Sainsbury's UK School Games : What's interesting about Hockey

What's interesting about Hockey

31 July 2009, 1:23 pm

By Nicole Van Dijken

Every couple of weeks we feature one of the ten UK School Games sports for 2009, giving you an insight into everything interesting and unique about each sport. In this feature, Regional Manager for England Hockey, Lewis Butcher chats to us about the sport of Hockey...

How does hockey fit into the UK School Games?

Hockey was introduced to the UK School Games in 2008 in Bristol and Bath. It joined as the ninth sport and was the only new sport to be added to the Games that year. The UK School Games is important for the growth of hockey as a sport because it provides a unique multisport environment whereby hockey players can rub shoulders with elite sports people from other sports. It's not only a learning experience for the athletes who attend but also a sought after opportunity for young officials, umpires and team staff who are involved with hockey. During the three days of competition, Wales, England, Scotland and Ulster will compete at Welsh Institute of Sport in a round robin format.

How many hockey players are expected at the UK School Games 2009?

128 athletes.

Tell us some interesting and quirky facts about Hockey!

The name hockey - as the organised game came to be known - is attributed to the French word "hoquet" meaning 'shepherd's stick'.

Which other events are big on the hockey sports calendar?

U16s - 21^st to 24^th July the Home Nations Championship in Scotland

U18s - 4^th to 12^th July the EuroHockey Youth Nations in Belgium