Learning Hockey:
Get familiarised with the hockey stick

While crude forms of the game might have been played as far back as 2000 BC, the modern game of hockey became popular in England around the mid-18^th century. Since then, techniques may have changed and the speed of play may have increased, but the basics of the sport remain the same. 

In this blog, you’ll be learning from Jude Felix – Olympian, Former National Team Captain, and Arjuna and Dronacharya Awardee. His long and illustrious career in hockey spans over 12 years as a player and over 22 years as a coach. He was captain of the Indian National Hockey Team from 1993 to 1995, leading the side in the 1994 World Cup at Sydney and the Asian Games at Hiroshima. He’s also coached at various clubs in Singapore, France, England, and the Netherlands. 

To get started, you need to understand a bit about the hockey stick and the right way of holding it. While it sounds simple, you’ll soon realise the importance of grip while playing different shots. Here’s what Jude Felix has to say. 

Parts of the Hockey Stick

There are four parts to it – handle, blade, front of the stick and back of the stick. There’s a cardinal rule of hockey that you should never forget – you are allowed to touch the ball with the front part of the stick, but never the back. So be extra careful which part comes in contact with the ball throughout the game. Now that you’re aware of the parts of a hockey stick, you need to learn the right way to hold it. This may not sound important, but it can make all the difference in the world to your game.  

Holding the Hockey Stick

The left hand grips the top handle and right hand the midway of the stick. The front of the stick should be facing outwards with the tip of the blade pointed at the sky. When you grip the stick correctly, you’ll find a ‘U’ shape forms between the left pointer finger and the thumb. This ‘U’ should be pointing to the tip of the blade. Similarly, the right-hand grip should also form a ‘U’ facing the tip of the blade.  

Ensure your left-hand grip is firm as it governs the turning of the stick from side to side, the tip of the blade alternating between touching the ground and facing the sky. The function of the right hand in hockey is pretty clear. It acts like a ring, supporting your left hand and allowing it to turn smoothly. 

Practice Exercise

There’s a simple exercise to help players perfect their grip on the hockey stick.  

• Start by placing it on the ground.
• On a mark from the coach, players quickly pick up their stick, making sure they’re holding it correctly.
• The sticks are placed back on the ground, and players run for about 10 yards before touching a line on the ground.
• They sprint back to the starting position and quickly pick up their stick again, gripping it the right way.

By practising regularly, a player improves both his speed and accuracy which can be crucial on the field during a game. Once you’ve perfected your grip, read on to learn the dribble posture and how to keep the ball rolling as you run forward.