Hockey is a sport that has survived in some form or the other for several centuries. Evidence depicts that in Ethiopia, it was play virtually 4000 years ago. In Greece, there are manifests in the form of table-pictures that indicates young multitude playing field hockey. Other places like Rome, Egypt, Ireland, Scotland and South America have some records and evidence that reveal the history of hockey.

One has to get on the ground or stands, to watch the spectacular and energy boosting game of Hockey. However, since last forty decades, the movements in the world of hockey can be gain through the medium of sports news. Let us go to the stands of the National Hockey League, to get some update for the same.

Ottawa Senators-Announced president and Chief Executive Officer Roy Mlakar will impart efficient June 30. Promote COO, Cyril Leeder to the post of president. Announced general manager Bryan Murray will lend executive vice-president to his duties.

Last update on the Hockey sports news, about Boston Bruins that signed Peter Chiarelli (general manager) to a contract extension.

From the internal sources of the team, Carolina Hurricanes, the team management agreed upon terms with Coach Paul Maurice, on the multiple years contract. Announced Ron Francis will come back as an associate head coach and deal on the title of director of player personnel.

Philadelphia Flyers - D Derian Hatcher has announced his retirement and mentioned him player development coach.

Now when the question arrives on the authenticity of conceptualizing or trusting the above statement is by the means of sports news and not only mouth publicity. There are many participants in the business of sports news, and above all many news agencies are focusing on the sport that magnetizes a huge audience base. Apart from a news channels covering all the directions as a vast scope for the same, and many news agencies had centralized their attention on sports news particularly.

In early times hockey was played on grass field. They were therefore called field hockey. It was a game of slow moving with different tactics and played in a confined area. This area is called hockey field. The introduction of artificial turf has changed the game,

In an artificial turf pitch the game became much faster and aggressive. To keep pace with the modern turf field players had to become faster and absolutely physically fit. So, in addition to improving individual skill work (dribbling, shooting, and passing), the players had to develop agility, coordination, flexibility, running speed, and stamina.

The game should have been played in ancient times also as you will find depictions in the walls of monuments showing men hitting a ball with curved sticks. Like most games, it was formalized and regulations for the game were formed in the 19th century. Blackheath discovered a hockey club before 1861 and Teddington brought the hard ball into the game ten years later. The National Association was formed in 1886, primarily by London clubs. The Federation of International Hockey was established in 1924.

Hockey is an outdoor game played by two opposing teams of 11 players. Every one used sticks curved at the bottom end to hit a small, hard ball into their opponent’s goalpost. It is called field hockey so that it can be distinguished from the similar game played on ice. Ice hockey is a game between two teams and each team having six players, who wear skates and compete on an ice court/field. The game is to propel a rubber disk like ball, called the puck. The players had to tactically dribble to pass a goal line and hit the puck into a net guarded by a goaltender, or goalkeeper.

Indian Hockey dates back to the imperial rule. The British army brought this game to India. Today the popularity of the game has given it a national status. It is a popular game of India.

Lets branch out a little! Think India is too hot for Hockey? Well think again, they have been playing hockey since the 1800’s! Ok, ok, so its field hockey, but here is some interesting information anyway!

India is well known all over the world for hockey. It is played both by men and women. The game was started in India by the British army and was also played by the Indian armed forces. Indian Hockey team was established at Calcutta in the year 1885-86.It is the first non European team to be included in International Hockey Federation.

India has won eight gold medals in Olympics for hockey. In between 1928-56 India has consecutively won six gold medals in the Olympics. After that the last cup which India won was World Cup, in the year 1964.India could not even qualify to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. India’s last hockey gold was received way back in 1980 at Moscow Olympics, because it was boycotted by leading nations.

Rules of the game

The game consists of two teams and each team has 11 players on a side. It is played in a field measuring 100 yards by 60 yards. The game is conducted by two umpires, observing on both the sidelines. It is played in two separate half’s. After each half the teams interchange their sides.

The legends of hockey

India has nurtured many legends in its history of hockey. Dhyan Chand was one of the greatest player of his time in hockey. Apart from him there are others like Balbir Singh, Ajit Pal Singh, Leslie Claudius, Dhanraj Pillay, Dillip Tirkey who has contributed to the name and fame of this game. Because of these players hockey was once the most popular sport but due to repeated failures and cricket has replaced its popularity.

In 2010 India will be hosting the World Cup hockey tournament at Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in New Delhi. Many teams from across the world will participate in the game. But before playing the main world cup they have to play the qualifying tournaments. These qualifying matches will be played at France, New Zealand and in most probability, Malaysia.