Hockey facts for kids
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Hockey is a name for many different team sports, played in both summer and winter. In these games, two teams try to use a stick to hit a ball or a flat disk (called a puck) into a goal. Hockey can be played on an outdoor field, a sheet of ice, or a hard indoor floor like in a gym.
There are many kinds of hockey. Some games use skates, either with wheels or blades, while others do not. To tell them apart, people often add a word before "hockey," like "field hockey", "ice hockey", or "roller hockey". Some sports, like Lacrosse and Hurling, are similar to hockey but are usually called by their own names.
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What Does "Hockey" Mean?
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The word hockey first appeared in a book in 1773 called Juvenile Sports and Pastimes. The exact origin of the word is not known. It might come from hoquet, a French word for a shepherd's staff, because hockey sticks have a curved, "hooked" end. Another idea is that it came from "hock" ale, as cork stoppers from these ale barrels were sometimes used as balls.
Today, in most parts of the world, when people say "hockey," they usually mean field hockey. But in places like Canada, the United States, Russia, and much of Eastern and Northern Europe, "hockey" usually means ice hockey.
A Quick Look at Hockey's Past
Games played with curved sticks and a ball have been around for a very long time in many cultures. In Egypt, carvings from 4,000 years ago show teams playing with sticks and a ball. In Ancient Greece, a game called kerētízein might have been played with a horn-shaped stick around 600 BC. The Daur people in Inner Mongolia have played a game similar to field hockey called beikou for about 1,000 years.
During the Middle Ages, some laws were made about sports. In Ireland in 1527, a law banned games using "hockie" (hooked) sticks. By the 1800s, groups started to create official rules for these games, and national and international organizations were formed to manage competitions.
Types of Hockey
Bandy: Hockey on Big Ice
Bandy is played on a large ice rink, about the size of a football field. Players use sticks to hit a ball, and many of the rules are similar to soccer. It's a professional sport in Russia and Sweden. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes bandy.
Bandy started in England in the 1800s and was first called "hockey on the ice." It spread to other European countries around 1900. In Russia, it's sometimes called "Russian hockey."
Field Hockey: On Grass or Turf
Field hockey is played on grass, sand, or artificial turf. Players use J-shaped sticks to hit a small, hard ball. This game is popular for both men and women in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) manages the sport worldwide. Men's field hockey has been in almost every Summer Olympic Games since 1908, and women's field hockey joined in 1980. Modern field hockey sticks are made from wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. All sticks are made for right-handed players.
Field hockey as we know it today started in England in the mid-1700s. The first club was formed in 1849 in Blackheath, London. Field hockey is the national sport of Pakistan.
Ice Hockey: Fast-Paced on Ice
Ice hockey is played by two teams of skaters on a large ice rink. They use sticks to hit a flat, round rubber disk called a puck. The puck is often frozen before games to make it slide better. This sport is very popular in North America and Europe. It's the most popular sport in Canada, Finland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Ice hockey is the national sport of Latvia and the national winter sport of Canada.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the main organization for international ice hockey. Men's ice hockey has been in the Winter Olympics since 1924, and women's ice hockey was added in 1998. The National Hockey League (NHL) in North America is the top professional league, attracting players from all over the world.
Modern ice hockey developed in Canada, influenced by European and native games. The first organized indoor ice hockey game was played in Montreal, Canada, on March 3, 1875. Ice hockey sticks are L-shaped and made of wood, graphite, or other materials. They have a blade at the bottom that can be curved for either left- or right-handed players.
Para Ice Hockey: For Athletes with Disabilities
Para ice hockey, also known as ice sledge hockey, is a version of ice hockey for athletes with physical disabilities that affect their lower bodies. Players sit on special sledges with two blades and use two sticks. Each stick has a blade at one end and small picks at the other. Players use the sticks to pass, control the puck, shoot, and move their sledges. The rules are very similar to regular ice hockey rules.
Canada is a leader in developing para ice hockey. Much of the special equipment, like fiberglass-laminated sticks and aluminum sledges, was first created there.
Inline Sledge Hockey
Inline sledge hockey is based on para ice hockey but is played off-ice using inline skates. Unlike some other sports for athletes with disabilities, there are no special rules about who can play based on their disability. This means anyone, with or without a disability, can play and compete based on their skill. The first organized game was played in England in 2009.
Roller Hockey (Inline): On Wheels
Inline hockey is a type of roller hockey that came from ice hockey. Players wear inline skates and use either a puck or a ball. The puck version is more common in North America, while the ball version is more popular in Europe.
Inline hockey is played by two teams of four skaters and one goalie on a dry rink. The game has three 15-minute periods. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) also governs this sport, though some leagues have their own rules.
Roller Hockey (Quad): Traditional Roller Skates
Roller hockey, also called "quad hockey" or "rink hockey," is a sport played using traditional roller skates (quad skates). This sport existed long before inline skates were invented. It is played in over sixty countries around the world. Roller hockey was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Street Hockey: Casual Fun Outdoors
Street hockey, also known as road hockey, is a version of ice or roller hockey played outdoors on hard surfaces, usually asphalt. Players typically use a ball instead of a puck, and often do not wear much protective equipment. It's a popular, casual game played year-round.
Other Fun Hockey Games
Many other games are related to hockey or its older forms:
- Air hockey is played indoors on a special table with an air cushion.
- Ball hockey is played in a gym with sticks and a tennis ball.
- Box hockey is a game for two people played in a box, where players try to hit a puck through a hole.
- Broomball is played on an ice hockey rink, but with a ball and a "broom" (a stick with a plastic end) instead of a hockey stick. Players wear special shoes for grip instead of skates.
- Floorball is played indoors in a gym. It uses a light plastic ball (like a whiffle ball) and shorter sticks made of composite materials.
- Foot hockey or sock hockey is played using a bald tennis ball or rolled-up socks, and only the feet are used.
- Indoor hockey is a version of field hockey played indoors.
- Mini hockey (or knee-hockey) is played in basements, with players kneeling and using miniature plastic sticks and a small ball or soft puck.
- Pond hockey is a simple form of ice hockey played on naturally frozen ice, often outdoors.
- Ringette is a team sport played on ice skates, mostly by female players. It uses a straight stick and an air-filled rubber ring instead of a puck.
- Shinny is an informal, casual version of ice hockey.
- Skater hockey is a type of inline hockey played with a ball.
- Spongee is a mix of ice hockey and broomball, popular in Manitoba, Canada. It uses a stick and a soft "sponge puck," and players wear soft-soled shoes.
- Table hockey is a game played indoors on a table.
- Underwater hockey is played with a weighted puck at the bottom of a swimming pool.
- Unicycle hockey is played on a hard surface, with players riding unicycles.
Equipment for Hockey
Players wear protective gear to stay safe during games.
Protection
- Shoulder pads
- A jockstrap with a protective cup (or a "jill" for female players)
- A Hockey stick
Footwear
Roller Hockey
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Two available styles:
inline skates and the traditional roller skate -
Inline hockey skates
See also
In Spanish: Hockey para niños
