Hockey is played on a field, or pitch, of artificial turf 100yards long and 60 yards wide. There are eleven players on a team, including a goalie. Using sticks that are flat on one side and curved on the other, each team hits and dribbles the ball down the field and tries to shoot it past the goalie into a goal that is 7 feet high and 12 feet wife. The ball is small-slightly larger than a baseball. Only the flat side of the stick may be used to strike the ball. The sticks are between 36 and38 inches long. Except for the goalie, players may not touch the ball with their hands or their bodies. Matches are divided into two 35minute halves. If play is suspended to deal with an injury, the missing time is added to the end of the second half. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, a 30 minute overtime period , divided into two halves, is played. In pool play ties after 120minutes are allowed to stand, but once the elimination rounds begin, ties are decided by penalty stroke shootouts. Penalty strokes are taken from seven yards out; the ball may not move his feet until the ball has been played.

Most of the rules are similar to those for soccer, but there are a few rules that are specific to hockey. All shots on goal must be taken within the striking circle, which extends in a semicircle 16 yards from the goal. Players are not allowed to shield the ball from another opponent with their bodies or with their sticks. Another novel aspect of hockey is the bully, which is equivalent to a face-off in ice hockey. The ball is placed on the ground between two players, one from each team. Each player taps the ground with his stick one. The players tap sticks together three times and go for the ball.

Penalties can be called for

1. striking the ball with the rounded side of the stick,
2. taking part in the play while not holding a stick,
3. kicking, throwing, or otherwise propelling the ball without a stick,
4. wielding the stick in a dangerous manner or aiming the ball at an opponent,
5. interfering with an opponent's stick,
6. kicking, tripping, shoving, or striking an opponent,
7. obstructing play running between an opponent and the ball or placing one's body or stick between the opponent an the ball.

Generally these infractions are penalised by awarding a free hit to the opposing team. However, if the infractions committed by a defender within the striking circle, the attacking team is awarded a penalty corner or a penalty stroke. A penalty corner is also awarded for a deliberate offensive inside the 25yard line or if the defensive team intentionally plays the ball over the goal line. In a penalty corner the ball is placed on the goal line ten yards from the nearest goal post. One attacking player hits the ball to a team-mate standing just outside the striking circle line. All other players on both teams must wait beyond the striking circle or the out of bonds and may not move until the ball is struck. Intentional fouls preventing goal or illegal positioning on penalty corners are penalised by awarding the attacking team a penalty stroke.

Currently, Olympic hockey tournaments begin with preliminary pool play. The top two teams in each of the two pools advance to the semifinals, while the other teams play off for the remaining places.

Hockey was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1908. It will be held in Pavilion State Hockey Centre, which can be located in Sydney Olympic Park.

Hockey:Top 5 Countries

	Male			Female
Country	G	S	B	G	S	B	Total
India	8	1	2	-	-	-	11
Great Britain	3	2	4	-	-	1	10
Pakistan	3	3	2	-	-	-	8
Netherlands	-	2	3	1	-	1	7
Germany	1	1	2	1	-	1	5