick in order to block a larger area
defender contacts the lower half of the ball, and controls the ball away from the
dribble, keeping the stick on it at all times
class practices action without ball