GAME OF HOCKEY

HOCKEY


Hockey is one of the national game in India. Hockey became popular in India when the British regiments played the game in India and introduced it in the British India regiments who quickly picked up the game. The First hockey club was formed in Kolkatta in1885-86 followed by Mumbai and Punjab.

Hockey is one of the many sports derived from pre historic man's delight in stick and ball games. It is a game played between two teams on a field with curved sticks and a small hard ball. Its birth place was Asia and authorities credit Persia with having devised it about 2000BC. Modern hockey was created in England. The true ancestor of hockey was Irish hurling. The first hockey club was formed in Black heath in 1861. The first international match was played in 1895 between England and Ireland. In 1908 hockey was included in the modern Olympic Games. The most extra ordinary aspect of its evolution is that a game once so rough and unruly was adopted by women.

Hockey became popular in India when the British Regiments played the Game in India and introduced it in the British Indian Regiments who quickly picked up the game. The first hockey club was formed in Kolkatta in 1885-86 followed by Mumbai and Punjab. The Bengal Hockey was the first Hockey Association in India founded in 1908. With the popularity of the game, associations were formed in different states like Mumbai, Bihar , Orissa and New Delhi. In Olympic games India played hockey for the first time in 1928 held in Amsterdam and won the title. India lifted the Olympic hockey Crown for five time in a row, India's first Olympic entry in hockey culminating in victory gave the Indian hockey Federation a name and reputation. Dhyan chand , Allen, Norris, Pinning, Yusuf Gateley and cullen were some of the brilliant hockey players. Women in India have also been taken up to hockey. Women's hockey has been included in the Asiad 82. Their standard of play is fairly good. A series of coaching camps has helped the players attain a commendable standard.

Game


The game is played between two teams. Each team consists of 11 players including the goal keeper. In the beginning, the captains of both the teams toss for the choice of ends or doing pass. The winner of the toss can select one of the two pass or end. The captains can change their respective goal keepers and will inform the umpire about this change.

The duration of the game is divided into two periods of thirty -five minutes each. At half time the team will change their ends.

The game starts when the umpire blows his whistle for the opening pass-back. The pass-back is made at the center of the field to start the game (also after half- time and after each goal is scored). The ball, which may be pushed or hit, must not be directed over the center line. All players of the opposing team must stand at least 5 yard from the ball and all players of both teams, other than the player making the pass-back must be in their own half of the field.

When a ball passes completely across the side line, it is given a push in or hit from the same spot. The ball is pushed in or hit by a player who last touched it. When push-in is being taken, no player of either team shall stand within 5 yards. If this rule is not observed, the umpire can ask for the second push in. After a push in, a player shall not play or touch that ball, until it has been touched or played by another player of either team.

A player of the same team as the striker, or pusher in, is in an off side position if at any moment when the ball is hit or pushed in, he be nearer to his opponents goal line than the ball is, unless he is in his own half of the field or there are at least two opponents nearer to their own goal line than he is. A player who is in an off side position shall not play or attempt to play the ball or gain any advantage for his team or influence the play of an opponent.

Field and Equipments

The hockey playground is rectangular in shape. It is 100 yards long and 60 yards wide. The longer boundary lines are called the side lines and the shorter ones are called goal lines. All lines are three inches wide throughout.

The center line or Halfway Line is marked throughout its length, while the 25 yard lines is marked with broken lines. To assist in the control of the hit-in, across the center line and each 25 yard line, parallel to and 5 yards from the side line a mark of 2 yards in length is made. A mark is made inside the field line of play on each side line and parallel to the goal line and 16 yards from its inner edges. This mark is 12 inches in length. For hits of penalty corner, the field is marked by the goal lines on both sides of the goal at 5 yards and 10 yards from the nearest goal post. The field of play is marked by the goal lines and the side lines, 5 yards on either side of the corner flags. This is for corner hits. At a distance of 7 yards in front of the center of each goal a spot is marked, which will not be more than 6" in diameter.

Flag posts is placed on each corner of the field at a distance of one yard from the center line. Flag posts must not be pointed at the top. It must be made of metal except when they are attached to a spring 4 feet and 5 feet. Flags on these posts should not exceed 12 inches in width or length.

Goal Post

There is a goal at the center of each goal line consisting of two perpendicular posts 4 yards apart. These are joined together by a horizontal cross bar seven feet from the ground (from inside). The front part of the goal post touches the outer edge of the goal line. Goal post shall not extend the cross bars nor the cross bar shall extend side ways beyond the goal posts. The goal posts and cross bars will be 2" wide and 3" deep, painted in white. Nets are firmly attached behind the goal posts.

Inside the goal posts, a black board of 4 yards in length and not more than 8" in height is placed. These boards on each side make an angle of 90 degrees at the goal line. These boards are made of wood. No chocks are placed inside the goal to support any of the boards.

Shooting Circle

A line of 4 yard long and 3" wide is drawn in front of each goal which is parallel to and 16 yards from the goal line. This line having the inner front corner of the goal posts as center will reach each way to meet the goal lines by quarter circles. The space enclosed by these lines is called the shooting circle.

Equipments for Playing Hockey

Ball

The ball is made of white leather or of any other leather painted with white material. The inner portion of the ball is composed of cork and twine. Its weight must be in between 156gms and 163gms. The diameter of the ball is in between 22.4cms and 23.5cms.

The Stick

Left side of the stick is flat faced. The head of the stick (i.e. the part below the lower end of the splice) is of wood. It is cut round edged and not pointer or square. The total weight of the stick should not exceed 28 ounces nor less than12 ounces. Its size is so modeled that it passes through a ring having a diameter of 2 inches.

Players

Each team is permitted to substitute any number of players during the game. A player who has been substituted may re-enter the field of play as a substitute for another player. Goal keeper wears a uniform different from that of their own team and that of their opponents. Players should not have dangerous spikes, studs or protruding nails in foot wear or wear anything that may be dangerous to other players. The goal keeper is permitted to use pads, kickers, gauntlet, gloves and masks, body protection, elbow pads and headgear which is a full helmet incorporating fixed full face protection and cover for all of the head including back.

Conduct of players

1. A player plays the ball with the opposite side of his stick. No player can interfere with the game without having his own stick.

2. Either at the beginning or at the end of a stroke, a stick may go over the shoulder but neither the ball be dangerous nor any other danger may arise.

3. Hitting, hooking, holding, striking at or intervening with a rival's stick is not favoured.

4. A player should not obstruct the game by running between an opponent and the ball or intercept himself or with his stick as an obstacle.

5. A player may kick or stop the ball with any part of his body if the ball is in the circle of goal-keeper. If the ball is lodges in the pads of a goal-keeper or in the clothing of any player the game will be stopped. The umpire will re-start it by a bully on the spot where this accident occurs. This bully cannot be done within five yards of the goal line. If the ball strikes an umpire the game will continue.

6. Rough or dangerous play, any type of misconduct or time wasting will not be allowed.

7. A player should not stop or deflect the ball on the ground or in the air with any part of his body even hand, to his or his team's advantage.

8. A player should not use the foot or leg to support the stick in order to check the rival player.

9. Except with the stick, the ball cannot be picked up, kicked, thrown, carried or propelled in any manner or direction.

Refree

There will be two umpires to control the game and to administer the rules. These umpires will be the sole judges of the game. Each team will be responsible for providing one umpire. The umpires are responsible for keeping time for the duration of the game. It is permissible to have a time-keeper or time-keepers. Such time-keepers will take over those duties of the umpires which concern the keeping of time and the indication of the end of each half. Umpires will satisfy themselves before the game that the ground is fit for play and the goal post are firmly fixed. They will keep a written records of the starting times of each half, any stoppages for which time must be allowed, the time of suspension of any player and the goal as scored.

Signaling

In general the main signal will be the direction one given with one arm only and that arm raised slightly above horizontal level.

• When both arms are pointed towards the center spot, it is the signal to the award of a goal.

• The right arm pointed horizontally across the field indicates a breach of the off-side rule.

• Both arms are extended out sideways indicates the award of a 15 yard hit.

• The award of a penalty corner is indicated by both arms pointing upwards the goal.

• One arm pointing upwards and the other pointing to the 7 yard spot indicates the award of a penalty stroke.

• When both arms are crossed above the head, it is the signal for the stoppage of game.

Signals should be maintained long enough to ensure that all players are aware of the decision. Regular and assiduous practice are required to become a good umpire.

Scoring

When a ball has passed completely and according to the rules over the goal-lines, between the goal posts and under the cross bars, a goal is scored. At that time the ball should be within the circle having been hit by the stick of an attacker. The team that scores greater number of goals shall be the winner. If the goal keeper plays foul at the time of penalty stroke, it is not necessary for the ball to cross the goal line.

The awardable penalties are limited to

1. a free hit

2. a penalty corner and

3. a penalty stroke

The opposing team should be awarded a penalty corner if a player of the defending team has sent the ball intentionally within 25 yards of the line and if the ball has gone out of the goal-line by 25 yards and the goal is not scored. A penalty corner should be awarded to the attacking team provided the ball is unintentionally over the goal line. When the ball is sent by one of the teams over the goal-line and the goal is not scored or it is sent in deliberately over the goal line by one of the defending teams from more than a distance of 25 yards from the goal-line, the same should be re-started by a hit by the defending team. A free hit should be awarded from a distance of 16 yards.

Free Hit

Free hit is normally taken from the place of offense. If an offense is committed by an attacker within the circle, a free hit should be taken from any side within the circle. While taking free hit, the ball shall remain stationary. Any type of hit can be used for it but the ball must not rise above knee height. Scoop-stroke will not be allowed. A free hit shall be taken from the breach place, provided that a free hit is given to the defending team within 16 yards of the inner edge of their goal line. When a free hit is taken, no player other than the striker shall be within five yards of the circle. It is not essential for the player of the host team to be at a distance of five yards. If the striker misses to hit the ball, he can re-take the hit. The striker after taking free hit, will not play ball, until it has been touched or played by another player of either team.

Penalty Corner

The attacking team will be given free hit in a circle of 5 yards from the flag post at the corner of goal line or side line. While doing penalty corner if before doing ball push the players of the defending team begin running, the referee will ask to push the ball again. While doing penalty corner, a player will do the ball push from a point inside the circle on the goal-line, then the player standing on the edge of 'D' will play with hockey and the third will hit the ball. The penalty corner will be regarded as goal but the goal should not be higher than the plank of the goal or there should not be under cut. The goal should cross the line.

Penalty Stroke

The penalty stroke is given to the attacking team when foul is intentionally committed by the defending team in the circle. At the time of corner hit, the players of both the teams may stand where they like. According to new rules, the teams may stand where they like and if the team checking the attack commits any foul- whether intentionally or unintentionally, a penalty stroke is given against it.

Penalty stroke is a hit to a player of offending team in front of goal-line from 7 yards. It is faced by the goal keeper of the defending team.

At the time of penalty stroke all the players of both the teams should stand outside the rear line of 25 yards. If the goal keeper is compelled to move a little by the striker or the striker faints the stroke should be re-taken.

As a result of the penalty stroke

• If the ball completely crosses the goal post, under the cross bars and goal lines, a goal is scored.

• If goal keeper commits any breach and hinders the score, it is also considered a scored goal.

• A penalty stroke ends if the game becomes stationary in the circle or passes over it.

• The play is re-started with a free hit even if the goal is scored or not. The defending team shall be given a free hit from 16 yards of goal line.

• Duration between the penalty stroke and the re-start of the play will be added in the same half.