Field Hockey Fitness Training

Field Hockey Description

Field hockey is an outdoor sport in which participants with wooden sticks attempt to hit a ball into their opponents' goal. Field hockey is an active, running game that requires skill and coordination as well as cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance. The rules are similar to ice and roller hockey, and it has been an Olympic sport for many years. Both men and women play internationally, although it is primarily a women's sport in the United States. The nature of the sport promotes some degree of player-player contact, although not as much as ice hockey.

Field Hockey Risks

• Muscle strains of calf, hamstring, groin, back
• Ankle sprains and fractures
• Bruises/cuts on legs from contact with stick or ball
• Facial cuts, broken teeth

Field Hockey Sport-specific applications

• National and international competitions

Field Hockey Equipment required

• Stick: different lengths used by men and women; one side of the head of the stick is flat, the other is rounded
• Ball: made of cork and twine, covered with leather
• Shoes: low top, cleated rubber shoes
• Protective gear: shin pads, mouthguard, optional back pads
• Goalie: knee pads, shin pads, ankle pads, helmet, mask, gloves, protective shoes

Field Hockey Applicable substitutions

• Ice hockey
• Roller hockey

Field Hockey Reference sources, organizations and publications

• AAU: 3400 West 86th St., PO Box 68207, Indianapolis, IN 46268, (317) 872­2900
• NCAA: 6201 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66211­2422, (913) 339­1906
• Field Hockey Association of America (FHAA) (Men): 1750 East Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO 80909, (719) 578­4587
• U.S. Field Hockey Association (USFHA) (Women): 1750 East Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909 (719) 578­4567

Mode

Cardiorespiratory: Interval

Fitness Benefits

• Cardiorespiratory 3
• Flexibility 1
• Muscular Strength 1
• Muscular Endurance 3
• Body Fat Recution 1

Fitness Requirements

• Cardiorespiratory 2
• Flexibility 1
• Muscular Strength 1
• Muscular Endurance 2
• Coordination/Skill 2

Muscle groups used

Primary muscles: quadriceps, hip adductors, hamstrings, gluteal muscles, obliques, calves and forearmsAssistance muscles: shoulders, triceps, trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae and abdominals

Energy expenditure

Approximately 0.061 Calories per minute per pound of body weight