Hockey is a very active and exciting sport, practiced and enjoyed in many parts of the world. Whether it’s on the ice, on the field or on the floor, field hockey is a sport that involves speed, skill and strategy, demanding a lot of precision and endurance from the players.
To better understand the game and appreciate every detail of how it works, you need to know the main terms that encompass it. Knowing these words will help you become even more knowledgeable about the sport and is one of the first steps towards becoming an expert.
With this in mind, we have created the glossary of hockey! The list includes the main terms used in the sport and what they mean. Check it out!
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Hockei glossary: complete list
- Assistance
- Attack
- Breakaway
- Defense
- Face-off
- Goalkeeper
- Goalkeeper
- Blue Line
- Bottom Line
- Red Line
- Penalty Kill
- Penalty Kill
- Power Play
- Stickhandling
- Shooting
- Third
- Crossbars
- Defensive Triangle
- Attacking Zone
- Defense Zone
Field hockey glossary: learn more about the terms
Assist
In field hockey, an assist is given to a player who passes the puck or ball to a teammate who then scores a goal.
Attack
Attacking is the action of advancing with the puck or ball towards the opponent’s goal with the intention of scoring a goal. It involves coordinated and fast strategies, taking advantage of flaws in the opposition’s defense. This is essential for dominating the game and putting constant pressure on the opposing team.
Breakaway
A breakaway happens when a player manages to escape from the opposing team’s defense and is alone in a race against the goalie. It requires excellent skating and finishing skills from the players.
Defense
Defense in field hockey is the actions and strategies used to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals, and involves blocking, intercepting and covering spaces.
Face-offs
Face-offs in field hockey are the method of restarting the game after an interruption, when two opposing players face each other to gain possession of the puck or ball. The contest takes place at various points marked out on the field or ice, and skill in the face-off can determine possession at critical moments.
Goal
The goal is the main objective in field hockey, and it is scored when the puck or ball crosses the opponent’s goal line inside the posts and under the crossbar.
Goalkeeper
In field hockey, the goalie is the player responsible for defending his team’s goal, preventing the puck or ball from entering. They need to have quick reflexes and positioning skills.
Blue line
In ice hockey, the blue line is a horizontal line painted on the ice to demarcate the attack and defense zones. It is crucial for the application of the offside rule and for forward and defensive strategies in the game.
Back line
The end line is the line that marks the edge of the field or ice, behind the goal. It serves as a reference point for various plays and rules, including icing and repositioning situations.
Red line
The red line in ice hockey is the center line that divides the field in half and is used to determine icing and influence other rules of the game, such as long passes and repositioning face-offs.
Penalty kill
Penalty kill is the name given to the situation in which a team is down a player due to a penalty, and must defend itself against the opposition’s attack until the penalty is over.
Penalty
A penalty, then, is a punishment applied to a player who commits an infraction of the rules, resulting in time out of the game in a designated area. Penalties can vary in length and severity, affecting the dynamics of the game.
Power play
A power play is a situation in which a team has one or more extra players on the ice or field due to a penalty from the opposing team. Taking advantage of the power play is a unique opportunity to score goals.
Stickhandling
Stickhandling is the name given to the ability to control and manipulate the puck or ball with the stick. This skill is essential for dribbling past opponents, creating moves and keeping possession under pressure.
Shooting
A shot is the movement of hitting the puck or ball with the stick to make a pass or shot. There are several types of shot, such as slap shot, wrist shot and snap shot, each with its own characteristics and applications.
Thirds
Ice hockey is divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, known as thirds. This structure defines the pace of the game and the players’ time and energy management strategies.
Crossbars
The goalposts are the vertical posts that, together with the crossbar, form the structure of the goal. They are essential for defining the scoring space and are used as a reference by players and referees.
Defensive triangle
The defensive triangle is a strategic formation in which the three players position themselves to cover the area in front of the goal, making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate and protecting the goalkeeper. It’s a common tactic for maintaining defensive integrity.
Attack zone
The attack zone is the area of the field or ice where the team is trying to score a goal. In ice hockey, it is delimited by the opponent’s blue line.
Defense Zone
The defense zone is the area of the field or ice where the team defends its goal. It is the space in which the defenders and the goalkeeper work to prevent the opposition from scoring.
Hockei glossary: complete list
- Assistance
- Attack
- Breakaway
- Defense
- Face-off
- Goalkeeper
- Goalkeeper
- Blue Line
- Bottom Line
- Red Line
- Penalty Kill
- Penalty Kill
- Power Play
- Stickhandling
- Shooting
- Third
- Crossbars
- Defensive Triangle
- Attacking Zone
- Defense Zone
Field hockey glossary
That was the glossary of hockey! If you liked the content, take the opportunity to check out our other special texts on this and many other sports.
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