Hockey History and Olympic Hockey Tickets

Hockey is a sport in which two teams play against each other by trying to put a ball into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick. In different many areas, one sport (typically field hockey or ice hockey) is generally referred to simply as hockey. The first recorded use of the word "hockey" is found in the text of a royal proclamation issued by Edward III of England in 1363 banning certain types of sports and games.

The word hockey itself is of unknown origin, although it is likely a derivative of hoquet, a Middle French word for a shepherd's stave. The curved, or "hooked" ends of the sticks used for hockey would indeed have resembled these staves. Hockey Games played with curved sticks and a ball can be found in the histories of many cultures. In Egypt, 4000-year-old carvings feature teams with sticks and a projectile, hurling dates to before 1272 BC in Ireland, and there is a depiction from c.600 BC in Ancient Greece where the game may have been called kerētízein or kerhtízein (κερητίζειν) because it was played with a horn or horn-like stick(kéras, κέρας) In Inner Mongolia, China, the Daur people have been playing beikou, a game similar to modern field hockey, for about 1,000 years.

By the 19th century, the various forms and divisions of historic games began to differentiate and coalesce into the individual sports defined today. Organizations dedicated to the codification of rules and regulations began to form, and national and international bodies sprung up to manage domestic and international competition. Ice hockey also evolved during this period as a derivative of field hockey adapted to the icy conditions of Canada and the northern United States.

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Hockey Free Hit and Olympic Hockey Tickets

Free hits are awarded when offences are committed outside the scoring circles the term 'free hit' is standard usage but the ball need not be hit. The ball may be hit or pushed in any direction by the team offended against. The ball must not be intentionally raised with any hit including a free hit. In previous rules versions hits in the area outside the circle in open play have been permitted but lifting directly from a free hit prohibited. Opponents must move 5 m from the ball when a free hit is awarded. A free hit must be taken from within playing distance of the place of the offence for which it was awarded and the ball must be stationary when the free hit is taken.

As mentioned above, a 15 m hit is awarded if an attacking player commits a foul forward of that line, or if the ball passes over the back line off an attacker. These free hits are taken in line with where the foul was committed taking a line parallel with the sideline between where the offence was committed or the ball went out of play. When an attacking free hit is awarded within 5 m of the circle all attackers other than the one taking the hit must also be 5 m away.

In February 2009 the FIH introduced, as a "Mandatory Experiment" for international competition, an updated version of free hit rule. The changes allow a player taking a free hit to pass the ball to themselves. Importantly, this is not a "play on" situation, but to the untrained eye it may appear to be. The player must play the ball any distance in two separate motions, before continuing as if it were a play-on situation. They may raise an aerial or overhead immediately as the second action, or any other stroke permitted by the rules of hockey.

Also, all players must be at least 5 m from any free hit awarded to the attack within the 23 m area. Additionally, no free hits to the attack are permitted within 5m of the circle, so if a free hit is awarded inside this area it must be dragged back outside this zone. The ball may not travel directly into the circle from a free hit to the attack within the 23 m area without first being touched by another player or being dribbled at least 5 m by a player making a "self-pass". These experimental rules apply to all free hit situations, including sideline and corner hits. National Associations may also choose to introduce these rules for their domestic competitions.

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"Hockey Dangerous play and Raised Balls" and Olympic Hockey Tickets

According to the current Rules of Hockey 2007 issued by the FIH there are only two criteria for a dangerously played ball. The first is legitimate evasive action by an opponent. The second is specific to the rule concerning a shot at goal at a penalty corner but is generally, if somewhat inconsistently, applied throughout the game and in all parts of the pitch: it is that a ball lifted above knee height and at an opponent who is within 5m of the ball is certainly dangerous.

The velocity of the ball is not mentioned in the rules concerning a dangerously played ball. A ball that hits a player above the knee may on some occasions not be penalized; this is in the umpire's discretion. A jab tackle for example, might accidentally lift the ball above knee height into an opponent from close range but at such low velocity as not to be, in the opinion of the umpire, dangerous play. In the same way a high velocity hit at very close range into an opponent, but below knee height, could be considered to be dangerous or reckless play in the view of the umpire, especially when safer alternatives are open to the striker of the ball.

A ball that has been lifted high so that it will fall among close opponents may be deemed to be potentially dangerous and play may be stopped for that reason. A lifted ball that is falling to a player in clear space may be made potentially dangerous by the actions of an opponent closing to within 5m of the receiver before the ball has been controlled to ground a rule which is often only loosely applied; the distance allowed is often only what might be described as playing distance, 2–3 m, and opponents tend to be permitted to close on the ball as soon as the receiver plays it: these unofficial variations are often based on the umpire's perception of the skill of the players i.e. on the level of the game, in order to maintain game flow, which umpires are in general in both Rules and Briefing instructed to do, by not penalizing when it is unnecessary to do so, this is also a matter in the umpire's discretion.

The term "falling ball" is important in what may be termed encroaching offences. It is generally only considered an offence to encroach on an opponent receiving a lifted ball that has been lifted to above head height and is falling. So, for example, a lifted shot at the goal which is still rising as it crosses the goal line can be legitimately followed up by any of the attacking team looking for a rebound. In general even potentially dangerous play is not penalized if an opponent is not disadvantage by it or, obviously, not injured by it so that he cannot continue. 

A personal penalty that is a caution or a suspension rather than a team penalty, such as a free ball or a penalty corner, may issued to the guilty party after an advantage allowed by the umpire has been played out in any situation where an offence has occurred, including dangerous play.

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Hockey Equipment and Olympic Hockey Tickets

Each player carries a "stick", normally between 36–37 inches long, but they make them shorter and longer, and are traditionally made of wood but now often made with fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber composites, with a rounded handle, flattened on the left side and with a hook at the bottom. Metal is forbidden from use in hockey sticks.

There was traditionally a slight curve from the top to bottom of the face side of the stick and another on the 'heel' edge to the top of the handle (usually made according to the angle at which the handle part was inserted into the splice of the head part of the stick), which assisted in the positioning of the stick head in relation to the ball and made striking the ball easier and more accurate. The hook at the bottom of the stick was only recently the tight curve that we have nowadays. The older 'English' sticks had a longer bend, making it very hard to use the stick on the reverse. For this reason players now use the tight curved sticks. The handle makes up the about the top third of the stick. It is wrapped in a grip similar to that used on tennis racket. The grip may be made of a variety of materials, including chamois leather, which many players think improves grip in the wet. It was recently discovered that increasing the depth of the face bow made it easier to get high speeds from the drag flick and made the stroke easier to execute. At first, after this feature was introduced, the Hockey Rules Board placed a limit of 50 mm on the maximum depth of bow over the length of the stick but experience quickly demonstrated this to be excessive. New rules now limit this curve to less than 25 mm so as to limit the power with which the ball can be flicked.

The ball is spherical, hard and made of plastic sometimes over a cork core and is often covered with indentations to reduce hydroplaning that can cause an inconsistent ball speed on wet surfaces.

Many players wear mouth guards to protect teeth and gums from impacts from the ball or stick. Some local rules require their use. Many players also wear shin guards, and again these may be required equipment in some areas. Many players wear Astor gloves: a padded glove which is designed to protect hands from abrasion from contact with the ground especially that of sand-based Astor pitches and some even protect against impact from a ball or a stick. A few competitions require goggles to protect the eyes. Defenders may sometimes use short corner masks; these are designed to reduce the impact of a drag flick from short corners, though they do not provide guaranteed protection.

The 2007 rulebook has seen major changes regarding goalkeepers. A fully equipped goalkeeper must wear a helmet, leg guards and kickers. Usually they wear extensive additional protective equipment including chest guards, padded shorts, heavily padded hand protectors, groin protectors, neck guards, arm guards, and like all players, must carry a stick. However, such a player may not cross the 23 m line, the sole exception to this being if the goalkeeper is to take a penalty stroke at the other end of the field, when the clock is stopped. The goalkeeper can also remove their helmet for this action. However, if the goalkeeper elects to wear only a helmet and a different colored shirt, they may cross the 23 m line if they have removed their helmet and placed it safely off the field of play. If play returns to the circle without them having opportunity to replace the helmet, this player still has "goalkeeping privileges", that is, they are not limited to using their stick to play the ball whilst it is in the circle. The helmet must be worn whilst defending penalty corners and penalty strokes.

It is now also possible for teams to have a full eleven outfield players and no goalkeeper at all. No player may wear a helmet or other goalkeeping equipment, nor will any player be able to play the ball other than with their stick. This may be used to offer a tactical advantage, or to allow for play to commence if no goalkeeper or kit is available. Purchase OlympicHockey Tickets from Global Ticket Market at very inexpensive rates. Olympic Tickets of all types are available at Global Ticket Market. Buy any of OlympicTickets including Olympic Hockey Tickets from Global Ticket Market in easy and secure way and at cheap rates.

Germany national field hockey team and Olympic Hockey Tickets

The Germany national field hockey team represents Germany in international field hockey. The team has won the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany. The team is currently coached by former women's coach Markus Weise, who was appointed on November 6, 2006.

The team caused an upset in the 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup when they defeated Australia 2-1 with striker Olivier Domke scoring the winner after Germany came back from being 1-0 down. After this period the Germans went through a transition period, finishing lowly in the 2003 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy and the 2004 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy with several inexperienced players in their squad. Coach Bernhard Peters was looking to nurture the players for the World Cup, and was successful as the Germans won the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup, defeating Australia 4-3 in a thrilling final. Players like Christopher Zeller, Moritz Furste and Timo Wess performed exceptionally well. Bernhard Peters left the team in order to pursue a career in football and is now a staff member at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The new team coach was Markus Wiese. Success at the 2007 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics followed this. Germany headed into the 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup with a largely young and inexperienced squad, with players like Zeller missing, but has reached the final of the World Cup after strong performances throughout the tournament. In the final, they were defeated 2-1 by Australia.

Germany has one of the best youth teams in the World and has won the most Under 21 World Cups. The side has seen constant changes because of the lack of money involved in Hockey. Germany is without the services of Zeller for the World Cup, because he is pursuing a degree in law. Current captain Maximilian Muller has also said that he will concentrate on studies after the 2010 World Cup. Germany will play in the annual 2011 Hockey Champions Trophy, in Auckland, New Zealand. They will compete in pool B along with Korea, Netherlands and host nation New Zealand.

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Hockey Centre and Olympic Hockey Tickets

London's Olympic Hockey Centre will be built in the Olympic Park at Hackney in east London, United Kingdom. It will have two venues for the Olympic hockey competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics with capacities of 15,000 and 5,000 respectively, and venues for the Paralympics football seven-a-side and football five-a-side competitions at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. The budget for the centre is £19 million. After the games the hockey centre will be scaled down to a 5,000 seat arena and a training pitch and moved north to Eton Manor. In January 2011, Leyton Orient F.C. expressed an interest in moving into the Hockey Centre after the games.

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Pakistan National Hockey Team and Olympic Hockey Tickets

Hockey was originally brought to Pakistan under British rule, and like cricket soon became popular with the local population. The Pakistan Hockey Federation came into being in 1948, following the independence and partition into Pakistan and India. Prior to these players from what is now Pakistan had competed internationally alongside players from what is now India. In the beginning, the Federation's membership included the Provincial Hockey/Sports Associations of West Punjab, East Bengal, Sindh, Balochistan,Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur & Services Sports Board. Pakistan played their first international in London when they defeated Belgium 2-1 in 14th Olympic Games hockey tournament on 2 August 1948.

The first President of PHF was Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan with Baseer Ali Sheikh as Honorary Secretary. The Pakistan national side soon established a strong reputation in international competition, helping to mainatin interest in the game in Pakistan which assisted the growth of the Federation. However, no full-time central office or secretariat, as such, was established until the 1960s.

The office of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, located in National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, Lahore, was developed into a Secretariat in 1971. It was during the second term as president of Air Marshal M. Nur Khan from 1978 that Pakistani hockey entered something of a golden age. National Senior, National Junior and Women Hockey Teams were all competing internationally, increasing the work load of PHF Office and secretary Brigadier M.H.Atif tremendously. On the personal initiative of Air Marshal M. Nur Khan, the FIH introduced the World Cup Tournament and the Champions Trophy Tournament, which are now rated amongst the major international tournaments, alongside the Olympics. At this time, Pakistan held all the major titles in men's international hockey.

However, the 1976 Olympics in Montreal had seen the introduction of artificial turf to international hockey competition. Pakistan was unable to build as many of the new pitches as the European nations or Australia and New Zealand and so the strength of the national side declined. It was after a lapse of 12 years that the Pakistan Hockey Team again started climbing and won the Champions Trophy and the World Cup with Air Vice Marshal Farooq Umar as president and Colonel Mudassar as secretary of the Federation.

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