By Gina Hartoog

Have you ever wondered how the Olympic Games got their name? The ancient Greeks named the Games after the town where they were held – Olympia. They started off as a type of religious ceremony and tribute to Zeus, an important god in Greek mythology. Chariot racing, discus-throwing, horseracing and wrestling were among the first contended sports at the events and women were never allowed to watch or compete.

Hockey made its debut in the Olympic Games in 1908 in London as a men’s sport. The introduction of the women’s game only took place 72 years later at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. The final of the first hockey Olympic tournament in London was contended by Ireland and England. The home team won 8-1. All matches in the 2012 Games will take place at the Hockey Centre in Olympic Park. The tournament takes place over two weeks. 

Ancient beginnings 

Historians believe that evidence exists to prove that some forms of the game of hockey were played by the Egyptians over 4000 years ago and the Greeks about 2000 years ago. As with many other sports, the Romans took the game and further developed it, passing it on to other European countries.

Later, the French took the Roman form of the game and improvised, calling it ‘hocquet’, a word meaning ‘shepherd’s crook’ in reference to the stick used to play the game.

Another sport from Ireland may have also had a hand in developing hockey further. The game of ‘hurling’ is one of the oldest known games played with a ball and stick. As the game progressed, combinations of these, along with other influences played a role in establishing and tweaking the sport. Two branches finally emerged – one quiet and contemplating, the other rowdy and fast. One became golf, the other hockey.

By the early 19th century, primitive versions of hockey were played in schools in the United Kingdom. British servicemen took the game all over the world on their military tours, and by 1885, clubs were springing up as far as Calcutta, India. Ten years later, the International Rules Board was set up and hockey as a formal sport was born.

Playing the game  

The pitch

The game is either played on grass or artificial turf. Two teams of 11 players play on a rectangular field. The centre line is placed at 40 yards (about 45m) from the goal posts, with the 22m lines measured from the goal posts towards the centre line. A semi-circle, called the shooting circle, is placed 14.5m from the goal. The penalty spot is placed seven yards (6.4m) from the centre of both goals.

The goals

Goals measure 2.14m in height from the inside of the crossbar and 3.66m wide from the inside of the posts. They are placed at the centre of the backline line and must be white in colour. Nets are attached to the goal posts and the crossbar. These must be firmly attached to the ground behind the

A backboard is also placed at the foot of the back net. This backboard must measure 45cm in height and 3.6m in length. Sideboards measuring 1.2m in length are also placed at the base of the side nets. 

Teams and game format 

A hockey match is played between two teams of 11 players. One player is the goalkeeper, the rest are attackers, defenders or midfielders. Goalkeepers wear helmets with face masks and protective clothing.

Before the start, captains toss a coin and the winning captain decides which goal posts he wants to use or whether he would prefer ball possession at the start of the game. The first half of the game is played in 25 to 35 minutes (depending on the league); with a five to ten minute break for halftime. Teams then return to the field for the second half.

Understanding the basic rules

The aim of hockey is to score goals in the opponents’ goal post. Players use the flat side of their hockey sticks to pass the ball across the field to score a goal. The game starts from the centre of the field with a pass-back. A goal is scored when the ball passes under the crossbar of the goalposts.

Goals can only be scored from inside the shooting circle. Players may not obstruct the ball with their sticks or body, play the ball with the round side of the stick or play dangerously. Free hits are awarded by the umpire if a team player causes a foul. Umpires also use a card system similar to soccer to maintain discipline. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins the      match.

Tools of the trade   

The hockey stick and ball are essential pieces of equipment for the game. Here are some interesting facts:

•    The hockey ball is a hard, spherical ball, usually made of plastic, sometimes with a cork core.

•    It weights between 156g and 163g. It should not be larger than 224mm to 235mm in circumference. Dimpled balls are used in outdoor games on turf, while smooth balls are used in indoor courts or for training.

•    The hockey stick has a rounded handle, a flat left side and a curved splice at the end.

•    They are about 150cm to 200cm long and different sizes are available to accommodate players.

•    A hockey stick must weigh less than 793g, but be heavier than 340g – the weights also depend on size.

•    The toe is the bottom part of the stick that strikes the ball. There are four main styles and the style you choose will depend on the position you play.

•    Traditionally, all sticks were made of wood but modern technology has improved the way they are made.Fibreglass or graphite are common materials used to make them today.