The game of hockey has been played for over 4000 years in many ancient civilizations. It was originally known as a "ball and stick" game. The key priority in hockey is to protect the scoring area around the goal and keep opponents from taking shots. Players use sticks to pass and shoot the puck and many wear protective equipment like mouthguards, gloves, and shin pads. A regulation hockey rink has markings like lines and circles on the ice surface along with goals for scoring.

1. The game of Hockey has been around from the time of early civilization. Some of the reports find the earliest origin of the game 4000 years back. Field hockey was reportedly played even before the birth of Christ. Basically known as the “ball and stick” game, it was played since ancient times in places diverse as Rome, Scotland, Egypt and South America.

2. The number one priority is to protect "The House" which is the scoring area around the goalie net. You must keep the offensive team out of the house which is the dangerous scoring areas. Force your opponents into the corners or outside of the face-off circles. It is more difficult for your opponents to score from the corners or the boards. The golden rule is very basic, keep your stick always on the grown. You will be surprised how many opposition plays you will break up. Watch any NHL player in their own defensive end. Learn to hold your stick with one hand and a strong grip while skating backwards or forwards.

3. Hockey Stick : Each player carries a "stick", normally a little over 90 cm (3 ft) long and traditionally made of wood but now often made with fiberglass, kevlar and carbon fiber composites, with a rounded handle flattened on the left side and with a hook at the bottom. Metal may not be used in hockey sticks. There was traditionally a slight curve (called the bow, or rake) from the top to bottom of the face side of the stick and another on the 'heel' edge to the top of the handle. Hockey ball The ball is hard and of plastic (sometimes over a cork core) and is often covered with indentations to reduce hydroplaning that can cause an inconsistent ball speed on wet surfaces

4. Many players wear mouth guards to protect teeth and gums from impacts from the ball or stick. Some local rules require their use. Many players also wear shin guards, and again these may be required equipment in some areas. Many players wear gloves: a padded glove which is designed to protect hands from abrasion from contact with the ground (especially that of sand-based pitches), and some even protect against impact from a ball or a stick. A few competitions require glasses to protect the eyes. Defenders may sometimes use short corner masks; these are designed to reduce the impact of a drag flick from short corners, though they do not provide guaranteed protection

5. The rink has usually a polished wooden surface, but any flat, non-abrasive and non-slippery material such as treated cement is acceptable. Likewise, it is allowed for rink owners to put advertisements in the playing area, as long as they don't interfere with ball or skate motion, which includes both physically and visually The markings are simple. The halfway line divides the rink into halves, and 22 m from the end wall an "anti-play" line is painted. The area is a 9 X 5.40 m rectangle, placed from 2,7 to 3,3m ahead of the end table. It has a protection area for goalkeepers, a half-circle with 1.5 m radius. All markings are 8 cm in width. The goal (painted in fluorescent orange) is 105 cm high by 170 cm wide. Inside the goal there is a thick net and a bar close to ground to trap the ball inside (before, two extra referees stayed behind the goal to judge goal decisions), and 92 cm deep. While not attached to the ground, it is extremely heavy to prevent movement.

6. Wayne Gretzky Wayne Gretzky i s a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is the current part-owner, head of hockey operations and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes is the most popular figure among hockey players. He started his professional career with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association in 1978. His most productive years were with Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Gretzky won the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Lady Byng Trophy. He ended his amazing 20 year career with 2,967 points. During these years, he revolutionized the popularity of hockey while establishing himself as the greatest player of all time

7. Players: Goaltender: he has to keep the puck out of his own net. Defensemen: they get the puck to their forwards and follow the play into the attacking zone, positioning themselves just inside their opponent's blue line at the "points." Center: he exchanges passes with his wings to steer the play toward the opposing goal. On defense, he tries to disrupt a play of the enemy. Wings: they try to change the plays to help their companions Officials: Referee: The referee supervises the game, calls the penalties and determines if goals are scored. Hockey rules

8. Linesmen: there are two persons. They call offside, offside pass. They don’t call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called. Goal Judges: One sits, behind each goal and indicates when the puck has crossed the red goal line. Official Scorer: He determines which player scores and credits assists if there are any. Hockey’s three main rules: Offsides: When any member of the attacking team precedes the puck over the defending team's blue line. Offside (or two-line)Pass: When a player passes the puck from his defending zone to a teammate beyond the red center line. Iceing: When a player shoots the puck across the center red line and past the opposing red goal line. Three main rules