HISTORY OF HOCKEY IN ARGENTINA

HISTORY OF HOCKEY IN ARGENTINA

Everyone loves soccer. It is a sport that moves masses and resources worldwide in a way that no other does. World Cups, professional leagues, fan clubs, international events. All this attention on the same sport makes us think that, perhaps, it could be the oldest of humanity.

However, this is not so. Contrary to what it seems, football is not as old as other sports. A clear example is men’s hockey, whose age is recognized to be at least 4,000 years old. Surprising, right?

 

THE FIRST BACKGROUND

There is evidence, recorded in the archives of the pharaonic tombs, that shows us people from the Nile Valley practicing a sport similar to what we know today as hockey.

However, its oldest official record dates back to the 19th century. As with many other sports of Anglo-Saxon origin, it was the British Army during its mobilizations who introduced the game to India and other colonies xnxx. Little time was necessary until it became popular, thus allowing the organization of the first international competition in 1895.

The 20th century began with the arrival of this sport on the American continent, once again, thanks to the English colonizers. It had a great reception, especially in the United States and in some Latin American countries, such as Argentina.

Initially, his practice was limited to private clubs in British communities. However, over time, this began to change.

THE FIRST BACKGROUND

In 1908, Argentina served as the setting for the first matches between Belgrano Athletic, San Isidro Club and Pacific Railways (today San Martín). Just one year later, with all the excitement surrounding this sport on the part of the Argentine communities, the Argentine Hockey Association was formed. The first presidential position was assumed by the ex-British athlete Thomas Bell.

The foundation of this organization in the country marked a before and after in the history of this sport, which acquired unprecedented relevance. Just one year later, the first women’s team affiliations began in the Association.

The 60’s came better than ever for this sport at the national level, with three large entities as regents: the Cordoba Federation, the Coastal Association and the Argentine Association. Thus, finally in 1968 the first Argentine Hockey Congress was organized, which began to lay the foundations for its next big step.

THE WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY

By the early 1970s, hockey was at its best in Argentina. The rise of talent in this sport, as well as the participation of the national team at the world level, earned the country a place in the Men’s Hockey World Cup, organized in 1971 by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Three years later, the Women’s Hockey World Cup also became a reality.

Although Argentina has never been crowned champion, it has a Bronze medal in the men’s division, in addition to several notable participations.

And you, are you a fan of this sport?

 

 

Articles that may interest you:

Global Hockey Day, 12.5.2001 in Helsinki

 

First the new water-filled pitch was reserved for the kids and their parents.
About 30 people (kids ages 1+6 -> 10), who had never played hockey followed a hockeyroute with different hockeytricks (e.g. dribbling, goal-scoring, tarket competitions, ball-bouncing). After that there was a friendly match between Finland’s U21 Men and an English Men’s team (Reigate Priory?). After the match hockeypitch was again open for all to come and try some hockeytricks. In the end every child got a hockey T-shirt or a pencil-set as a gift. This event lasted for 4 hours and children were very excited about this ‘new sport’.
Krisse’s Hockey school, 18-20.6.2001, in Helsinki
For the first time FHA arranged a hockeyschool (free of charge) for all children. For three days (3 h/day) 10 children, boys and girls aged 6 to 12, learnt the basics of hockey. Most of them had never seen fieldhockey actually played before (nor held a hockeystick in their hand!), but it didn’t prevent them of having fun. We did different hockeyskills: dribbling, passing&receiving, goal-scoring, tarket competitions, and of course, every boy and girl tried what was it like to be a goalie with real equipment on!

We had unexpected media success as fieldhockey is quite rare and exotic in Finland. On the first day, a radioreporter came and interviewed kids about hockey (they did not know anything, «we are here ‘cause our mother told us to come»!). And, on the last day suddenly a newspaperman with his fotografer (from the biggest newspaper in Finland!) came to make a story about kids playing hockey. It was very good publicity for us, although he wrote that «kids didn’t want to be goalies because their equipment stink!».

After three days of hockey, kids got a YotY-diploma and a foto of them as goalkeepers. We all had fun and hope that we can do this again next summer!
Hockeygreetings from: Aatu, Antti, Jussi, Martin, Henrik, Elina, Anu, Markus, Tuure, Iiro, Sari(goalie) & Krisse.
International YotY Youth Camp, 25.6 – 2.7 in Siauliai &Bubiai, Lithuania
This camp was part of the Finnish YotY-program. Unfortunately, only one youngster could get holiday from summerjob and take part in this camp. So, there were two participants from Finland: Sari, a 18-year-old goalie-girl and me, Kristiina as a coach. The Lithuanians had really put an effort for this camp, and we enjoyed every moment of it! It was really worth of travelling 20 hours by ferry&bus to the camp. Although the Lithuanian kids didn’t speak English a lot, Sari got on well with them. We both hope to get on a camp like that soon again. Thank you – Inga, Jolanda, Kristina, Angela, Svetlana, Vilija and of course, Stijn!
YotY Kids’ Hockey Day, 18.8, in Helsinki
We had a 2-hour-open-session for kids and their parents at the best hockeypitch in Finland! There were 10 kids, ages 6 to 11, and their parents. Some of the kids were familiar with hockey, as they were in the hockeyschool, some were new ones. We trained the basic hockeyskills (dribbling, passing&receiving, bouncing the ball etc.), tried goalie-equipment in action and played ‘kids against parents’. The kids really made their parents sweat!

YotY School Demos in the Metropolitan area (= Helsinki, Espoo & Vantaa), in spring and autumn 2001

We have given about 45 demos in PE lessons at schools. So, at least 500 pupils, aged 12 to 21, have learnt the basics of hockey. It is so hard for the Finns to understand all the finesses of hockey. For instance, they don’t understand why hockey is played only with a right-handed stick, not with a lefty one as most of the Finns play ICE-hockey (or floorball). We hope that more children would find their way someday to the fieldhockeypitch.

Demos at Sports camps in Helsinki, 4-8.6 and 11-15.6.
There were 2 week-long sports camps for children 7 to 13 years old. Every group of 15 children had one hockey lesson per week. That means, during these two weeks at least 600 kids had an hour full of hockeyfun. This was the second time we gave these hockey lessons at this camp. Some of the kids remembered this ‘exotic teamsport’ from last year’s camp and were really exceited to try again! It was really nice to see how good they were at the end of the lesson.
And the joy on their faces, when they had made their own record in bouncing the ball with the stick!
YotY-Indoorhockey-Day in Helsinki, 28.10.
For the first time we had a Family-Indoorhockey-event, where everybody could try different indoortricks, e.g. shooting to a goal with/or without a goalie, trying to make a goal using side-boards and games. The kids (7-12 yrs) also wanted to put goalkeepers equipment on and try to stop the balls. Seems like we won’t have any shortage of goalies in the future, because they were all so good and excited about it.

With hockeygreetings,
Kristiina