Indoor hockey

Indoor hockey
Highest governing bodyInternational Hockey Federation
NicknamesHockey
First played1950
Characteristics
ContactYes
Team members6 per side
TypeIndoor
EquipmentIndoor hockey ball, indoor hockey stick, mouthguard, gloves, shinpads
Presence
OlympicNo
World GamesInvitational in 2005

Indoor hockey is an indoor variant of field hockey. It is similar to the outdoor game in that two teams compete to move a hard ball into the goal of the opposing side using hockey sticks. Indoor hockey is played on a smaller area and between smaller teams than field hockey and the sidelines are replaced by solid barriers from which the ball rebounds and remains in play.

Indoor hockey stick
Indoor hockey pitch

It is traditionally and mainly played as a pastime by outdoor field hockey players during the off-season or when conditions are unsuitable for outdoor play. Indoor hockey is played in regular national and international championships. The first Indoor Hockey World Cup was organized in 2003. It included countries which do not compete at the highest level of the outdoor game.