Sydney, Olympic Park, 29 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Rechelle HAWKES of Australia battling with Ayelen STEPNIK of Argentina (n°6) during the hockey final. Australia went on to win the gold medal. Credit: Getty Images/Hamish Blair
Hockey is the oldest known ball and stick game. Records exist of it having been played in Persia in 2000 BC. The name hockey probably derives from the French hocquet, or shepherd's crook, and refers to the crooked stick which is used to hit a small ball. The game became more organised late in the 19th century and became an Olympic sport in 1908.

Until the 1970s, the game at international level was mainly played on natural grass, but has become an even more exciting and Skilful India dominated the sport for three decades, winning all six Olympic gold medals and 30 consecutive games from 1928 to 1956. The first Balbir Singh, who was followed by four more players of the same name who also played for victorious Indian teams, scored five goals in a 6-1 gold-medal victory over the Netherlands in Helsinki in 1952.

Discipline's origin

Records exist of it having been played in Persia in 2000 BC. In mediaeval Europe, pictures of men playing a game with hooked sticks appear on stained-glass windows at both the Canterbury and Gloucester cathedrals. It became so popular by the Middle Ages that it was banned in England for a time because it interfered with the practice of archery, which was the basis for national defence. The first hockey club is considered to be the Blackheath Football and Hockey Club in south-east London, which dates back to at least 1861, and possibly the 1840s. The first groups to organise the game were formed in Great Britain. These included the National Hockey Union that was located in the Bristol area from 1887-1895, and the national governing body, the Amateur Hockey Association, that was formed in London in 1886. Hockey truly developed as a British sport, before being carried to the four corners of the British Empire by the nation's armed forces and other workers. Most of the dominant nations in the sport are, or were, members of the British Empire. This includes India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and England. Other nations have come to the fore in more recent times to make the game a truly worldwide sport.

Olympic history

Hockey for men first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908 and after its return in 1920 has been on the programme ever since. In 1980, hockey for women was first introduced as an Olympic sport. At the 2000 Sydney Games men competed in a 12-team tournament, while women competed in a 10-team tournament, an increase of two teams for women from 1996.

Playing field

The field of play is rectangular, 91.40 metres long and 55.00 metres wide.

Side-lines mark the longer perimeters of the field ; backlines mark the shorter perimeters of the field. The goal-lines are the parts of the back-lines between the goal-posts.

A centre-line is marked across the middle of the field. Lines known as 23 metres lines are marked across the field 22.90 metres from each back-line.

Areas referred to as the circles are marked inside the field around the goals and opposite the centres of the backlines. Penalty spots 150 mm in diameter are marked in front of the centre of each goal with the centre of each spot 6.40 metres from the inner edge of the goal-line.

All lines are 75 mm wide and are part of the field of play. Flag-posts between 1.20 and 1.50 metres in height are placed at each corner of the field.

Goals are positioned outside the field of play at the centre of and touching each back-line.

Equipment

Kicker

A protective device worn by a goalkeeper and fastened over the front and sides of the shoe to allow him or her to kick the ball.

Pitch

The playing field for hockey measuring 91.40m by 55m.

Stick

A hook-shaped device made from wood and/or composite materials) with a flat face on the left side for hitting the ball.

Helmet (goalie)

Used to protect head and face

Elbow pads (Goalie)

Used to protect the goalkeeper's body.

Leg pads (goalie)

Used to protect the goalkeeper's body.

Blocker (goalie)

Shoe blocker

Used to protect feet.

Shin pads

Used to protect shins.

Shoes

Special shoes are worn to give good grip for running and turning.

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