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Hockey is a game where two teams compete by passing a ball or puck using a hockey stick and trying to score in the opponents' net or goal, past a goalkeeper
There are several different kinds of hockey including field hockey, ice hockey and roller hockey
Both ice hockey and field hockey are played professionally and by amateurs in the UK
There are 11 players on a team

Field hockey

Field hockey is a version of hockey played on gravel, grass, sand or artificial turf
It is most widely played in Western Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Field hockey sticks are smaller than ice hockey sticks - modern ones have a hooked blade, whereas ice hockey sticks have a long blade that can lie flat on the playing surface when the stick is held upright
Field hockey is played in most comprehensive schools in Britain and in leagues and academies in Britain and the rest of Europe

Hockey in Wales

There are many professional men's and ladies professional hockey teams in Wales, affiliated to the Welsh Hockey Union
The Welsh Hockey Union's Performance Section runs international team programmes for Seniors, U21s, U18s and a Junior Academy (U16s)
Most Welsh primary and secondary schools are affiliated to the Welsh Hockey Union
If your school doesn't have a hockey team, contact your local sports centre to find out about the local hockey team

Ice hockey

Ice hockey is hockey played on ice, with a small 7-8 ounce rubber puck
Ice hockey is played mainly in Canada, Russia, the United States and the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Scandinavia
It is played less in Britain, although there is a British Elite Ice Hockey League, which is the UK's top professional ice hockey league
The Cardiff Devils is a well-known Welsh ice hockey club which is a member of the Elite League

Roller hockey

Roller hockey is a fast-paced game played on roller skates in an indoor rink with a ball or a plastic puck
Roller hockey is often referred to as rink hockey
It uses quad skates and is also sometimes called quad hockey
Rink hockey sticks have a curled 'L' shape and they are roughly the same size as those in field hockey
Rink hockey is popular in southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, and certain South American countries, such as Brazil and Argentina

Inline hockey

Inline hockey is a type of hockey which is similar to ice hockey - the game is played by two teams, consisting of four skaters and one goalie on each, on a dry rink
The game is played in two 20-minute periods
Inline hockey has similarities to roller hockey and is often also called roller hockey, but it's different because it has a different type of skate and different game rules
Contact the British Inline Skater Hockey Association for more details - visit the link below to contact them via their website

Did you know...?

Ice hockey is also played at the Winter Olympics under rules which are slightly different to those of the National Hockey League
Teams who most commonly take part in the British Elite Ice Hockey League are:-