Our women train on Tuesday nights, with the men on Wednesdays. Both groups are in action 7:30-9:00pm up at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate. Our junior section train on Wednesdays from 6-7pm. Use CT11 7AA in your satnav – or //empire.kings.dance if you use W3W. Free parking is available on site – or we’re a short walk from Ramsgate railway station. Thanet’s LOOP bus serves the closest bus stop “The Viaduct” (towards Ramsgate / towards Margate).
You’ll need to be 13 or over, and have your own shinpads & gumshield – basic ones will do for now, but if you get into the swing of things, we do recommend shinpads specifically for hockey (and you can get a professionally fitted gumshield from Laurel Dental Practice in Margate).
Please dress appropriately – and make sure you bring water. We’ve got sticks you can borrow…
If you want to watch a session before you commit, that’s fine – just rock up and say hi.
You’ll need a membership too – don’t worry, you only pay membership fees if you choose to stay with us. We’ve got a couple of different levels – Adult, Colt, Associate, Junior, and Training. We ask for the forms to be filled out ASAP so that we have all the necessary information from you for our insurance.
Adult – 18+, employed
Colt – 13-18 / 18+ in full-time education / 18+ unemployed
Associate – 18+, non-playing Club supporter who regularly attends the Clubhouse
Junior – 4+, trains on Wednesdays 6-7pm
Training – for those who train with the adult section but aren't planning on playing matches
Our costs have increased this year, but we are still the cheapest place to play hockey!
This page is dedicated to rules, the basics, and terminology you might hear (either in training, or in the game). We all started somewhere, and we were all confused about the game once. Some of us still are. As the more experienced player will tell you, hockey jargon slips in everywhere. The more it’s used, the more normal it becomes. We’ve all heard someone scream “You need to be FIIIIIIVE” or the old Umpire Classic “First One, back here please”. What do they mean? Read on and find out.
First? Let’s give you some useful links.
WORD / PHRASE
MEANING / DESCRIPTION
16
Re-starting the play by the defence, when the ball has crossed the baseline having last been touched by an attacking player. The hit-out is taken in line with the point the ball crossed the baseline. The ball must be played from no further than 14.63m (16 yards in old money).
23m
The area between the baseline and approximately 1/4 of the pitch (sometimes called the 25 by older players/umpires from when we used to measure things in yards). This line is where long corners are taken from, and is the edge of the area whereby some rules are different.
3D Skills
Carrying / repeatedly lifting the ball, or playing the ball above the playing surface.
Advantage
The Umpire’s favourite word. A call made by the Umpire after a foul has been committed but the fouled player retains possession and has the opportunity to develop the play. Calls heard will also include “Play On”, “Play It”, “Play, you’ve got it”.
Aerial
Skill where the ball is lifted (safely) over a group of players. Any players not in a position to receive the ball must be 5m away. May also be called a “throw” or a “chuck”.
Back Board
A dark, solid piece of material, measuring 460mm high from the floor fixed vertically into the recess of the goal.
Back Pass
A pass away from the attacking team’s goal in order to retain possession / switch the play.
Back Stick
When the ball makes contact with the rounded side of the stick. This is also how the foul will be called by the umpire.
Ball
Must be spherical, weighing between 156-163g, measuring 224-235mm in circumference. It is usually white in colour – other can be used with agreement.
Basic Grip
Holding the stick with the left hand at the top of stick and the right hand at the end of the grip.
Blind Pass
When a player in possession of the ball makes a pass without looking up first. We’ve all done it. It’s not recommended.
Block
A type of tackle where the stick is held flat on the floor or a common term for preventing a shot at goal.
Bully
Method of restarting play with a player from each team. The players tap sticks above the ball before playing the ball.
Castle
A pairing of a trapper and a striker at the top of the D during a penalty (short) corner.
Centre Pass
The first pass of a new play – either at the start of a half or a re-start after a goal. The ball can be played either forwards or backwards.
Channelling
Actively shadowing a player into an area of the pitch (usually toward the sidelines).
Closing Down
A skill used by defensive players in order to force the player into a scenario to dispossess them of the ball.
Contact
Actively preventing a player from advancing into an area of the pitch.
Corner
1. Short – a set play with 5 defenders behind the goal line, and attackers lined up around the “D”. The ball is played from a mark on the baseline 10m outside the goal.
2. Long – restarting the play on the 23m in line with where the ball crossed the baseline. This is used when the ball crosses the baseline after an unintentional play by the defensive team, and a goal is not scored.
Cover
To take up the position of a player who is out of position due to an attacking move / substitution.
D
Also known as the shooting circle. Shaped like an upper case “D”, the line is 14.63m from the goal face.
Dangerous Play
The act of causing another to take legitimate evasive action to prevent injury.
Drag Flick
A more powerful version of a flick. The player appears to ‘drag’ the ball along the floor before lifting it using a slinging motion. Most often used as a strike from a short corner.
Drill
The action of propelling the ball forcibly into the body of the opponent in order to gain a free hit. This is usually in indoor hockey. This is not permitted.
Dummy
To purposely deceive the opponent, intentionally making the opposing player to move in the wrong direction.
Eliminate
To pass a player by dribbling/passing the ball, effectively eliminating them from the defensive element of the game.
Face Mask
Protective equipment worn (usually) during a penalty/short corner. Must be removed on completion of the play.
Field of Play
The official name for the playing area. It measures 91.4m by 55m.
First One
An Umpire has seen an offence, but played a small advantage. That advantage was lost almost immediately by another offence being committed. A free hit is to be taken where the “first one” was committed.
Five (metres)
All players are to be 5m from a dead ball play. Calls of “FIVE!” or “Get Five” will often be heard. Any players closer than the obligatory 5m have to actively avoid the play.
Flick
1. A 3D skill where the ball is lifted during play.
2. Short for a Penalty Flick (P.Flick).
Follow through
The movement of the stick after making contact with the ball.
Forehand
The stick is held on the right hand side of the body, and the ball is played forward with the flat side of the stick facing forward.
Indian Dribble
Repeatedly moving the ball across the body (while stationary or in motion), taking the ball from forehand to back hand by rotating the stick 180° over the ball, and only using the flat side of the stick. So called as it was first used by the Indian team in the 1950s.
Injector
The player who, during a Penalty Corner, will pass the ball from the baseline mark to the Trapper in the Castle at the top of the Shooting Circle.
Jab
A style of tackling where the stick is held only in the left hand (but using the right hand as a guide) and thrust quickly toward the ball before returning to a Basic Grip.
LBZ
Lower Backhand Zone. Also known as a Tomahawk. A method of shooting/passing on the backhand side which uses the bladed edge of the stick – where the flat & rounded sides meet above the hook of the stick.
Low Barrier
The crouched position adopted by a defensive player channelling an attacker where the knees are low to the ground and the stick protects the leading foot.
Marking
1. Front marking. Putting yourself between the ball and your assigned player.
2. Back marking. Staying goal side of your assigned player.
Next Job
Often heard after someone has lost possession and is hyper-focused on the wrong task. This reminds them to overcome their ill-aimed focus to the next task.
Shadowing
Staying with the player you’re marking, but not tackling / committing to a tackle.
Switch
A pass (or a series of passes) to transfer the play from one side of the pitch to the other (usually via the centre midfielder/defender).
Top Bins
The top corners of the goal (imagine a small waste paper bin tied to the corners) – the optimum spot in which to attempt to score.
Trapper
The player on the edge of the D ready to receive a pass from the Injector on a Short (Penalty) Corner. Their job is to stop (trap) the injected ball outside the line, before pushing it just into the D for another player to strike the ball.
V-Drag
Pushing the ball to one side before dragging it back towards you (in the shape of a “V”) then attempting to pass the player on the other side.
Many sources have been cited, including @TheHockeyFamily on Twitter (with permission)
Each summer, we enter a team into Folkestone's Mixed League. It's quite competitive...
DATE / TIME
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
PITCH
23/6 8pm
Maidstone
4-0
Cliftonville
2
30/6 8pm
Cliftonville
3-1
Canterbury Green
2
07/7 8pm
Cliftonville
3-2
Ashford Sharks
2
14/7 Slip
21/7 7pm
Cliftonville
11-1
Folkestone Ops
1
28/7 6:30pm
Canterbury Red
5-1
Cliftonville
04/8 8pm
Cliftonville
5-0
Ashford Tigers
2
11/8 8:30pm
Cliftonville
1-1
South Saxons
1
18/8 7pm
Folkestone U21
6-0
Cliftonville
1
25/8
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