Field Hockey is a sport where each team carries a hard plastic ball with the stick to the rival’s goal. Developed in the 19th Century, the people of the British Isles enjoy a game of field hockey outside their homes. In 1901, an English woman named Constance M.K. Applebee brought the sport from England to the United States.
Because of Applebee’s influence, it has spread across every school, college/university, and club. In 1908, the government made Field Hockey an official sport for male athletes in the Summer Olympic Games. In 1980, female athletes were allowed to compete in Field Hockey.
What are the Official Rules of Field Hockey?
Each team has 11 people and positions as one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. The main objective is to score the hockey ball into the goal, and only the stick is allowed to control the ball on the ground.
If a player, except for the goalkeeper, uses their hands, feet, or other body parts to move the ball, they’ll receive a foul or penalty toward their record. If a player commits a physical assault/attack or interfere with their opponent, the rival team awards a free hit to the goal.
The Challenges of Playing Field Hockey
Field Hockey is a brutal sport due to aggressive behavior on the court. The players need to be physically fit in the body, quick-actions, and perform sprints with little to no recovery. There’s a high risk of injuries in the limbs, ankle, head, eyes, and other body parts. Players learn to resist pain intolerance over the years to avoid letting go too early in their careers.
What’s Ice Hockey?
Ice Hockey is a sport where each team carries a small rubber puck to the rival’s goal with a hooked stick. In 1875, James Creighton invented the sport during an indoor game with his friends. In 1924, ice hockey joined the Winter Olympic Program for male athletes, and women athletes were eligible to compete in 1992.
What are the Official Rules of Ice Hockey?
Each team has six people and positions as one goalkeeper, two defenders, two wings, and one center. The main objective is similar to field hockey, except they’re using a hooked stick to get the puck into the rival’s goal. A player or its team can receive a penalty for stick fouls, unfriendly behavior, and too many players on the ice.
The Challenges of Playing Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a brutal sport to compete in and requires players to be physically fit, aggressive, and have great stamina. Since the game is on ice, learning to ice skating is essential and prevent slippery on the hard ice. It’s a high risk of injuries to your body parts, including your teeth.
Field Hockey or Ice Hockey?
You understand the difference between field and ice hockey and how their gameplay and rules follow. While they’re both competitive events in the Olympic games, ice hockey is a more aggressive sport than field hockey due to the environment and intensity among players.
Depending on the type of competitor you are, you can enjoy both of them with friends and family members and determine which sport fits best for you.