| Floor Hockey |
| Written by Marion Harpsak | |
| Tuesday, 20 June 2006 | |
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The sport of floor hockey has grown in popularity over the years, and intramural and other teams can now be found in communities, schools, and even colleges and universities. I am not into sports I’d rather listen to my mp3 player than do the sweating. But the floor hockey game has changed me, I found out that it is one of the best sports game to enjoy. It is unique game in that it evens the playing field for those who may enjoy the game of hockey but not be able to play on ice for physical or other reasons. It gives both children and adults who are not skilled in ice or roller skating the opportunity to participate in the game. Floor hockey also provides an opportunity for those who do not live in cool climates or have access to an indoor skating rate the chance to participate in the enjoyable and fast paced team sport of hockey. As the name suggests, ice hockey is the foundation for the game. Like ice hockey, floor hockey is generally played in a rink. But instead of ice, the rink is usually made of either concrete or wood. Because it does not require the ability to skate or move about easily on an icy surface, it is an ideal team sport for many athletes with disabilities. Floor hockey has been adopted as a wheelchair sport, and it is also the single team sport in the Winter Special Olympics. Play involves the use of a puck, stick and goals. In most organized games, teams will consist of five or six players. Floor hockey players must be skilled in stick handling and shooting, as well as in passing the puck to their team members. Points are scored in much the same way as in ice hockey, and floor hockey goalies must be alert and quick to act to avoid allowing the opposing team to score. Generally, floor hockey players use pucks and sticks specifically designed for indoor play. One of the major differences between floor hockey and ice hockey is that players of floor hockey generally do not wear protective gear, so some safety modifications have been made to the game. Because it is a sport that is adaptable to almost any location and an activity that can be enjoyed by players of varying skill levels, floor hockey has become an increasingly popular activity. Children and adults can enjoy it in a variety of educational and community settings. A similar game is floorball, which uses sticks made from lighter plastic materials and a ball instead of a puck. Floorball is believed to have originated from floor hockey, which goes to show how the game of hockey in general has been adapted to allow enthusiasts with various skill levels, resources and geographical limitations to enjoy the sport. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 21 July 2006 ) |