Event guide - Hockey

Made up of two 35-minute halves, both of which are started with a pass from the centre of the field, a game of hockey (which derives from the French hocquet) consists of two sides of 11 - 10 outfield players and a goalkeeper - played out on a 91.40m x 55m rectangular field.

At each end is a goal 2.14m high and 3.66 m wide, with a semi-circular area in front of it which is known as the shooting circle, D or arc.

A match is officiated by two field umpires, normally one for each half to make sure they can keep up with the speed of the game. There is also a technical bench to help out the refereeing duo, including a timekeeper and record keeper.

While formations are not actually required under the rules of the game, players will often be put into positions in a similar fashion to football. However, there are no restrictions as to where each can travel

Sadly left-handers are forced to switch around if they want to play, only right-handed sticks, which used to be made of wood but are now a little more hi-tech, are allowed and you are not allowed to hit the ball with the back of them.

No outfield player can use their feet to touch the ball. Even if it makes accidental contact, a free hit will be awarded outside of the shooting circle. If it is inside, a penalty/short corner is given (more of that later).

Opponents must move 5 m from the ball when a free hit is awarded and the ball should be pushed, in any direction, but not intentionally lifted, otherwise the decision can be reversed.

Like football, hockey has long corners to re-start the game if the ball goes out behind each goal, but there is also the penalty corner, which is awarded when a deliberate offence is committed in the defending 23 m area, or when the defending team deliberately plays the ball over the back line.

On each side of the line there are 10m marks where the corner will be taken from, with the attacking team lining up on the edge of the scoring circle. The team defending are allowed four players and the goalkeeper to start on the line, and they are not allowed to move before the ball is struck.

If a defender commits a deliberate foul inside the circle then the officals can also award a penalty stroke, allowing one attacker to have a free strike at goal from a spot 6.4 m out from the line. The 'keeper must have his heels on the line and cannot move until the ball has been struck.

Finally, hockey has three different cards in use as a way of punishment or warning to a player who infringes. Similar to rugby, a yellow card leads to a suspension (for five minutes) with no substitution allowed.

A red card shown means the player is sent off and not allowed to return to the action, while there is also a green card which is an official warning from the referee.

History:

The sport of field hockey has been part of the Olympics since 1908, though back then of the six teams that competed in London, four were from Great Britain and Ireland.

It was removed in 1912 and then again at the 1924 Paris Olympics due to the lack of an international structure, though The International Hockey Federation was quickly founded that year and it was back in 1928 at Amsterdam.

That year saw India begin their early dominance (Great Britain had won the first two golds) and from 1928 to 1956 they set the standard.

Pakistan broke their gold streak in 1960 but the winners finally came from somewhere other than the sub-continent 12 years later when West Germany triumphed in Munich and since then several other nations have tasted glory.

Great Britain were winners themselves in 1988 but it is Australia who are the reigning champions having beaten the Netherlands - gold medalists themselves in 1996 and 2000 - after extra time in Athens.

Women's hockey has a much shorter Olympic history having not been part of the Games until 1980 where a round-robin tournament was used.

Zimbabwe won the first gold medal but since then it is Australia who have been the strongest force, winning in 1988, 1996 and then again on home soil in Sydney four years later.

However, it is Germany that will head to China as the team to beat after they defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the gold medal contest in Greece. Great Britain's womens teams have never won gold or silver but did triumph 4-3 over Korea in the bronze medal play-off in 1992.

Olympic Greats:

Midfielder Rechelle Hawkes is the most decorated women in Olympic hockey history with three gold medals for the Hockeyroos between 1988 and 2000.

After making her debut in 1985, Hawkes starred as Australia swooped gold in Seoul, but she was then part of the team that flopped in Barcelona four years later.

Captain and star player in Atlanta Hawkes fired the Aussies back to the title and then she had the glory of winning another gold on home soil in Sydney 2000, when she was also given the honour of reciting the athletes' oath at the opening ceremony.

She retired after the Olympics with a stellar career behind her of 279 international appearances encompassing four Olympics with three gold medals.

Best of British:

After Great Britain took hockey gold in the 1908 and 1920 Olympics, they were forced to wait another 68 years to be crowned champions again.

In 1988 a young and inexperienced coach named David Whitaker took a squad to Seoul that was looking to build on their bronze medal from the previous games four year earlier knowing that for many this would be their final chance at glory.

The pressure seemed to get to the players in the early group games as they were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by Korea.

Although they did get their campaign back on track with a 3-0 result against Canada, they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of fierce rivals West Germany to leave themselves in danger of missing out on a place in the last four.

But, with the heat on in more ways than just the soaring temperatures, Whitaker's troops rose to the challenge, seeing off the USSR and then impressing in a 3-0 victory over India.

In the semi-finals they faced Australia and a tense contest was deadlocked at 2-2 with just over a minute remaining. With time ticking down Sean Kerly went on a mazy run, exchanged passes with Kulbir Bhaura and then slotted in the winner right at the death.

Kerly - who became the most well known of the squad due to his goalscoring exploits - went on to complete his hat-trick and set up a final showdown with an already familiar foe - West Germany.

Against the odds (they had not beaten the Germans in 30 years), Great Britain gained revenge for their defeat in the pool stages and ended a long wait to claim gold again, also automatically qualifying for Barcelona in the process.

Imran Sherwani broke the deadlock with a mazy run and finish and the lead was doubled in the 47th minute from a penalty corner when the in-form Kerly struck the 15th Olympic goal of his career.

Sherwani rounded out an impressive performance in front of 12,000 spectators watching in the Songnam Stadium in South Korea, the Stourport winger slotting home following excellent work by Steve Batchelor on the right.

The goal, which was greeted with wild celebrations by the players on the field, also led to an immortal line of commentary from Barry Davies, who famously said; "Where were the Germans, but frankly who cares?".

Germany did manage to register a late consolation but with the game under control, Whitaker cleverly threw on reserve goalkeeper Veryan Pappin and defender Stephen Martin to make sure all 16 of the squad received a medal.

Those 16 were: Paul Barber, Stephen Batchelor, Kulbir Bhaura, Robert Clift, Richard Dodds, David Faulkner, Russell Garcia, Martyn Grimley, Sean Kerly, Jimmy Kirkwood, Richard Leman, Stephen Martin, Veryan Pappin, Jon Potter, Imran Sherwani, and Ian Taylor.

Ones to Watch:

As defending champions, Australia will be the team to beat in the men's tournament, though they will face some stiff competition to win gold again.

The Kookaburras thrashed Spain 4-1 to the Champions Trophy for a record-equalling ninth time this year to take over at the summit of the world rankings.

Athens was the first time the Australian men's team had managed to win gold and eight of that squad are heading to Beijing to try and defend the crown.

However, although both Argentina and eight-times winners India are missing, there are plenty of other nations capable of taking the title from the Aussies.

The Netherlands, silver medallists in 2004, will be hoping to go one better four years later while Pakistan will want to return to former glory having missed out on a medal last time around.

Both countries are drawn in the same group as Great Britain, who are captained by Ben Hawes, one of three players still around from four years ago, as well as Canada and South Africa.

Germany, who slipped off the top of the rankings, are likely to be the favourites to top the other group but they have not claimed hockey gold since Barcelona in 1992.

The Spaniards should be their strongest rivals and the two countries battled it out for the bronze medal in Greece, the Germans eventually winning 4-3 after extra time. Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and hosts China make up the rest of the group.

In the women's event, Argentina will be the red-hot favourites to win gold for the first time after roaring to victory in the Champions Trophy.

The side they defeated 6-2 in that final, Germany, have been drawn alongside them in the group stages. Great Britain are also in there, along with Japan, New Zealand and the United States.

The Netherlands, who had to settle for silver in 2004, are the top seeds in the other pool which also includes Australia, hosts China, Spain, South Korea and South Africa.

While Britain's men have enjoyed plenty of success their female counterparts have only registered one bronze back in 1992. They will make a little piece of history this time around with 17-year-old Charlotte Craddock set to become the youngest player to represent Team GB in hockey.

Team GB:

Men: Richard Alexander (Surbiton), Jonathan Bleby (Loughborough), Jonathan Clarke (Reading), Matthew Daly (Surbiton), Stephen Dick (Inverleith), Ben Hawes (Surbiton), Ashley Jackson (East Grinstead), Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead), Richard Mantell (Reading), Simon Mantell (Reading), Benjamin Marsden (Surbiton), Alistair McGregor (Loughborough), Barry Middleton (HGC), Rob Moore (Surbiton), James Tindall (Surbiton), Alastair Wilson (Beeston)

Women: Jennie Bimson (Leicester), Melanie Clewlow (Canterbury), Charlotte Craddock (Cannock), Crista Cullen (Leicester), Alexandra Danson (Slough), Joanne Ellis (Ipswich), Joanne Ellis (Bowdon Hightown), Anne Panter (Leicester), Helen Richardson (Leicester), Chloe Rogers (Chelmsford), Elizabeth Storry (SCHC), Sarah Thomas (Rotterdam), Rachel Walker (Olton & West Warwickshire), Kate Walsh (Slough), Lisa Wooding (Chelmsford), Lucilla Wright (Olton & West Warwickshire)