History of Field Hockey

Hockey has a long history even though many people would like to believe that it is a modern game. In fact, researchers and archeologists have found that games similar to hockey have existed throughout history. Historical evidence shows that in the past also teams existed and each of the teams tried to place a ball and even take a shot at the opponent's goal using a stick. According to historical records from different time, it can be seen that a game similar to that of hockey was played by civilizations that can be dated back to almost 4,000 years and even more.

Drawing discovered in the Beni Hasan tombs in Egypt's Nile Valley clearly depicts men playing this sport and this was almost 4,000-years back. Some of the other evidence regarding the existence of hockey was found in Persia, and it was considered to be a full-fledged sport of the Romans (they called it paganica), Aztecs, and Ethiopians, each playing a variation of this modern and competitive sport. The first hiostorical evidence of a hockey like team game was discovered at the base of statues that form a part of a wall built by Themistocles and this dates back to 478 B.C. The picture on the wall clearly shows 6 men carrying hooked sticks trying to take a ball.

Hockey-like games became increasingly popular in the Middle Ages and was being played across Europe and was known by many names. In England, it was known as cambuca or cammock or comocke; In Scotland it was called shinty, In France it was known as jeu de mail, and the Dutch called it het kolven. The actual origin of the word hockey is uncertain and obscure but modern field hockey took birth in the public schools of England in the early 19th century. The first hockey club on records was Blackheath, which was formed in southeast London around 1849. The initial game was rougher than the subtle finishes and brilliance of the modern sport and was being played on a field that had a dimension: 247m by 64m.

The modern game of hockey as we see today was actually developed by the Middlesex cricket clubs and especially Teddington. The club members were looking for some form of winter exercise and started to experiment with a stick game that had rules similar to that of football. A cricket ball was used for playing the game and in 1874 they started to form rules for this game as it drew popularity. Finally, in 1886 a proper Hockey Association was formed with 7 London football clubs becoming a member. The association had representatives from Trinity College, Cambridge. One of the founding members of this association was Blackheath.

The game as we see today spread to other countries within the British Empire as English soldiers participated in this sport. The first international match was played in 1895 between Ireland and Wales and the score line was 3-0. Hockey was introduced to the Olympics in 1908 with only three participants: England, Scotland, and Ireland. It has truly come a long way since then!

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