One sport which is being given attention in second-cycle institutions is hockey.At both district and regional sports meets, students are found competing in the sport.

At the corporate and national levels, the sport is duly represented.This shows how important hockey is to both the young and old.

Hockey-like games involving sticks and balls have been played for many years by people such as the Egyptians, the Greeks,the Romans,the Irish,the Scots and the Indians of South America.

Historical records show that a crude form of hockey was played in Egypt 4,000 years ago and in Ethiopia around 1,000 BC.

Hockey, or "Field Hockey?,as it is also known,is now played on every continent, with many nations competing in the three major competitions - the Olympic Games,the World Cup and the Champion's Trophy.

Hockey was first played at the Olympic Games in 1908 when men's teams were included.Women's hockey was not included in the Olympics until 1980.Hockey was played at the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 1998.

Interestingly,hockey in England in the 17th and 18th centuries consisted of whole villages playing the game with the objective of hitting the ball into the opposing village?s common ground.

Teams often consisted of 60 to 100 players and games occasionally lasted several days or so,with injuries such as broken arms and legs not uncommon.

Umpires (referees) could only take a decision if called upon to do so by a player from one of the teams (a situation that sounds familiar even in these days!).

The game that we know today emerged at Eton College in England in the 1860s when the first rules were written down.Further rules were written in 1875 when the first Hockey Association was formed.

The game was played on a field nearly 200 metres in length and all players chased the ball for the whole of the game. Changes in rules and play quickly developed from this beginning and by 1889 the pyramid system - five forwards, three halves,two backs and a goalkeeper - became the accepted method of playing hockey. The Game

?Hockey is generally played by two teams of 11 players (10 roving players and a goalkeeper).The aim of hockey is for a team to score more goals than the other team and to do this players use their hockey sticks to move the ball toward the other team's goal.

Players may run several kilometres in the course of the game.

?The hockey field or pitch is a rectangular field 60 yards wide and 100 yds long (54.90m by 91.50m).

?Hockey games are played in two 35-minute halves,with a five to 10 minute break at half time.Two umpires control the game (one on each side of the field) and to score a goal you must shoot from within the circle (actually a semi circle) and the ball must pass wholly across the goal line.

Equipment ?The hockey stick is approximately one-metre long with a curved end, is flat on one side and rounded on the other.

The stick is made from hardwood (metals are forbidden) and usually has a laminated handle.

?Hockey sticks may have different weights, curves and lengths but there is a maximum weight of 28 ounces and the stick must fit through a 2" diameter ring The ball can only be played with the flat side and edges of the stick.

The ball is the same size and weight as a cricket ball and is covered by a thin shell of dimpled plastic to keep it waterproof.

Although white is the traditional colour,other colours may be used - bright orange is often used on sand-filled artificial turf fields.

Field players usually wear only shin pads and mouthguards for protection but goalkeepers wear a considerable amount of protectiveclothing,including chest and arm protectors, gloves,leg pads and kicking boots,helmets, etc.

The rules and equipment for both men and women are the same. So why don?t you try your hands at hockey?