photo: facebook.com/nzbeachhockey
World wide, Beach Hockey is growing in popularity. Beach Hockey International held the inaugural Beach Hockey world Cup in 2014 in The Hague, Netherlands. This year down under the third annual NZ Beach Hockey championships wrapped up at Mount Maunganui over a weekend and were a great success.
photo: facebook.com/nzbeachhockey
For those readers who are not familiar with Beach Hockey – A beach hockey team is made up of five players and an official match lasts 2×12 minutes. Beach hockey players run in their bare feet. The difficult playing surface adds a new dimension to the game and provides a real test of the players’ individual skills and teamwork. The ball is in the air for much of the game – creating spectacular airborne tackles and dribbles and acrobatic displays from the keepers. On average there are 30 shots at goal in a beach hockey match, so plenty of action is guaranteed.
photo: facebook.com/nzbeachhockey
A change in format this year to the NZ Beach Hockey championships, one day event saw more teams enter and over 80 participants enjoyed a great day in fantastic conditions. With over $2000 in prizes from local businesses on the line and the prestige of winning the coveted Giant Jandal trophy, competition wavered between social and competitive but some impressive skills and goals saw the large crowds fully engaged and intrigued by this hockey with a twist.
After some tight competition, local team and defending champions ‘Je Suis Beach Hockey’, captained by former Black Stick Lincoln Churchill, managed to hold all competitors at bay to be crowned 2015 champs.
NZ Beach Hockey looks forward to another enjoyable competition in January 2016, for more information visit www.facebook.com/nzbeachhockey
To find out more about the rules and development of Beach Hockey Internationally visit http://www.beachhockeyinternational.com/home
Source: Adapted Hockey NZ news
