Field hockey is one of the oldest sports in the world dating back to before the ancient Olympic games, according to USAFieldHockey.com. Field hockey has been embraced by a variety of cultures throughout history including the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Aztecs, and has been an Olympic sport consistently since 1928, with both men and women participating.
History of Field Hockey
Field hockey's history has been traced back to ancient Egypt, but the sport is even more popular today. Field hockey was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1908, although women's field hockey did not become an Olympic sport until 1980. However, women had been playing organized field hockey for nearly 100 years prior to that date, as the first women's hockey club was founded in 1887 in England.
Governing Bodies
The main governing body of field hockey is the International Hockey Federation, which was founded in 1924 in Paris, France. Three years later, the International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations was organized, eventually merging with the International Hockey Federation in 1982. Other governing bodies include USA Field Hockey, a national organization, and the National Federation of State High School Associations, which governs high school sports across the US.
Field Dimensions
According to the International Hockey Federation, a regulation-sized field measures 91.4 m long and 55 m wide. Fields also contain lines running across the field including a center line and lines located 22.9 m from each end line. Field hockey goals are 3.66 m wide and 2.14 m high.
Team Information
Each field hockey team can have 11 players on the field at a time, including a goalkeeper. Goalkeepers must wear a different color shirt from the team and have more protective gear than other players, such as a mask and leg pads.
Match Length
Field hockey matches consist of two halves, each 35 minutes in length. The break between halves lasts five minutes. If matches are tied at the conclusion of the two halves, two sudden victory overtime periods lasting 15 minutes each can be played. If the match is still tied, a shootout is used to determine the winner.
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