HOCKEY

HOCKEYField hockey, commonly known

as hockey, is a team sport which is played between two teams of eleven players with hockey sticks and a ball.

HISTORYThere is a depiction of a hockey-like game

from 200 BC in Ancient Greece when the game may have been called because it was played with a horn and a ball-like object

The first club was in 1849 at Blackheath in south-east London, but the modern rules grew out of a version played by Middlesex cricket clubs for winter sport

At the turn of the 21st century, the game is played globally, with particular popularity throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America - With it being the national sport of India.

RULES OF PLAYThe game is played between two teams of

up to sixteen players, out of whom eleven are permitted to be on the pitch at any one time. The remaining five players, the substitutes, may be substituted in any combination, from one to five, an unlimited number of times in the course of a game

Players are permitted to play the ball with the flat of the 'face side' and with the edges of the head and handle of the field hockey stick with the exception that, for reasons of safety,

Grip

There are two different types of grip:

The Standard grip: This grip is used for most skills including trapping, pushing and dribbling. In this grip you have your left hand at the top of the stick, and your right hand one-third to one-half of the way down the stick depending on personal preference.

MAJOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS Olympic Games - held every four years. World Hockey Cup - held every four years, in between the

Olympics. Champions Trophy - currently held every year, for the top 8

ranked nations. Hockey Champions Challenge - held every years for teams

ranked 9th-16th in the world. Hockey Champions Challenge II - held every years for teams

ranked 17th-24th in the world. Although invitational or not open to all countries, the following

are also considered international tournaments: Commonwealth Games – held ever four years between

members of the Commonwealth of Nations Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament - held annually in

Malaysia, an invitational tournament. Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Hockey Tournament -held annually for

aged under-21 in Malaysia, an invitational tournament

INDIAN HOCKEYIndia won 8 Gold ,1 silver and 2

bronze medals in olympics.India has a record of winning 6

Gold medals in a row from 1928-1956.