Hockey or field hockey is a fast and fun sport that is played between two opposing teams comprising 11 players each. It is a stick and ball game wherein the aim is to hit, push, pass or dribble the typically white, hard ball with a curve-ended stick. You need to score goals by placing the ball past the opponent’s goal line between the posts. The team with the most goals wins the match but the game can also end in a draw when the scores are level. Men’s field hockey has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1908 and women’s since 1980. Today, several international hockey tournaments are held each year, including the Hockey World Cup.
Field hockey is played on a grass field or an artificial grass field such as AstroTurf. The duration of the match is 70 minutes divided into two halves of 35 minutes each. The 11 players are divided into attackers, defenders, midfielders and a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has the defined role of preventing the ball from entering the goal either with his stick, hands or feet.
There are other variations of hockey such as ice hockey, street or inline hockey and roller hockey. Ice hockey, a fast-paced variant of this game played on ice skates, is also a popular sport. It is usually played on an ice rink in an indoor stadium. The game is played with a hard vulcanised rubber disc known as a puck, which is hit into the goal. Ice hockey is a winter sport and is commonly played in countries such as Canada, Russia and Sweden. In North America, the NHL or National Hockey League is a professional league for ice hockey.
Protective equipment like helmets, gloves and kneepads are used by only the goalkeeper in field hockey whereas in ice hockey all the players wear protective guards, gloves, helmets and visors. Field hockey and ice hockey sticks, leather balls, pucks, kneepads and other hockey-related equipment can all be purchased from sports shops or at various online stores.
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