Non-Players :

1)  Your Sort Of Hockey?

This web-site's aim is to promote both single sex and mixed field hockey in the two Counties of Leicestershire and Rutland and to provide prospective, as well as existing, players with all the information they may need. For the prospective player, and sometimes their parent(s), we hope this and other visitor pages will provide a starter. 

  a)  The Game
Hockey is predominantly played as a winter sport by two teams of eleven players (ten roving players and a goalkeeper). The aim of hockey is to score more goals than the other team and to do this players use their hockey sticks to propel the ball toward the team's goal. Players may run several kilometres in the course of the game. Hockey is essentially a non-body contact game (which is sometimes difficult to believe!) and rules restrict the amount of body contact and tackling that is permitted.

The hockey field or pitch is a rectangular field 60 yards wide and 100 yards long (54.90m by 91.50m) and matches are played in two 35 minute halves, with a five to ten minute break at half time. Two umpires control the game (one on each side of the field) and to score a goal you must shoot from within the circle (actually a semi circle) and the ball must pass wholly across the goal line.

  b)  Equipment
The hockey stick is approximately one metre long with a curved end, is flat on one side and rounded on the other. The stick is made from hardwood (metals are forbidden now) and it usually has a laminated handle. Fibreglass is now widely used as a binding agent in the wooden stick. Hockey sticks may have different weights, curves and lengths but there is a maximum weight of 28 ounces and the stick must fit through a 2" diameter ring.

The ball  can only be played with the flat side and edges of the stick, but there are many situations when it is necessary to turn the stick over with the end pointing downwards in the "reverse stick" position. There are no left-handed hockey sticks, but hockey players who are natural left-handers can still be very successful players.

The ball is the same size and weight as a cricket ball and is covered by a thin shell of dimpled plastic to keep it waterproof. Although white is the traditional colour, other colours may be used - bright orange is frequently used on sand filled artificial turf pitches.

Field players usually wear only shin pads and mouth guards for protection, but goal keepers wear considerably more protective clothing, including throat guard, chest and arm protectors, gloves, leg pads, kicking boots, helmets, etc. as is made mandatory by recent rule changes on safety grounds. 

The rules and equipment for both men and women are the same.

Other Versions of hockey:
 Indoor Hockey is played as the name suggests - indoors. Normally on a basketball court or similar, although the rules governing the size of the court and the goals are well defined. Rules forbid hitting the ball or raising it off the ground unless actually having a shot at goal. Several places also play "Indoor/Outdoor" hockey - indoor sized courts and goals with indoor rules on one of the outdoor artificial turf pitches. Ice hockey has a very large following, especially abroad, but is not covered here.

To promote hockey in the our two Counties, we provide prospective and existing players, with all the information they may require. Details such as what clubs are out there, where are they in the charts, where do they play, who is the secretary and where will they be next week etc. are available on the left under Mixed, Womens or Mens buttons. Just 'Click' to see further sub-menus. Be aware that there is far more information available on mixed hockey at present.

2)  Our Organisation - Choosing Clubs!

 In June 2001, the individual Men's, Women and Mixed Hockey Associations amalgamated to form a new Leicestershire & Rutland Hockey Association (LRHA), made up of three separate "Sections" catering for the three forms of hockey. Overall, not only are there local leagues catering for mixed and womens clubs, there are also regionally organised leagues catering for single sex clubs who are willing and able to travel further and whose costs are therefore higher than local clubs.    

a) So What Does Each Section Offer?

 Mixed Hockey -
Mixed hockey offers 46 teams across Leicestershire and Rutland arranged into 4 divisions, with matches played on Saturdays. They also have one of the largest County squads, made up of A, B, Under 21 and Veteran teams, which play once a month on Sundays. The commitment of players, officials and organisers is therefore essential, but opportunities for both players and sponsors is enormous!

Some of the MANY Cups, Shields and Trophies presented at the annual Presentation Dance showing the opportunities and interest in the sport, despite the general lack of publicity or status attached to the mixed game.

 Men's & Ladies & Junior Hockey -
 At present, information is on the mens clubs is minimal. However, the local womens leagues have around 18 teams playing in 2 divisions and have close ties with the mixed section, particularly at a local level and in the umpiring.

 There is some information on junior hockey (for under 18's) within this web-site and on the introductory page is a local map, divided up across the counties, showing the lead clubs and contacts. Do speak to the organisers in your area and talk to them about what they can do for you or your child.

 Also, have a look at our Links pages as there is a lot of information on local and regional club's web-sites. For most, however, the best information is still to be had by joining a larger club and talking to people playing and umpiring in the game.  

3)  Hockey Development :
 This is an increasingly important side of our sport and is taken very seriously. A development manager is employed by the LRHA to give direct assistance to clubs in a co-ordinated way for initiatives such as junior or club development plans, funding applications, Active Sports Partnership, the development of coaches, officials and volunteers and in developing school-club links.

 Please see the Development pages for further information, contacts and an appreciation of the work being done.

Once you have decided to play hockey, there is therefore a lot of information to take in and consider, but if you enjoy team sports, do visit the Section of this site that you are interested in and make contact, you won't regret it.