Playing the field

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
Amazon Price: $21.33 (as of 11/25/2009)![]()
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.
USA Field Hockey WNT Goals - Kazan Final
USA Field Hockey Women's National Team goals scored against Belgium from the World Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Final in Kazan, Russia. The USA won, 3-1, to secure a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Sunday, April 27 2008
curated content from YouTube
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 byBeijing Olympics 2008 Official Licensced Mascot Teddy Bears
Official Beijing 2008 Olympics Teddy Bear Mascot Plush Toys (Box Set of 5)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)![]()
# 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
- Sports notices: Special Olympics needs volunteers
- Team registration is being accepted for the Field Hockey Extravaganza scheduled for Jan. 18 in Hampstead. Women's competition is offered for U-16 (junior ...
- VIDEO: Local coaches, broadcaster honored
- ?We won the bronze medal in field hockey at the '84 Olympics, and that was probably my biggest coaching thrill,? said Gros, who made her mark on the fields ...
- You vented ... I'm answering
- I've been playing hockey for 25 years now. On ice, I take most pride in my plus/minus. It is a well-debated topic, but (IMO) each team's best players should ...
- Pioneer field hockey coach Jane Nixon, Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz in ...
- ... Games in Atlanta and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. She spent nine years with US Field Hockey team (1985-90, 1994-96), playing in 110 international matches.
Field Hockey Venues

The green, green grass of Beijing
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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.
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Table of Contents
- 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














