Hockey is a popular modern sport often played on an ice rink. The game is typically known for its competitive nature, as opposing team players jostle for a puck using a stick.
An ice Hockey game comprises six players, with a goal-keeper included. Fascinatingly, Hockey players take turns playing on ice for a minute before they are substituted to play on the fly in a process known as a ‘line change.’
Like casinos, you can stake Hockey games online. Casino games at FanDuel Casino offer various options like other sports betting platforms. While betting on Hockey online might not be so complex, playing the real game can be difficult. So, it’s important to know some essential things about the beautiful game.
The Origin of Hockey
Hockey has been around for several years. Its origin can be traced to as long as 4,000 years when it was played in ancient Egypt. Of course, the game was not played with as much sophistication as it is currently, but it still resembles the modern game. According to archaeological evidence, the Greeks also widely played the game in Ancient Rome.
However, the modern form of the game originated in England in the mid-18th century. Its spontaneous rise is largely due to the influence of public schools. Shortly afterward, a professional Hockey association was formed in 1876, and within a decade, fundamental changes were made to the previous rules that still exist.
Basic Rules of Hockey
- Hockey is played by six players battling for the possession of a puck on an ice rink. The puck is hit by the stick’s flat side, and goals are scored from a field goal, penalty, penalty stroke, or corners. Field goals are typically from open play when the puck is played inside the ‘striking circle.’ It doesn’t count as a goal if the puck is played beyond the circle.
- Players are forbidden from using their feet or other body parts besides the hand to control the puck.
- Hockey is a non-contact sport, and players are disallowed from tripping, pushing, charging, and physically assaulting opponents. When there’s an infringement of any kind, a foul is called. A foul is usually a free hit or penalty corner awarded to the non-offending team.
Terminologies in Hockey
- Puck: A relatively small ball that looks like a soccer ball used in playing Hockey. It’s made to adapt to the sport’s fast-paced nature.
- Face-off: Face-off is usually a break-in play signified by the referee throwing the puck into play at one of many face-off circles. Two players involved in the face-off stand at each other as they struggle to win the possession of the puck.
- Overtime: Overtime occurs when both teams are tied on the same score, and an overtime extra sudden death is played. The period is usually five minutes long. When a team scores the first goal, the team wins. In the event of a stalemate, the match proceeds to a shoot-out.
Is Hockey Difficult To Play?
Frankly, Hockey is a tad challenging to play. The sport requires a tremendous amount of concentration and intensity. To quickly adapt, players must have an incredible tolerance for roughness and be highly inflexible in applying rules.
While Hockey is quite complex, learning is not impossible. With requisite concentration and consistent practice, you can quickly learn how to play the sport. It goes to be said, knowing how to play the sport comes with endless benefits, such as discipline, money, and physicality, to name a few.
