Venue: Hockey Centre
Dates: Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August
Gold medals up for grabs: 2
Athletes: 384
Hockey gets its name from the French word ‘hocquet’, which means ‘shepherd’s crook’.
Hockey: a history of the sport
The origins of hockey can be traced back to the earliest civilisations of the world. The modern sport of field hockey was developed in the UK as an alternative to football for cricketers seeking a winter sport in the mid-19th century.
The game spread through the British Empire, largely due to the British Army, who played it at their many bases all around the world.
Until the 1970s, hockey was always played on grass, but top-level matches now take place on pitches made of synthetic turf, which allows the ball to roll more smoothly.
This has increased the speed of the game and the skill level of the world’s top players.
Hockey at the Games
Hockey made its first appearance at the London 1908 Olympic Games. It did not return until the Antwerp 1920 Games, but has remained ever since. The first women’s event was held at Moscow 1980.
How to play – and win
Hockey is played on a 100 x 60 yards (91 x 55 metre) outdoor pitch by two teams of 11 players. There are 16 players in a squad and substitutes can roll onto and off the pitch throughout the match.
Each player uses a stick that is flat on one side, rounded on the other. Players must use the flat side of their stick to hit or control the hard hockey ball.
Goals can only be scored by a member of the attacking team from inside the shooting circle, or ‘D’ – a semi-circular area in front of their goal. At the end of a 70-minute match, the team with the highest number of goals wins.
Sometimes more than 100 substitutions are made in international matches.
Jargon buster
Bully-off: The way a game is restarted after an unplanned stoppage: two players face each other, and tap their sticks on the ground and together before trying to win the ball.
Dribble: To move while controlling the ball with the stick.
Golden goal: A way of deciding a tied match where the first goal scored during extra time wins and the game ends.
Flick: To push the ball with the stick and raise it into the air.
Tackle: To attempt to steal the ball from a player of the other team.
Reverse stick: the use of the stick on the left side of the player
Self pass: If a player choses to pass the ball to themselves to continue the game after they have been awarded a free hit.
Get involved
Hockey develops control, speed and fitness. As a non contact sport, it can be enjoyed by people of both genders and all ages. Find out how you can get involved by contacting your national federation.
