Ice Hockey is strongly associated with Canada, but it is played both in North America and Europe, too. Many believe it is an evolution from traditional ball and stick games played all over the world for thousands of years. People played these games on whatever terrains were available, and when populations started moving north they started playing on the ice, as well. Modern hockey started in England in the 18th century and moved to North America with British immigrants where it gained tremendous popularity, especially in Canada. Hockey can be a complicated sport, but here are the basics of how to play:
• Ice hockey is played on an ice skating rink, or traditionally on a frozen pond.
• Each team should have six players.
• Each player needs protective gear and a hockey stick.
• Players also need ice skates.
• One hockey puck is in play at a time, but it is useful to have more than one just in case.
• There should be two goals marked, one on each side of the playing field and guarded by one player, goalies, who try to keep the puck out of the goal.
• Goalies need extra safety equipment.
• There should be a center line marked on the field.
• Teams line up on the center line and, using only their sticks, they try to move the puck to score a goal on the opposite side of the rink and also keep it out of their own goal.
• There should also be two defensive players stationed near the goal, similar to how soccer positions are played.
• Team members move the puck by hitting it with their hockey sticks
• There are three 20 minute periods in which teams play.
• After these three periods the team with the most goals wins the game.
