One of the Greatest Pastimes, Field Hockey.
Have you ever had the feeling of sweat pouring down your face with the smell of victory in the air? Well that's what the people who play field hockey go through every day. Field hockey is a fast paced, adrenaline rushing game for anyone who has the desire to play. Field Hockey can be broken down into three main sections, history, players and equipment, and how the game is played. .
Where history of field hockey begins is unknown but there is evidence of a game played with a ball and stick dating back over 4,000 years to Nile Valley, Egypt. Other games similar to field hockey were played by the Greeks, Romans, Ethiopians, and Aztecs. Ancient Greek carvings have also been found that show players wielding crooked sticks and hitting a small object. The only players of field hockey were men for many years because it was thought to dangerous for women. But then in 1880, the All Women's Hockey Association was born ("Field Hockey" World). The very first men's hockey club, Black Heath, was organized in 1849, soon after the establishment of the Hockey Association in London occurred in 1886. In 1887, the very first women's hockey club was established in East Mosley and not too much later the All England Women's Hockey Association was formed in 1889 ("Field Hockey" US Field). The British army introduced the sport to India and other British colonies. That lead up to the first International competition in 1895. .
Constance M. K. Applebee of the British College of Physical Education promoted the sport of field hockey in the US in the early 1900's ("Field Hockey" US Field) The United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) for women was established in 1922 the game was featured again in Amsterdam's program in1928. In 1975, the U.S. field hockey team went to the first I.F.W.H.A. (World Championship of women's hockey) in Edinburgh, Scotland (10th), then five years later the team received an invitation to the first women's Olympic games tournament in Moscow ("Field Hockey" US Field).