The positions 

Forwards, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers make up the four positions in field hockey. Forwards are the offensive players who attempt to score goals and the defenders protect the net. Midfielders, as in soccer, are the link between defenders and forwards. They also can play a checking role as they try to clog the middle of the field. The goalkeeper is the last line of defence.

Depending on a team's particular strength, coaches can use different player alignments on the field. Common formations include three (forwards), four (midfielders), and three (defenders), or 4-4-2 and 5-3-2.

Untold Story 

Striking Silver: The Untold Story of America's Forgotten Hockey Team

by Tom Caraccioli, Jerry Caraccioli

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 10/12/2008)

The accomplishment of the United States Olympic Hockey team during the 1972 Olympic Winter Games has seemingly been one of hockey's most well-kept secrets in this country. This is the story of Striking Silver and its members, which included schoolboy heroes and college All-Americans as well as those plucked from the jungles of Vietnam: Ahearn, Bader, Boucha, Brown, Christiansen, Curran, Ftorek, Howe, Irving, McElmury, McGlynn, McIntosh, Mellor, Naslund, Olds, Regan, Sanders, Sarner, Sheehy, and Sears ? the Silver Medalwinning 1972 United States Olympic Hockey team.

Scoring 

Despite the recent emphasis on scoring, games are typically defensive, with attackers struggling to break free of defenders. Players patrol the pitch looking for open space to break free on offence while trying to maintain close proximity on the defensive side.

The top nations in field hockey usually possess one or two game-breakers: superbly talented players who can make the difference by using their speed to find open space and take full advantage of the rare chances to score.

Capitalizing on penalty corners and penalties can also affect the outcome- another similarity to soccer. Scoring chances are rare, so the best teams consistently cash in on these scoring opportunities.

Where it began 

It's hard to imagine a sport dating back to the Twin Dynasty wars in Egypt, but field hockey has that kind of legacy and the distinction of being the oldest ball and stick game. Versions of field hockey trace back to at least 2000 BC, according to archaeological evidence, such as sketches of men knocking a ball around with sticks in the Nile Valley.

The sport grew in popularity in the Middle Ages. In fact, field hockey was banned in England for a short time because it kept people from training in archery, which was the foundation of its national defence. England claimed mastery of the modern version of field hockey, which was first played in English schools in the 19th century and is believed to have been adapted from the Irish game of hurling. (Hurling is played on a grass pitch, and its players use sticks to hit the ball in mid-air through an H-shaped goal).

After field hockey evolved in Great Britain it was spread throughout the British Empire by the army, gaining prominence in Pakistan and India.

India's unprecedented dominance 

Field hockey debuted at the 1908 London Olympics and resurfaced at the 1920 Games of Antwerp. The sport wasn't an Olympic fixture until 1928, which was also the start of India's 28-year stranglehold on the gold medal in the event. During that span, India won six straight gold medals and 30 consecutive Games in the process. India would win gold again 1964 and 1980.

When it comes to individual accomplishments, India once again leads the pack and one name stands alone, in a sense: Balbir Singh, a name shared by five different Indian players during their winning streak. The first Singh scored five goals in 1952, leading his team to gold in a 6-1 victory over the Netherlands.

Dhyan Chand was yet another legendary Indian player who scored 38 goals in 12 Olympic matches, helping his country win gold three consecutive times (1928-1936). Chand was also part of the highest scoring match in international play when his team crushed the U.S. 24-1 in 1932. Chand scored eight goals in that contest but was outdone by his teammate Roop Singh, who scored 10 goals.

Since India's dynasty ended in 1956, only the Netherlands (1996-2000) has won consecutive gold medals, and the country missed out on a three-peat in Athens when it lost to Australia in the final. Great Britain (1908, 1920, 1988) and Pakistan (1960, 1968, 1984) are the only other countries to claim top honours three times.

Latest News - Just Updated 

Beijing Olympics 2008 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Beijing Olympics 2008 Official Licensced Mascot Teddy Bears 

Official Beijing 2008 Olympics Teddy Bear Mascot Plush Toys (Box Set of 5)

Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

# These Fuwa (Happiness Baby) Mascot's are very plush!
# Each teddy bear is aprox. 6 inches.
# Comes with a nice display box packaging with official seals of authenticity.
# A nice collector's item for the Olympics

Blog Posts from Google 

Denver parade fit for an Olympian

But "we brought USA field hockey back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years," she said, adding, "We played every game with heart, and to the best ...

Locals earn Elite honors

BY MATTHEW STURDEVANT Three area high school field hockey athletes have been named to the Futures Elite program of USA Field Hockey. ...

Brooks' legacy lives on in new Hall-of-Famers

The legendary coach lifted the spirits of millions of Americans during the 1980 Olympics. The entire hockey community mourned Brooks' death following a car ...

The Games of Tomorrow

For football, basketball, ice hockey, golf, tennis, soccer, track and field, boxing, automobile racing (which is really licensed road rage), horse racing, ...

Field Hockey Venues 

Featured Lenses 

Learn About Google Earth ( My Passion )

Google Earth is a 3D graphics application enabling the viewing of aerial photography and satellite images to show views of the Earth from above in great detail.  Google has taken the features Google Maps  and merged it with the capabilities...

Beijing China 2008 Summer Olympics News - 08-08-08-08 - China Games

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Nine new sports will be introduced to the 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Beijing Olympic slogan is One World, One Dream. 

All the Summer Olympic Sports 

Table of Contents 

Webmasters Make $$$

• The positions
• Untold Story
• Scoring
• Where it began
• India's unprecedented dominance
• Latest News - Just Updated
• Beijing Olympics 2008 Official Licensced Mascot Teddy Bears
• Blog Posts from Google
• Field Hockey Venues
• The green, green grass of Beijing
• New RSS: Add Your Own Feed
• New Text / Write module
• Featured Lenses
• All the Summer Olympic Sports