The History of Field Hockey

Sometimes, when you play a sport you love, you want to immerse yourself in the grand tradition of it. Who else played the game and how long ago did it start? Sports fans know that learning the history of a sport is one of the best ways out there to truly become a knowledgeable, well-informed participant, even if you don’t actually play the sport. Plus, when you get into a conversation with another enthusiast, you can much more easily know what it is they are saying if you have done your homework.

So what exactly is the history of field hockey?

Related Games

Like most games and sports, field hockey did not appear out of nowhere. Before it was created, there were lots of games out there that were similar to the modern game of field hockey. Stick-like and field games have been around for thousands of years, and while field hockey has not been around for quite that long, it does follow a long history of similar games.

• Hurling: An Irish sport that is considered to be the world’s fastest field sport. It has been played for over 3,000 years. It’s played with a wooden stick called a hurley (or camán in Irish) and a small ball known as a sliotar. The objective of the game is to score points by sending the sliotar between the opposing team’s goalposts either over the crossbar for one point or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for three points.

• Beikou: A Japanese game that has been played for over 1,000 years. It is often considered a precursor to modern field hockey and shares some similarities with hurling. The game is played with sticks and a ball, and the objective is to score goals by hitting the ball into the opposing team’s net.

• Lacrosse: The earliest forms of lacrosse originated as early as the 12th century among Native American tribes. It too is played with sticks and a ball, with the objective being to score goals in the opposing team’s goal. Although similar to field hockey, these sports are not the same. 

It is clear that stick and ball sports have been popular across the world for a very long time, so it is not unexpected that a sport as cool as field hockey would come around at some point.

Field Hockey Origins

The modern version of field hockey was developed in the 19th century in England. The first formal field hockey club, the Blackheath Hockey Club, was established in London in 1861. The sport quickly gained popularity, and by the late 19th century, field hockey had spread to other countries, including India, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Initially, the game was played rougher than the current version. Cricket clubs, seeking a sport for the off-season, played a role in the development of field hockey. These clubs adapted and modified the game, leading to a more refined version. The rules and regulations of the game were standardized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the formation of the Hockey Association in England in 1886, and in 1895, Ireland and Wales faced off in the first international competition, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s history. 

While no single individual can be credited with inventing field hockey, it was the collective efforts of various clubs and organizations in England that led to the development and formalization of the sport as we know it today. The sport underwent various iterations before it evolved into the modern game we know and love today.

Field Hockey and Women

Today, field hockey is popular throughout the world, but, possibly more notably, is popular amongst women. The introduction of women to the sport happened alongside but separately to men. . It took it a lot longer to become popular, and really didn’t start becoming popular until the 1900’s.

The Molesey Ladies Hockey Club was formed in 1887 in Molesey, Surrey, England. Its establishment marked a significant milestone in the history of women’s field hockey, as it paved the way for the formation of other women’s teams and the eventual creation of the All England Women’s Hockey Association in 1894.

In fact, before the 1970’s, field hockey tournaments for women were not competitive. While many leagues formed for women to play field hockey, they all had their own rules and it was hard to find unity. However, eventually, competitive play began and the two major ruling bodies merged. What did this mean? It meant that women’s field hockey could join the Olympics!

Women’s field hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The gold medal in the inaugural year was won by the Zimbabwean women’s field hockey team. This victory was particularly remarkable because it was Zimbabwe’s first Olympic Games, and the team’s gold medal was the country’s first-ever Olympic medal!

Field Hockey Stars and Other Famous Players

It is always fun to form connections with famous people and to have role models in the things you do. If you can say, XYZ celebrity is a field hockey fan, then it can make it all that much more fun to play. Similarly, if you can work towards being like your favorite field hockey star, then you have a goal that will help you get through the grueling practices even on those days you just want to quit.

So who exactly are the big field hockey stars and who are the stars that love/used to play field hockey?

Here are some field hockey greats you might want to find more about, if you don’t know everything already, when you want a role model to motivate you:

• Carina Benninga (Netherlands)
• Florian Kunz (Germany)
• Jamie Dwyer (Australia)
• Sean Kerly (UK)
• Alyson Annan (Australia)
• Beth Anders (USA)

Now, if you want to forge a connection with a celebrity, then take a look at this list of stars who used to play field hockey:

• Emma Watson (and she even played in college)
• Malia and Sasha Obama
• Grace Kelly
• Ellie Kemper
• Jennifer Lawrence
• Heath Ledger
• And even Kate Middleton has played before

Not only did real celebrities play field hockey, but some famous characters did as well.

• Monica, in Friends, was a field hockey goalie in high school, which is where she unfortunately developed the nickname “Big Fat Goalie”
• Bay and Daphne play for their field hockey team, coached by their brother, on the TV show Switched at Birth
• Blair and Serena played on the field hockey team in Gossip Girl

Field Hockey Fun Facts

It is always fun to learn some interesting tidbits about the sports and activities that we love. Here are some fun facts:.

• First Men’s Olympic Winner: 1908, Great Britain (who also won the silver and bronze medals as well)
• First Women’s Olympic Winner: 1980, Zimbabwe (Czechoslovakia got silver and the Soviet Union picked up the Bronze.)
• First Field Hockey Team: Blackheath Hockey Club

Conclusion

Now that we covered the history of field hockey, you might find yourself more curious about the sport.

• If you want to know more about the different positions, roles, and rules in field hockey, check out our blog here.
• If you’re looking for more information on protective equipment, gear, and field terms, check out our blog here.
• If you want to get involved in the sport, check out field hockey camps near you.