Field Hockey In Portsmouth-Portsmouth Field Hockey

Hi my name is Steve Arnell and i am 47 years old.

I started playing Hockey in Portsmouth in 1984 for a club called O.P.C.S hockey club so i was about 22.

I only played for them for one season, and then moved onto the club I'm with now, Portsmouth and Southsea hockey club.

I played with them up to 1999 then due to my hips i had to give up playing.

I returned to Portsmouth Hockey in 2003, when all of my 3 children started to play.

I have only played a few times (due to my hip)for portsmouth and southsea hockey club(ha ha)and umpired!(even more ha ha's)for my club.

In April 2008 had a replacement hip operation and its improved my movement 10 fold just got to take things slower(dam).

Above is a picture of myself and my brother this 2007 in France Caen im in yellow and the one in blue is my one handed tackler brother Andrew.

Portsmouth and Southsea hockey club veterans went over with only enough for one side no subs,Caen on the other hand had enough for two sides and they needed them.It was a close game but due to the heat yes i said heat and lack of subs we lost - but we all enjoyed ourselves and i got to swop shirts with an french international umpire.

Directions to the Admiral Lord Nelson School,home pitch of Portsmouth and Southsea hockey club

For those who have Sat Nav
Post code
PO3 5XT
Dundas La
Portsmouth
Hampshire

From London;-
Junction 10 of M25 take the A3M southbound to Portsmouth Turn off Junction ( ) to the A2030 Eastern road (towards Southsea)at 3rd set of traffic lights turn right into Burfields Rd, head towards the Ocean retail park, you will come to a mini roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Dundas lane school on the right but you must go down to a mini round about and take the 3rd exit again into the school

From West:-
From Bournemouth take A31 Onto the M27 until you reach junction ( ) come of onto A2030 then as above from London

From East:-
From Brighton take the A27 towards Worthing then onto Chichester carrying on the A27 towards Portsmouth come of at junction ( )onto the A2030 then as above from London

Choosing a field hockey stick can be very confusing with the range of sticks available today. So this article will hopefully help you in understanding the different types of field hockey stick available and what will suit you the player best.

The first fundamental difference in field hockey sticks are what they are made from. There are two main types the traditional wooden and the more modern composite, both are used at every level in today's game of hockey. Sticks were originally made of wood but as technology has improved different materials have been combined with wood to make them tougher, more flexible and absorb more vibration. Materials such as glass fibre, carbon and kevlar are wrapped around and integrated with the wood in varying degrees to achieve different effects to the point where there is no wood left, and so the composite stick was born.

Composite sticks are easier for manufacturers to consistently mass-produce and achieve a reliable weight and durability. There are varying opinions on whether wood or composite is better and I'm sure the argument will continue, as both are still used by players from school hockey through to international level. I think it comes down to personal opinion and preference; I personally prefer wood but carry both types in my bag. Beyond the materials factor you need to consider shape, length and weight.

The shape of a field hockey stick can differ in the shaft and the head. The shaft can be curved or have a 'bow' to varying degrees which effects control and flexibility but mostly the ability to flick the ball. The more bow you have the easier it will make it to flick the ball but too much bow and you might end up not being able to keep the ball on the ground. The shape of the stick head comes in a maxi, midi and hook. Maxi heads have a large surface area and so are good for stopping and hitting the ball, useful for defenders and attackers. Midi heads are smaller so are good for reverse stick control and maneuverability, ideal for attackers. Then there is the hook that is as it sounds, its large surface make it ideal for stopping and flicking and therefore perfect for defenders.

The other factors to be considered are the length and weight. The length you choose will generally be guided by your height, so the taller you are the longer the stick you need. A tall person with a short stick will probably struggle hitting a ball. Hockey sticks normally come in three weights; light, medium and heavy. A light stick will be good for those who dribble with the ball and have precise, quick control. The medium and heavy weights are used more for hitting and stopping, as it is easier to get more weight behind the ball and so useful for defenders but more strain on the wrists.

Match Reports - 27th October 2007

MATCH REPORT SATURDAY

Field hockey is the oldest known ball-and-stick game and is believed to date from the earliest civilizations - the Greeks, Persians, and Romans and Aztec Indians each had their own versions.

At Beni Hassan a little village in the south of Egypt, there are a lot of old tombs from 2000 BC, which have drawings that show people with long palm-tree branches. These branches look like modern hockey sticks, because they have the same kind of bend. The drawings also show that they used a ball that was made of papyrus fibres pressed together or covered with two pieces of leather.

In Europe, hockey can also be identified with other early games e.g. hurling, shinty and a French stick game called hoquet. The English word may have derived from this.

Modern field hockey was born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England on January 18, 1886.Hockey spread throughout the world largely due to the British army and is currently recognized as the second largest team sport in the world, just behind football.

The first club was Blackheath established in 1861, the club played on a large piece of open ground with crudely designed sticks and a 'ball' that was a solid cube of black rubber. It was Teddington, which innovated the game by introducing several major changes: banning the use of hands, lifting sticks above the shoulder, instituted the striking circle and most importantly the use of a sphere as the ball (instead of the rubber cube).

Men's field hockey has been an Olympic sport since 1908 and women's field hockey was added to the programme in 1980.

The sport was removed from the games of 1912 in Stockholm, and then reintroduced in 1920 in Antwerp, and then omitted again in 1924 in Paris. The reason it was removed in Paris was that the sport did not have an International Federation. The founding of a federation solved this problem, and since 1928 the sport has been included in the Olympics.

India is the most powerful field hockey nation in Olympic history. Between 1928 and 1956, India won six gold medals and 30 consecutive games.

Zimbabwe women's field hockey team went undefeated in the tournament in 1980 to win the first womans Olympic gold medal.

Where since 1988 the womens hockey been dominated by Australia wining three gold medals out of five.

Dear All,
Just wanted to thank you all for making me feel so welcome whilst playing for Portsmouth and Southsea over the last 7 years.

Its been a great club to be a part of and I've made some great friends out of it.

There have been many highlights,the ones that stand out are captaining the thirds first time around, and playing for Jeff's 4ths.

My worst memory being running for my life through the streets of Caen with Russell (!) being chased by 2 angry French blokes who proceeded to smash their way into our hotel after us.

From the beginning of August I shall be transferring to the Atkins London office and shall also be moving up there, although I am not selling my house just yet.

I shall miss Portsmouth, I have really enjoyed living and working here.

I am looking forward to finding a club to play for in London, once or should I say if, I ever get fit!

So may I wish you all a very happy and successful 2007/08 season.

Author Vivian Vallance