Although many of us think of ice hockey when we hear the word “hockey”, there are actually different types of hockey. In this article, we go through the 5 different types of hockey in detail providing you with information for each type. Hockey isn’t only played on ice, you can play without a puck, and many of these hockey variations are played around the globe. Let’s take a look at the 5 different types of hockey below.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a fast-paced non-contact or contact team sport that is played on a sheet of ice. Players wear a pair of ice skates and use hockey sticks to control and shoot a hard vulcanized, rubber disc known as a puck. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team.
Each team plays the game with five skaters on the ice (three forwards and two defencemen) as well as a goaltender. Body checking is allowed in most competitive hockey leagues and players protect themselves by wearing padding over most areas of the body. Penalties are called for fouls which break the rules and culprits must leave the ice to serve them in a penalty box, leaving their team shorthanded.
Sledge Hockey
Sledge hockey is also known as sled hockey or Para ice hockey in some parts of the world and is played on an ice surface. It has its own world championships and is also played at the Winter Paralympics. In general, the sport is aimed at players who have some type of physical disability.
It was invented at a rehabilitation center in Sweden in the 1960s and uses rules similar to ice hockey with players also wearing protective equipment. The players are seated on two-bladed sledges or sleds and propel themselves around the rink by the use of their arms.
Field Hockey
Field Hockey is a summer Olympic, limited-contact team sport for both men and women and typically consists of two 35-minute halves. Each team consists of 10 players and a goalkeeper with the aim of the game simply being to outscore the opposition. Players use field-hockey sticks to control and shoot a round, hard hockey ball and typically wear shorts or skirts and Tee-shirt jerseys with minimal protective equipment underneath. The modern version of field hockey was developed in the United Kingdom during the 19th century and is played in most areas of the world.
Goalies are allowed to play the ball with any part of their body but only with the front part of the stick, which is flat in the front and rounded on the back. The other players must also use the flat side of their stick only to play the ball. If a player uses the rounded part of the stick to play the ball it results in a penalty. Depending on the league or tournament, field hockey games can end in a tie or they’re decided by a form of overtime or a penalty shootout.
Ball Hockey (Floor Hockey)
Ball hockey is typically played on the hard cement floor of ice-hockey rinks during the summer months. It’s also known as floor hockey which is often played in school gymnasiums. Many players compete in local ball hockey leagues throughout the world and the sport generally uses the same rules as ice hockey, which means a team consists of five players and a goalie.
Ice-hockey sticks are usually used in ball hockey but a round orange ball is used instead of a puck. However, when playing floor hockey in gymnasiums plastic sticks or blades are often used to help stop the floors from scratching. In addition, floor hockey shouldn’t be confused with the sport known as floorball.
Street Hockey or Road Hockey
Street or road hockey is typically played outdoors on a street, tennis court, or parking lot on roller skates or on foot. A puck or ball can be used and the rules are generally made up by the participants. It’s simply another form of hockey in which the teams try to outscore each other during a game.
This is usually an informal gathering of friends or neighborhood children or adults who decide to play whenever the mood strikes them at any time of the year. Of course, they could also create their own league if they wish but it’s generally an informal game with no pro leagues.
