The Summer Olympic Games have hockey, too. But we know it as Field Hockey. If you're not familiar with it, allow the host nation, the United Kingdom, to fill you in.
"Hockey is the oldest known stick-and-ball game. It's origins start in Persia as far back as 2,000 B.C."
Hockey didn't become an Olympic sport until 1908. Back then, it was only a men's game. And until the 1970s, was dominated by two countries, India and Pakistan.
Women's hockey didn't join the Olympics until 1980. So, as you get ready for London 2012, here's what you need to know: First, this is a pitch, not a field. And "it" is AstroTurf. One hundred yards long, and 60 yards wide.
Teams boast eleven aside, 10 players and a goalie. That goalie, by the way, guards a net 12 feet wide by seven feet high.
"That was quiet fantastic! How did she ever get her stick on that?!"
The sticks look like this, and can get the ball moving. Two umpires patrol the pitch, and teams take penalty corners, which can often lead to good scoring chances.
The Dutch women are the favorite to take women's gold. They won it all in Beijing in 2008.
The U.S. women may have a tough time in this event. The U.S. faces Germany, the 2004 Athens gold medal winner, in opening round of Pool B on July 29th.
"He dragged it around Moeller and put it in."
On the men's side Australia is the favorite to win gold. But the U.S. men failed to qualify for the Olympic games. Men's play begins on July 30th.
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