Talk:Field hockey

Not "in most countries"
Someone keeps reverting the terminology in the lead paragraph to read "In most countries, it is known simply as hockey'". This is incorrect; field hockey is generally known as "hockey" only in the UK and a few of its former colonies. Elsewhere, it needs to be described as "field hockey" (or a local language equivalent) in order to be disambiguated from other forms of hockey, particularly ice hockey, which is significantly more popular in many parts of the world (North America, Continental Europe, Russia, etc.). If someone wants to make the claim that field hockey is is known as simply hockey "in most countries," some evidence needs to be provided. For now, I'm changing "most countries" back to "some countries". --WorldWide Update (talk) 09:55, 12 August 2012 (UTC)


 * You're grossly missreprsenting the number of countries included in your phrasing "the UK and a few of its former colonies" - in fact Ice hockey is predominant in ONLY two if its fomer colonies - US and Canada. The rest of the entire English speaking world uses "hockey" to mean "field hockey". We are not concerned about non-English usage at all, so "continental Europe, Russia, etc" do not count. Roger (talk) 11:28, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * I agree with WorldWide Update. Hockey = Ice Hockey in more parts of the world. SO the wording should change to some. Intoronto1125 Talk Contributions   16:31, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Well of course you would, you're Canadian. Roger (talk) 16:50, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * We may not be concerned about non-English usage, but we certainly need to be concerned about English-language usage everywhere, even in traditionally non-English-speaking countries. In today's globalized world, English is the world's most widespread second language, and is widely spoken and understood in places such as Continental Europe, so limiting one's examples to the British Commonwealth makes little sense. The English Wikipedia is meant for English-speaking users around the world, not merely those who live in countries where English is the predominant language.--WorldWide Update (talk) 21:33, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Besides, this has little to do with the fact that the use of the phrase "most countries" (no mention of language) in the lead paragraph is misleading. --WorldWide Update (talk) 21:38, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Is there not some way to reword so that "some"/"many"/"most" can be completely avoided? In countries where field hockey is played and ice hockey is not, field hockey is called "hockey". In countries where ice hockey is played or watched to any significant extent, ice hockey is the sport called just "hockey". Right? So can we not just acknowledge that rather than have an endless pissing match about who has more of whatever? Franamax (talk) 21:58, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
 * That sounds very reasonable to me. --WorldWide Update (talk) 22:43, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

It is not incorrect to say 'In most countries [field hockey],...is known simply as hockey'. As I write, I am watching the Hockey World Cup. It is field hockey. The the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has 126 members compared with the 77-member International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) as stated in the Wikipedia article about hockey. Both governing bodies therefore, agree on the terminology. I know North Americans are passionate about the fine sport of ice hockey and think it is a more manly game (though this would be an extremely dubious assertion to anyone who has played top level field hockey), but it is a variant. Calling ice hockey 'hockey' is the equivalent of calling water polo 'polo' or beach volleyball 'volleyball'. Iggyc61 (talk) 00:54, 16 December 2018 (UTC)

It makes me smile to read these constant demands that North American usage should prevail whatever the circumstances on Wikipedia. Often this is accompanied by assertions that their usage is the majority so should be used. Even if this assertion were true (normally dubious), then if we are to follow majority usage North Americans should follow majority world usage and stop calling the ground floor the first floor, stop calling football soccer, and use dates in the common format DYM (63%) or even YMD (32%) rather than MDY (3%)! DickyP (talk) 09:49, 19 December 2018 (UTC)

Sorry guys, Canada owns hockey and their way goes. Hockey == ice hockey. That's just how it is. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:449:C200:CDBF:4498:B56A:62BE:2130 (talk) 20:59, 12 March 2019 (UTC)


 * The IIHF is the highest governing body for Ice Hockey. I would like to know what those letters stand for if it’s not International Ice Hockey Federation. As opposed the the IHF which is the governing body for real hockey as played on Astro turf. 81.99.178.220 (talk) 12:09, 30 March 2022 (UTC)
 * The IIHF is much less important than the NHL. --Trovatore (talk) 23:13, 7 December 2022 (UTC)


 * The 'field hockey' problem is essentially the same as the 'soccer' problem. Worldwide 'hockey' and 'football' are the names of the two sports. Only in the the USA and Canada, where ice hockey and American football first developed a greater popularity (and commercialism), than the worldwide popularity of hockey and football, have the terms 'field hockey' and 'soccer' been necessary, to avoid confusion and possible commercial pressure, from those involved in those same named existing Can-Am sports.
 * If that title is to remain here, it needs to have a US/Canada attribution, such as Field Hockey (US/Canada) or Hockey (alt. field hockey US/Canada) unless any one can find any other countries, where ice hockey is primarily referred to as 'hockey'. 87.112.193.3 (talk) 22:58, 7 December 2022 (UTC)
 * I have doubts as to the history of the term 'field hockey'. It may have been used in USA and Canada for longer than I've known it, but like 'soccer' it only seemed to gain prominence when the USA started getting more interested (and interest), in playing those games internationally and promoting them nationally, where it became necessary to differentiate between hockey and football and their own different sports of the same name. 87.112.193.3 (talk) 23:05, 7 December 2022 (UTC)

"In the United States field hockey is played predominantly by females."
This sentence is just left hanging, without context or explanation.

I suggest we work the following into the text: "Field hockey, a mostly male-dominated game in Europe, is almost exclusively played by girls in the US due to the passing of Title IX in 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in public schools and made field hockey a counterweight to boys’ football." CapnZapp (talk) 14:51, 18 February 2021 (UTC)

Term "grass hockey" sometimes used informally in US, Canada
In third paragraph: "the term "field hockey" (and sometimes "grass hockey" informally) is used primarily in Canada and the United States where ice hockey is more popular.

I don't think adding the words (and sometimes "grass hockey" informally) is too disruptive to the field hockey world outside Canada and the United States. Thoughts? Google "grass hockey" -> About 50,200 results (0.56 seconds) Facts707 (talk) 20:12, 3 May 2021 (UTC)


 * Actually I'm not too concerned about it because I see Google "field hockey" -> About 19,600,000 results (0.82 seconds). I won't add "(and sometimes "grass hockey" informally)" unless a consensus here develops. Cheers, Facts707 (talk) 18:40, 15 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Good. -Roxy . wooF 20:19, 15 May 2021 (UTC)

Most hockey is played on artificial surface like 2G astroturf so grass not really appropriate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.99.178.220 (talk) 12:11, 30 March 2022 (UTC)

No Wikipedia:WikiProject Field Hockey
There is WikiProject Ice Hockey, as I suppose I would expect, but field hockey doesn't have a WikiProject. Would anyone be interested in forming it?

Sistorian (talk) 04:46, 31 July 2022 (UTC)


 * I agree, it would be a great idea. Fma12 (talk) 00:03, 5 September 2022 (UTC)

State of this article
I have been doing what I can to try and resolve some of the issues which mostly concern both lack and reliability of sources. I am going to be away for a lengthy period after today but, if anyone can help with the problems here, that will be appreciated. Good luck.

Sistorian (talk) 12:37, 5 August 2022 (UTC)

Reliable sources and unclear and multiple issues
The page has multiple issues and no reliable sources, you can help fixing the page later. Thank You. 189.174.145.87 (talk) 13:06, 27 June 2024 (UTC)