If you have ever seen the ice hockey movie “Slapstick Legend”, you might remember the amusing scene when Slapstick, the hockey player with a bandana around his neck, plays bandy hockey with his pals. In bandy hockey, players usually wear a helmet, elbow pads, and wrist guards, and use their arms to catch the puck instead of their hands. The game is similar to ice hockey, but uses a larger ball – measuring 28 inches in diameter – which is made of rubber. Teams of three or four play on a diamond-shaped pitch with a puck that is passed between the teammates. Although bandy hockey has been played for hundreds of years, it became more popular in the early 1900s when bandy – a sport that combines aspects of hockey and baseball – became an Olympic event. While the game is now mainly played as a sport, it is still occasionally used in the military and other professional sports leagues because of its defensive nature. Let’s take a closer look at this interesting game.
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Origins Of Bandy Hockey
Bandy hockey is an off-shoot of association football (which is how it got its name). After seeing the problems that sometimes arise with the handling of a wooden ball, King Ludwig of Bavaria (the king at the time) decided that it was better to go with a rubber ball. This way, the game would be less susceptible to injury. Similar to association football, baseball, and hockey, bandy was first played at the amateur level then slowly became more organized and was introduced to the masses as an official sport in 1906. In that year, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria-Hungary formed the first Bandy Council to regulate the sport. It was not until after this that the game started being referred to as “bandy” instead of “bandy hockey” or “bandy ball”. While the rules of association football stipulate that there must always be a ball in play during a game, bandy allows for the use of a rubber ball, which is better for physical activity. Because of its similarity to ice hockey, which is played on frozen surfaces and often features teams of large men battling it out on the ice, many people assume that bandy is a watered-down version of that sport. However, that is far from true. While bandy does get played on ice, it is actually an entirely different game. Let’s take a look at the differences between ice hockey and bandy.
Differences Between Ice Hockey And Bandy
First of all, the surfaces aren’t necessarily ice or snow. They can be either, but the pitch can also be just dirt or sand if there isn’t any ice available. One of the most significant differences between the two sports is the way the balls are used. In hockey, the puck is normally handled with one hand, and slashing and hooking are allowed. If you were to watch an ice hockey game, you would see players use their hands a lot. In bandy, the puck is normally handled with two hands, and there is very little slashing and hooking allowed. Another significant difference is how the goals are scored. In ice hockey, the goalies don’t need to be that skilled because the puck is rarely passed directly to the net. However, in bandy, passing the ball to the corners or into the side netting is common because there are no face shields in those areas. This makes for a much easier score.
The Evolution Of Bandy Hockey
Bandy has come a long way since its inception as a sport. Thanks to advancements in rubber and plastic equipment, organizers were able to make the game less dependent on the elements and more dependent on the technology within each player’s grasp. The first set of equipment that helped transform bandy into what it is today were rubber gloves and a bandana. Rubber gloves were used to catch the ball more easily and accurately, and the bandana helped keep the head protected from injury in case there was a collision. After this, players started using thicker head protection and padding, which made the game safer and more enjoyable. In the 1930s, the shape of the ball changed into what is known as a “basket case” because the ball is now thicker and wider to improve its aerodynamic characteristics. The increased width also made it easier to handle. Because the ball is wider, it has also become a little bit longer, which means that the size of the pitch has increased. In 1938, the first hockey puck – originally designed for target practice but now used for playing the game – was manufactured, bringing the puck closer to its namesake. The advent of the hockey puck sparked a period of innovation that saw the improvement of other pieces of equipment such as sticks and skates. These days, bandy is normally played with four players on each team, but it can be played with five or more as well. Many different sized pitches can be used, and they can be either indoors or outdoors. While the majority of the teams play on a rectangular field, some play on a rounded or oval shape. It is important to note that the sport is not limited to the pitch, and players can also run around the field after the ball is in play.
Becoming An Olympic Sport
Bandy hockey was first introduced to the public as an Olympic sport in 1924. It was initially contested at the high school level, and it became an exhibition sport at the collegiate level in the United States after the 1952 and 1960 Olympics. While not quite as popular as hockey or football, bandy continues to be played professionally in Europe and Oceania and is counted among the prestigious sports leagues such as the Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian hockey leagues. One of the more interesting facts about bandy is that, even though it is a “ball game”, it has actually been used as a method of training for elite hockey teams. Let’s take a quick look at the similarities between bandy and ice hockey, and how they influence each other.
Bandy And Ice Hockey Are Similar
The rules of bandy are mostly the same as those of ice hockey, but there are some significant differences. Like ice hockey, bandy uses a round ball that is larger than an association football. It also has a few differences in how the goals are scored. In ice hockey, the goalie cannot hand the ball to a teammate unless it goes behind the net. In bandy, a pass to a teammate in the corners is typically an automatic goal. The goalie can also throw the ball out of play for a technical try, but that is rarely done. Another similarity between bandy and ice hockey is that they are both team sports and both require players to wear protective equipment.
Bandy Influences Ice Hockey
As we have mentioned, the goal in bandy is to pass the ball to a teammate. It is important to note that one of the primary differences between bandy and ice hockey is how the goals are scored. In bandy, the ball is regularly passed between teammates until a player is in position to kick it into the net. This creates a lot of interaction between the players, and it requires a lot of coordination. In ice hockey, players normally shoot at the net from far away, which means they have less interaction with their teammates. In some cases, they also have to pass the puck to a teammate before they can shoot, which is why passing in hockey is so important. It would not be farfetched to say that, while playing bandy, hockey players would often think about the next pass, and how they can get the ball to their teammates easily.
In Conclusion
The similarities between bandy and ice hockey are striking, but it would not be fair to say that one influences the other. While playing bandy, ice hockey players would need to focus on their defensive positioning and stick handling, and vice versa.
Other than that, the games are truly different, and it would be wise for anyone who is ignorant of the differences to realize that and play by ear. Slapstick himself would probably tell you that bandy is just for fun, but it requires a skilled hand to keep the ball in play smoothly. That being said, the round ball and unique touch that the sport offers make it an interesting game to play and watch.