Don’t let the skirt fool you… Field hockey is a pretty intense and rough sport. It’s got a 62% injury rate of a players sustaining three or more injuries during one season. 90% of those injuries are usually to the face and head and happen by getting hit with the ball or stick.
Don’t get me wrong, you shouldn't be afraid to play a sport you love; you should just be careful. Oh, and don’t mess with female field hockey players or tell them that field hockey is easy. The chances of you surviving that conversation without a bruise or two are very slim:)
So back to the description of field hockey for all you naive people who just clicked on this post and are like “Oh field hockey….. must be the same as ice or street hockey.”
NOPE!So back to the description of field hockey for all you naive people who just clicked on this post and are like “Oh field hockey….. must be the same as ice or street hockey.”
Number One: Field hockey is not played on ice or pavement. At the collegiate level it is played on a surface called hydro turf. This basically is a thin, bluish carpet infused with water and smells really bad. ( kinda like seaweed) It’s often slippery and the ball moves extremely fast so usually by the end of the game, you’re soaked with water and smell like a pond. Fortunately, hydro turf is uncommon in high school and the games are usually played on a grass or regular turf field.
Number Two: We use a ball, not a puck. Picture a golf ball. Now blow it up to the size of a baseball and BAM you have a field hockey ball. It’s usually white and pretty heavy and I would not recommend getting hit with one. It hurts but also leaves a really awesome bruise that is basically a badge of honor that you can show off to all those people who say field hockey is easy:)
Number Three: The field hockey stick is pretty unique in its shape and look. The curved end is used for controlling the ball and occasionally hooking your opponent by the ankles when the referee is not looking. There are no left handed sticks in field hockey for safety reasons, so I’m terribly sorry for all you left handed people in the world that play field hockey.
Even though it is illegal, this still does not stop players and I’ll admit, myself sometimes, from using our sticks for things other than hitting the ball. If you’re one on one with a player it’s quite easy to hook your stick with the other players’ and give a gentle and subtle tug. Usually they do a face plant and you get the ball. Its not a nice thing to do, especially when you’re on the receiving end but often part of the game.
Number Four: Yes, we wear skirts. It’s just part of the uniform and every field hockey player has to suffer through it. The things you love often hurt you the most:) Field hockey mainly originated from Scotland and before the uniform was… modified, the skirts were plaid, and very ugly.
Now everyone calls them skirts but really they’re supposed to be called kilts. But nobody says that because it just sounds weird.
Number Five: The positions in field hockey are pretty different from ice hockey and street hockey. There are three field positions, forward, midfield, defense, and then a goalie. Forwards are the main offense and score the most goals. Midfielders play defense AND offense, usually running the length of the field several times during a game. Defense works to keep the other team from scoring and the goalie does what goalies do. They throw themselves in front of flying objects and take the hits for the team. You should always be friends with your goalie.
Number Three: The field hockey stick is pretty unique in its shape and look. The curved end is used for controlling the ball and occasionally hooking your opponent by the ankles when the referee is not looking. There are no left handed sticks in field hockey for safety reasons, so I’m terribly sorry for all you left handed people in the world that play field hockey.
Even though it is illegal, this still does not stop players and I’ll admit, myself sometimes, from using our sticks for things other than hitting the ball. If you’re one on one with a player it’s quite easy to hook your stick with the other players’ and give a gentle and subtle tug. Usually they do a face plant and you get the ball. Its not a nice thing to do, especially when you’re on the receiving end but often part of the game.
Number Four: Yes, we wear skirts. It’s just part of the uniform and every field hockey player has to suffer through it. The things you love often hurt you the most:) Field hockey mainly originated from Scotland and before the uniform was… modified, the skirts were plaid, and very ugly.
Now everyone calls them skirts but really they’re supposed to be called kilts. But nobody says that because it just sounds weird.
Number Five: The positions in field hockey are pretty different from ice hockey and street hockey. There are three field positions, forward, midfield, defense, and then a goalie. Forwards are the main offense and score the most goals. Midfielders play defense AND offense, usually running the length of the field several times during a game. Defense works to keep the other team from scoring and the goalie does what goalies do. They throw themselves in front of flying objects and take the hits for the team. You should always be friends with your goalie.
So in a nutshell, that’s field hockey! It’s an amazing sport and super fun to play. If you have the guts to be able to sprint two miles in a game, take the hits while chasing an over-sized golf ball with a stick, then come join in the fun!
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