Hockey is played in Hong Kong by a vibrant community of more than 3,000 people of all ages who participate in mini-hockey tournaments, youth and adult leagues, for both sexes.
'Hockey is an all-round sport that provides a challenge for children in hand-eye co-ordination, agility and physical power. It also promotes a team mentality and provides a social environment for children to learn at a young age,' says Eva Yeung, sports executive at the Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA).
For children below 12, local clubs affiliated to the HKHA provide programmes for a modified version, called mini-hockey.
The clubs run a number of tournaments that provide younger children with valuable experience of match conditions.
'These tournaments are an important platform to bring young talent into the youth and adult HKHA leagues and are growing bigger each year. Up to 70 teams, involving several hundred players, together with parents, participate at each tournament,' Yeung says.
Playing conditions are designed to suit the needs of children, with pitches reduced to the size of a basketball court. Rules are used in a more flexible way by coaches and umpires so that training sessions and games run smoothly and safely.