HOCKEY

Hockey is a family ofofdoorsoriginated inInglaterrain the middle of the 10th centuryVIIIn a

in which two teams compete to carry a ball made of a hard material (plastic) or a
cork disc to the opposing goal to score points with the help of a long stick
callstick dhockeystick
Field hockey
This sport is played on natural or artificial grass, with a stick, which has
a flat face and a curve, with a ball made of ethylene (solid plastic).
various penalty cards: green, yellow, and red. The green one is usually used
mainly as a warning and adhering to the new rules of theFederation
International Hockey(FIH) entails a two-minute suspension. The yellow card requires the
player cautioned to leave the playing field for a time determined by the referee
let him be penalized, which can be at least five minutes. This player, as long as he is
warned, cannot talk to the referees or to the other players. The card
Yellow is used when a player who already had a green reiterates the commission of the foul.
what caused him his first warning, or when, not having it, he committed an offense
serious, but not enough to deserve a red card, which would expel him.
The field has a length of 91.40 meters and a width of 55 meters. The length of the field
it is divided into four quarters. In the extreme areas are the areas of each
equipment that is in the shape of a semicircle with a radius of 14.63 meters. In addition, there is a
area marked with a dashed line 5 meters outside the area. When there is a
there is a lack of attack in this area, all players both attackers and defenders must
stay at least five meters away from the area of the infraction. Outside this area
only the defending team must be positioned at least 5 meters away. The fouls
intentional fouls within the area and fouls that directly prevent a goal will be
penalized with a penalty. Unintentional fouls within the area and fouls
intentional fouls within the 23-meter area will be penalized with a short corner.
this play involves five players from the defending team, and the necessary players from the
opponent team.
While the flat face of the stick is used to stop, pass, and hit the ball,
The use of the curved face of the stick is prohibited. The stick is held with the hand.
left at the end, and the right hand in the middle (to hold the stick). His tactic
it resembles that of football. For a goal to be valid, a forward must hit the ball.
inside the area (semicircle).
The duration of the match is four quarters of 15 minutes with a 2-minute break.
Except between the 2nd and 3rd quarter there are 5 minutes, controlled by a countdown.
that when necessary, it can be stopped. Furthermore, in field hockey, there
they can make as many player changes as necessary, with the same one being able to
player go out and re-enter. On the other hand, the penalty and the short corner or penalty corner are the
the only plays that do not stop when the game time ends. That is, even with
the time is up, the match does not end until the penalty kick is taken, or if
it was a short corner, until there is a goal, the ball leaves the five yards that surround the
area where a new short corner is produced (which must be played under the same conditions as
the previous one). The players who do not make the serve must stay five yards away
in front of or behind the ball, and the one who serves cannot touch it twice
follow the ball.
Field hockey is an Olympic discipline. Currently, the world champion in
men is Germany, which is also first in the world ranking of countries, and the
Olympic champion of Rio 2016 is Argentina, reaching a final for the first time,
beating Germany in the semifinal 5-2 and Belgium in the final 4-2, while in the version
female, the Olympic champions are the English and the world championsThe
LeonasWomen's Field Hockey Team ofArgentina.
Additionally, in field hockey there are different types of sticks (hockey sticks), that some
they are wider than others depending on the player's preference and always
adhering to the stick regulations.

Maintenance of hockey sticks

After a match or a training session, it is essential that the stick dries properly.
natural, that is to say vertically with its bottom in a room far away from the
artificial heat sources. It is not advisable for the stick to remain in the case, trunk
of the car, etc., as this deteriorates the wood causing flaking, mainly
in the laminated poles. Water is the main enemy of the poles as it alters the
properties of wood. It is barely noticeable that the reinforcements counteract the
premature wear is disappearing, leaving the wood exposed, they must
quickly make the decision to send these protections for renewal since this
greatly shortens the lifespan of the stick. There are different materials like Epoxy.
(plastics) that reduce the wear of the pipe or 'banana' of the stick that are inserted.
as a way of integrating the sheets in some brands of sticks. It is important
put tape on the belt of the stick to limit the wear that it generates
surface like synthetic grass.

Field hockey rules

Each team consists of 11 players and 6 substitutes.

Each player has a hockey stick which they can only use one side to hit the puck.
ball.

A goal is scored when the ball is successfully introduced into the opposing team's goal from

within the area of 16 meters.

The ball must be passed or dribbled using the stick and no other part of the body.
can intentionally make contact with the ball.

A foul or infringement is committed when a player:

Try to intentionally hit the ball at another player with the intention of causing him.
an injury.

Intentionally use a part of the body to help move or stop the ball.

Hit the ball with the rounded side of your hockey stick.

Raise the staff above waist height.

He hits the opponents with their own stick to interfere in the game.

Training

In the initiation to field hockey, the first thing to do is to teach the child the
basic fundamentals of driving, throwing, and receiving. Once you master those
foundations, it is possible to move to a competition adapted to their motor level, in a way
that the learning process is more enjoyable and entertaining for him. The third step in the
the teaching of this sport should focus on instilling in the student the basic notions of
attack and defense, through a series of motivating and fun games that go
gradually increasing the difficulty and ultimately establishing in the child the
appropriate schemes for the development of plays to be executed when
the moment of the real competition has arrived.

This article will show some examples of simple exercises for teaching.
of attack and defense in field hockey, exercises that can be adapted to the
characteristics both in number and in age of the group of students in question.
Field occupation and player distribution
One of the main concepts that should be introduced at this stage is
Familiarization with hockey involves the occupation of space. It is important that the
children to be aware of the importance of properly utilizing all the land of
game, without constantly going for the ball and gathering everyone in the same place.

To precisely avoid the crowding of players behind the ball, it is advisable

place them in a "V" shape.
The players, on the other hand, must support each other so that the one with the ball
Always have the possibility to find a teammate to pass the ball to. The support is
the help that all players provide to each other, and especially to the one carrying the ball.
There are two basic ways to support the player with the ball that should be instilled.
to the children, and they are:

•maintain an adequate distance in relation to the ball

•avoid alignment with the defender
The alignment with the defender behind him, a custom quite ingrained in
children, prevents the attacker's communication with their partner, and it cannot be guaranteed
at least the reception of the pass. Thus, the child must be made aware that such
the lineup leaves its team in a situation of numerical inferiority.
While these sessions that emphasize the proper occupation of the field are more
theoretical well, the theoretical concepts always have to be transferred to practice, even more so
when it comes to children. Therefore, a series of exercises can be included such as those that
are exposed below.
Positions of play
The goalkeeper

He can go up to 25 yards, but he can only use his feet and hands within his area.
to manipulate the ball.

The defenders
They are positioned according to the playing system used, there are central defenders the
lateral, Stopper (advanced central defender) or Libero (last central defender).

Midfield
Also called 'Insides,' as their name indicates, they play in the middle of the field and
offensive and defensive form..

Attackers
They are distributed in the lateral areas and in the center of the field, which is equivalent to the
famous 'Forwards' in football.

Equipment
We have started by mentioning field hockey sticks as a key accessory for
practicing this sport, and without them hockey would have no reason to exist. The stick of
The hockey stick is cylindrical in shape and at its lower end there is a blade.
semicircular with two faces, one flat and the other curved. The flat face is used to hit the ball and
it also stops when receiving it, while the use of the curved face is prohibited in
the game.

The sticks can also vary in length depending on the position of the players.
occupy the field.
The composition of hockey sticks also differs, as they can be made of carbon,
composite, wood, or a combination of all those materials.
The shoes are another important element of field hockey equipment. This sport
It requires intense training, for which the use of footwear is necessary.
with an appropriate restraint that protects the feet from impacts and at the same time
facilitates the agility of movements.
The rest of the team consists of clothing such as a shirt, pants, or skirt,
jacket, socks, compressive protective stockings and other accessories available at
field hockey stores in Spain. One of them isFlick Hockey, which supplies with
material for playing this sport throughout the national territory.
Goalkeeper equipment
The figure of theporterhockeyshe is the most differentiated in the team, and this contributes to it
gear that makes him so imposing. But it makes sense, as he needs to protect himself
from the hardness of the ball thrown from the force and the speed.
Your protective equipment will consist of a helmet, gloves, arm protection and
chest, leg guards and cups or abdominal protector. The stick for the
The hockey goalkeeper must also be specific to enhance the qualities that this
a member so important of the team has to deploy defending the goal.