Indoor hockey

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Indoor hockey

Highest governing body	International Hockey Federation
Nicknames	Hockey
First played	1950
Characteristics
Contact	Yes
Team members	6 per side
Type	Indoor
Equipment	Indoor hockey ball, indoor hockey stick, mouthguard, gloves, shinpads
Presence
Olympic	No
World Games	Invitational 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.

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.