HOCKEY HISTORY AND RULES

HOCKEY

hokey

Introduction : ‘Hockey’ is one of the popular games in India. India’s golden era in the game lasted 

from 1928 to 1956 during which India won 6 consecutive gold medals at Olympic Games.

History: Depiction of men playing this game was found and 4,000 years ago old drawings are found in the Beni Hassan tombs of Nile Valley in Egypt. The statue found in the buildings of Themistocles in 478 B. C. depicted the unage of six men carrying hooked sticks.

Sculptures in the Athens National Archaeological Museum exhibited youth playing a game called ‘Keritizen’. This game has similarity with hockey. The name ‘hockey’ has been derived from French word ‘hooquet’ meaning stick of a shepherd.

Youth in England during 17th and 18th century used to proceed with hitting balls repeatedly from playfield of one village to the other. Teams consisted of 60 to 100 players and games usually lasted for several days. A game similar to the modern hockey was played at Eton College in England on a playfield of 200 meters length.

The ‘British Hockey Association’ was formed under the direction of Teddington Cricket Club in 1886. The English, Irish and Welsh Nationals formed the International Rules Board. The first Olympic Hockey competition for men was held at London in 1908.

Hockey in India: Indian soldiers started playing hockey after it was introduced by British soldiers during their rule. In this way hockey gained papularity in India.

The first Hockey association in India was started in Kolkata. This was followed by Hockey associations at Mumbai and punjab. In 1925 the ‘Indian Hockey Federation’ (IHA) was formed and got  membership from International Hockey Federation(IHF).

Hockey court and measurements:

Hockey court and measurements

This game is played mostly on grass and mud surfaces. National and international hockey matches are played on the artificial or grass surface called ‘Poly Grass’ or 'Astroturf'.

Hockey is played on a rectangular playfield measuring 91.40 meters X 55 meters (100yardsX60 yards). Goal posts are kept at each end. In front of each goal post ‘D’ area (a semi circle) is marked. The penalty spot is marked at a distance of 6.40m (7 yards) from the middle of goal post. 

The equipments of the game:

hockey stick:

hockey stick:

The game hockey is played with a stick of 36 to 39 inches length. One end of the stick is curved and its maximum weight shall be 737 grams.

The ball: 

hockey ball

The weight of the ball is 156 grams to 160 grams and cimmnference is 235 mm 23.5 centimeters. It is covered by a thin shell of dimpled plastic. leather coated ball is used to play on grass or mud surfaces. 

General player Equipments: Players wear mouth guard to protect their teeth and gums; shin guards to protect shin bone; padded hand gloves to protect fingers and face masks at the time of short corners, penalty corners and penalty stroke in order to protect their face.

Goalkeepers equipments:

Player defending goal post is called the goal keeper. Apart from holding a stick in his hand, a goalkeeper wears helmets, leg guards, kickers to kick the ball, Chest protector, hand gloves, groin or pelvic protector, and arm guards.

Common rules:

A team consists of 11 players including a goal keeper and 5 'substitutes. (Total 16).

• A match consists of 4 quarters of 15 minutes each. There will be 2 minutes rest interval between first and second as well as third and fourth periods. There will be ten minutes half time interval. The team scoring highest goals at the end of 60 minutes will be the winners.
• Teams choose either to start the play by a center pass or select an end with the help of a toss.
• The Match Starts with center pass from the center of the play field. The non scoring team stats the play from center part of the playheld after a goal is scored. Similar procedure is followed during the start of play after half time.
• Substitutions can be made innumerable times among substitutes.
• The ball cannot be played by the back of the stick or by the legs.
• During penalty corner only 5 defenders including the goal keeper can defend in the goal area. All other players of defending team should stay behind the center line.

Penalties:

• ‘Free hit’ is awarded to the opponents a foul is Committed.
• A ‘penalty corner’ is awarded for all fouls by the team are defending  in ‘D’ area.
• The ‘penalty stroke’ is awarded to the Opponents when a fault is made by the defending team in the ‘D’ area. When a ball is moving towards the goal post. 
• A ‘corner hit’ is awarded to opponents when the ball is sent out of 'D' area by the defending team.
• penalty corner is given to opponents if there is international foul committed within 23 meter line by the defender.

Dangerous play: Lifting the ball up in a dangerous manner or raising the ball when the opponent is within 5 mtrs distance is dangerous play and sanctioned with suitable penalty.

warnings and suspension: In hockey, three cards are shown to penalize a players. 

• Green card : Which indicate used to a warning.
• yellow card: Which is temporary suspension, for a player for  minimum of 5 minutes duration. 
• red card :Is for permanent exclusion from the rest of the game to a player without substitution.

Scoring a goal: A goal is awarded to the team which successfully sends the ball into its opponent goal from ‘D’ area.

Goal is disregarded if the ball is sent into the goal from outside the ‘D ‘ area.