(LifeWire) - Millions regularly watch field hockey around the world, but for most Americans, Olympic field hockey is an unfamiliar sport. After all, top US women's college teams average only a few hundred fans per game. And the men? Do men play field hockey? Indeed they do, although rarely in the US.
About Olympic Field Hockey: If the only time you've seen field hockey was on a bumpy high school lawn, you'll be surprised by the speedy Olympic field hockey played on slick artificial turf. Learn more about the rules, tournament structure and how players can make a future US team.
Olympic Field Hockey History: India and Pakistan dominated men's play until the 1970s. Some believe the move from natural grass to artificial turf for international competitions placed developing nations at a huge disadvantage because it's made the game more expensive. Here's your guide to a sport thought to be thousands of years old.
- A History of Field Hockey
- Past Olympic Field Hockey Medalists, Men
- Past Olympic Field Hockey Medalists, Women
- Greatest Moments in Olympic Field Hockey History
- Biggest Controversies in Olympic Field Hockey History
Action Image Gallery: It's a game of fast action and strong emotions, similar to soccer in its ability to bring out joyous celebrations and dramatic defeats.
Where Are They Now? Harry Marcoplos played in the 1948 and 1956 Summer Olympics and made another US team that failed to qualify for the Games. He's remained involved with field hockey and has led a life of high achievement in academia and in sheep farming.