Scovone Star Magazine 2016-2017 | Page 35

WIND UP, BRING DOWN, WHACK! Games are usually played with a white ball so it is visible from far away on the field. Along with the ball and stick is the gear for players. Like ice hockey, goalies wear different gear from other players. Goalies must wear leg pads, a helmet, gloves, chest and shoulder pads, and a Different companies mouth guard. Mouth guards colored balls protect people’s mouths so so their teeth don’t break. Like soccer, regular field players wear or deflect the ball with her feet or only shinguards,which protect body inside the goal circle, but people’s shins, and mouth guards. All outside the goal circle goalies can players wear team jerseys and only hit the ball with her stick. matching socks. The type of shoes Similarly, the task of defenders players wear depends on the field is to clear the ball out of the goal surface. On grass, players wear circle. Another name for defenders is cleats. On artificial turf, players wear b a ck s . L i ke s o c c e r, t h e t h r e e tennis shoes. defenders are left back, center back, and right back. Goalies usually The Positions communicate with defenders the The positions in field hockey most. are a lot like ice hockey and soccer. Midfielders are similar to On each field hockey team, there are defenders and forwards. Another usually: name for midfielders is link s. • 3 forwards Midfielders have to be able to play • 4 midfielders both offense and defense. Like • 3 defenders soccer, left midfielder and right • 1 goalie midfielder are two of the midfielders. Field players can be substituted Also, forwards are also very for any other field player, but each important to a field hockey team. player usually plays one position. Forwards are primary goal scorers. The goalie guards the goal and They also spend most of the game communicates with defenders and between the midfield and the other other teammates. The goalie can kick team’s goal. Like soccer, left and – 35 –