Hockey

Hockey

The hockey field is 100 yards (90 meters) long and 60 yards (55 meters) wide. The weight of a ball used for hockey ranges from 156 grams to 163 grams. The diameter of the ball varies from 8.81 inches to 9.25 inches. The hockey stick is flat on the left side and usually weighs 12 to 28 pounds. Before starting the game of hockey, one player from each team hits his hockey stick on the ground and on each other's hockey stick. And the game begins. The line connecting the width of the field is called the 'round line'. The center line, which divides the entire field into two equal parts and runs parallel to the round line, is called the fifty yard-line or center line. The player throws the ball towards his team to restart the game. This action is called pass back. In addition, the terms carry, corner, dribble, hat-trick, side line, striking, circle are related to hockey.

At the national level, many awards are given for hockey like India Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, Gangotri Devi Women's Hockey Federation Cup, Rangaswamy Cup, Bombay Gold Cup, Nehru Gold Cup. Internationally, the World Cup, European Women's Hockey Cup, Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, Champion Hockey and other awards are given.

Hockey was first introduced in Persia around 2000 BC. History has it that the ancient Greeks played this game. The first hockey club, Black Heath, was formed. The rules of the game were first drawn up by the Wimbledon Hockey Club and later by the Hockey Association in 1886. The first international hockey match was played in 1895 between England and Ireland. The first hockey match was played at the 1908 Olympics.