An Overview of Hockey
- Each player passes a small hard ball around the pitch with a hooked stick.
- A match is 70 minutes, with two halves, and the winner is the team which scores the most goals.
There are also variations to the traditional 11-a-side game these include:
Rush Hockey is an 5 or 6-a-side indoor version of hockey
Quicksticks is a four-a-side version of the game adapted for 7-11 year olds
Zone Hockey is a five-a-side adaptation of the sport that for young wheelchair users to participate alongside able-bodied players.
Benefits
- Improves fitness and stamina
- Improves co-ordination
- The sport can be mentally stimulating, will improve your fitness and your hand-eye co-ordination.
Costs
Dependent on the club and coach, starting playing can cost from as little as £2 per session but 'taster' sessions may be free.
Involvement
Hockey clubs are supportive of beginners, and are likely to help out with equipment and advice.
Adaptations and Equipment
A t-shirt, shorts and socks, as well as some robust trainers with a sound sole grip will get you started
- For a beginner, clubs will be able to supply basic equipment, including sticks and balls, but in time, buying a good stick which suits you will prove a sound investment
- Similarly some padded gloves, to avoid getting your knuckles cracked now and again and a mouth guard is no bad idea
- A goalkeeper, will eventually need a mask, body padding and leg pads
Facts
- In the 1988 Olympics in Seoul the Great Britain men's hockey team claimed the gold medal beating West Germany 3-2 in the final.