Hockey is for life. (Hockey - General)

Member Name: Andy_83

Product:	Hockey - General
Date:	16/01/02 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Socialising, Good Exercise, Great fun

Disadvantages: None

The game of hockey goes back a very long way, way before i was ever born. It never really interested me or my family.

My dad became involved in hockey when he was about 40, a guy at work persuaded him to go along and join the club he was at. The club was called Templars, i was very yound at the time, about 10 years old, and one week, on Saturday he took me along for some reason, probably because my mum was going out and they couldn't get a babysitter, so i was dragged along.

I began to really enjoy watching the game and began to love the sport. It is not well publicised and isn't really on the television except on rare occasions such as the Olympics.

Then one week, i turned out again to watch my dad, and the team found themselves one short. They had no one else to pick, so i was put onto the field, stick in one hand, and shoved up front out of the way, as luck would have it i scored 2 goals, tap ins of course, but we won. I then became chief substitute.

I continued to make the odd appearance here and there, and eventually found myself training every week as a member of the club with other children my age and progressed from there. I now find myself playing in the Kent U21 squad, possibly playing at the National Stadium which is situated in Milton Keynes. I also play for Holcombe Hockey Club, based in Chatham in Kent. It is an up and coming club hoping to reach the top levels of Hockey in England today. So that's how i became involved in hockey, now what is the sport about?

Basically hockey revolves around 22 men, 22 sticks, 2 keepers, 44 legs and one ball. The aim of the sport is to get the ball into the oppostions net by hitting the ball into the goal, whilst the ball is in a designated area, fairly simple you may think. Wrong!

The game of hockey is far more complex than most people think, not only do you require good hand - eye coordination to hit, push and flick the bal
l, but you need Stamina, Strength and Agility in order to be successful in the sport.

The stick can only be used one side, this is the flat side, in order to change direction, you must use a technique known as the Indian dribble. This is extremely hard to master, and it takes much practice to even do it vaguely well.

What is it about hockey that really appeals to me? I think the thing i love about hockey the most is firstly that i am relatively good at the sport, making it more enjoyable but secondly the way in which you get to socialise and interact with your own team and other teams weekly. It enables you to develop your communication skills and social skills. The reason people play the sport is mainly because of the social aspect.

I thoroughly recommend getting yourself down to your local club and giving it a try, you never know you may enjoy it. Hockey doesn't get the advertising it deserves, and it needs YOU!!

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