Forms of Hockey

Hockey is a sport evolved from ancient times with various forms and variations played down the ages. However, all forms can be described as a game played between two teams with curved sticks trying to score by netting the ball or puck into the opposite team net or goal. The difference lies in the team size, stick style and length and the surface upon which the game is played.

The most popular and common form is the “Field Hockey” which is played across the world on natural grass or synthetic turf or gravel using a small sized hard ball. It is played by both men and women and is part of the Olympic Games. It has two official bodies for the men and women hockey games, namely the FIH (International Hockey Federation) and IFWHA (International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations) respectively. The curved sticks shape is “J” and is made of wood or glass and/or carbon fiber. This form became prominent in England during 18th century; it was established by the beginning of 19th century. The first club of field hockey came up in 1849 in London. It is also the national sport of Pakistan and India.

Another popular form played across the world more predominantly in North America and Europe is the “Ice Hockey”. It is so called as it is played on a flat sheet of ice and the ball here is a “puck”; a frozen rubber disc of 3 inches thick. Unlike the field hockey, where players run, here they skate on the ice. This is also played by both men and women and is a part of the Winter Olympics. Its official body is the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation). At the moment, the best professional ice hockey team is the NHL (North America's National Hockey League). Here, the sticks shape is “L” and is made of granite, wood or both and has a flat flexible blade at the bottom for easy movement. Evidence shows that it has been played since early 19th century in Canada and Netherlands. However, modern ice hockey owes its origins to a McGill University of Montreal who set up the rules and regulations in 1875.

It is played by all ages and is called “Minor hockey” for the minor aged players and the rules are modified keeping in mind the age of the players.

Another popular form is the “Roller Hockey” where players play on dry surface using skates and puck. Depending on the types of skates used; inline or quad roller skates, there are two subtypes namely; “Roller (Inline) Hockey” and “Roller (Quad) Hockey” respectively with the latter being the traditional form. They differ in rules and regulations and equipments used with the inline type somewhat like the Ice Hockey game.

Yet another popular form played throughout the year is the “Street hockey” or “Road Hockey” which is similar to Ice or Roller Hockey with the difference that it is played on streets using balls instead of pucks.

There are many other forms all differing in the surface, equipment and whether the ball or puck is used for playing like Beach hockey (played in beaches), Unicycle hockey (played on unicycles), Indoor field hockey (played indoors) and many others.