Many countries have extensive club competitions for junior and senior players. Despite the large number of participants—hockey is thought to be the field team sport with the fourth largest number of participants worldwide (after Football, Cricket and Basketball)
Club hockey is not a popular spectator sport and few players play as full-time professionals. Hockey is a sport played internationally by both males and females. It is an 11-a-side game with two halves of 35 minutes each.
Unlike football, there is no off-side in hockey and a goal can only be scored by an attacking player striking the ball in the ‘D’ (similar to the the ‘penalty area’ in football). The modern game is very fast so top level hockey players have to be very fit, agile and skillful. Matches are controlled by two umpires; at top level the umpires are often able to communicate with each other using radio mikes. The latest outdoor rules are Outdoor Rules.
