The Differences Between Curling & Field Hockey

Curling is an Olympic sport that was invented in Scotland during the 16th century. The first curling games were originally played on frozen ponds and lochs, or lakes, during the winter months. Curling officially became an Olympic sport in 1924. The exact origins of field hockey are unknown, but it gained popularity in England in the 1800s. The game officially became an Olympic sport in 1908. Field hockey is now a game predominately played by women, although it was not considered socially acceptable for women to play it until late in the 1880s. Other than the fact that they are both team games and Olympic sports, the games have very few similarities.

  1. Curling Equipment

    • Curling is played with two types of brooms, a brush-like push broom and a broom made of corn or straw bristles, according to the International Olympic Committee. Curlers use the brooms to push curling rocks, also called a curling stones. The stones are made out of a dense granite and weigh about 42 pounds. Curlers wear curling shoes that have a soft rubber sole used for traction when walking on the ice. A piece of hard plastic or stainless steel, known as a slider, is attached to one shoe to help the curler slide better during the game.

    Field Hockey Equipment

    • Field hockey is played with a long wooden field hockey stick. The stick has a curved head that is flat on one side and rounded on the other. The field hockey ball is a hard ball measuring about 8 or 9 inches in circumference. The ball is made out of natural or artificial materials and weighs about 5 ounces. The players wear ankle guards and shin guards to protect themselves from getting hit in the leg with the field hockey sticks or the ball. The goal keeper wears protective head gear and leg guards, as well as padding on the upper body.

    Objective of Curling

    • Curling is played on ice by two opposing teams of four players each. The game is played by sliding the curling stones down a lane about 150 feet long and 16 feet wide. The objective is to score as many points as possible by getting the stones as close to the target, known as the house, at the end of the lane. The players are called the lead, the second, the third and the skip, which is the team's boss. The lead pushes the stone with his broom and releases it so it slides down the alley while the other players sweep the ice in front of the stone to clear its path and guide the stone in the right direction.

    Objective of Field Hockey

    • Field hockey is played by two opposing teams on an open outdoor field about 100 yards long and 60 yards wide, divided in half by a center line. Each team is made up of 11 players. The players are assigned to play certain positions, such as forwards, wings, backs and goalkeeper. The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible by hitting the ball into the opposing team's goal cage.