McSport now stocks a wide range of hockey equipment, including hockey sticks and helmets.
Hockey has been played for centuries and cannot be said to have one single point of origin, since hitting a ball with a curved stick seems to have been a popular pursuit the world over for quite some time now. A game similar to field hockey (a term that is used to distinguish the game in countries that also practise ice- and street hockey) has been found depicted in 4000-year-old Egyptian drawings, as well as in Greek manuscripts and the Mongolian oral tradition. The modern game and its rules are said to have evolved from a winter sport that Middlesex cricket clubs played to keep fit during the rainy season.
Today hockey is played all over the world by both men and women on surfaces as varied as gravel, grass, sand and artificial turf. Some of the countries that are particularly involved at an international level include Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa. The sport is governed by the International Hockey Federation, which is made up of 116 members.
Playing hockey has a variety of physiological- and psychological benefits, especially for school children. These include:
Improved cardiovascular health and fitness. Hockey is a fast-paced sport that requires players to have a high level of cardiovascular fitness if they are to play competitively. Improved hand-eye coordination. Any game that is played with a stick and a ball improves coordination, but bring forward motion into the equation and you can understand why hockey players are found to have superb levels of hand-eye coordination.
Improved self-confidence. Playing a sport and playing it well provides an amazing boost to one’s self-confidence. This is particularly helpful for young children (and even adults) who battle to connect with other individuals on a personal level. When you get on a playing field you have to work together in order to win the game and this camaraderie is a fantastic way to improve interpersonal communication skills and improve self-confidence.
These are just some of the benefits associated with participation in a team sport like hockey. Are you looking to invest in some quality hockey equipment? We have done the legwork for you in sourcing everything from bibs to hockey helmets. All you have to do is browse and select our wide range of sports equipment.
