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Sports and Games - H

These are all sports and games beginning with the letter H.

Handball

Handball is similar to football, except that it is played with the hands instead of the feet. It was first played at the end of the 19th century in Germany. Handball is played by two teams of seven players (and five substitutes). Each game lasts for sixty minutes (two halves of thirty minutes each) for men and fifty minutes for women. The team which has scored the most goals at the end of the game are the winners.

Hang Gliding

Hang Gliding was pioneered in Germany by Otto Lilienthal in the late 19th century. Hang glider pilots as the name suggests, hang suspended under their gliders. They can be launched from hills facing into the wind, from winches on flat ground or by being towed into the air using a microlight aircraft. The pilot tries to stay in the air for as long as possible by finding thermals (lifting currents of air).

Harness Horse Racing

Harness racing was developed into its current form in North America. The sulky, the lightweight vehicle pulled by the horse, first appeared in 1829. Horses may trot - moving their legs in diagonal pairs, or pace - moving fore and hind legs on one side simultaneously. Separate races are held for trotting and pacing. The horses pulling the sulkies race round an oval track which can vary in length from half to one mile. The horse which crosses the finishing line first wins the race.

Hockey

Hockey in its modern form was developed in England in the second half of the 19th century. There are eleven players on each side. Hockey is played on grass and there are men's and women's teams. The object of the game is to hit the ball using the hockey stick towards the opposing team's goal and score goals. Only the flat side of the hockey stick may be used to control the ball.

Horse Racing

There are two kinds of horse racing - jumping and flat racing. Jumping is divided into steeplechasing where the horse jump over fences, ditches and water jumps, and hurdle racing where they jump over hurdles. The Grand National is the oldest and most famous steeplechase in the world and is run at Aintree, Liverpool.

Horseshoe Pitching

The object in hoseshoe pitching is to throw the specially designed "horseshoes" so that they land as close as possible to a stake at the opposite end of the court. There are two stakes, one at each end of the court. It is played by two singles players or two doubles players. Each player has two horseshoes which they pitch at the stake at the opposite end of the court. In singles, the player then goes to the opposite end and pitches the hoseshoes back to the stake at the end of the court he was previously at. However, in doubles, one partner stays at each stake and always pitches to the same stake. To score a point, a hoseshoe must land within six inches of the stake. The game can last until each player has made fifty pitches or until a single player or pair has scored fifty points

Hot Air Ballooning

Competitions for hot air balloons are held for, flight duration, altitude, or travelling over a certain route. The height of the balloon can be altered by changing the temperature of the air within the balloon using a burner. Hot air makes the balloon rise.

Hurling

In hurling there are two teams of fifteen players (plus three substitutes). The goals are similar to hockey goals except that the vertical posts extend above the crossbar. A long curved stick with a broad blade called a hurley is used. The ball can be hit with or carried on the hurley. When it is off the ground the ball can be hit with the hand or kicked. The object is to score points - a goal is worth three points and is scored when the ball goes between the posts and under the crossbar - and one point is scored when the ball goes between the posts, but over the crossbar. The game lasts sixty minutes - two thirty minute halves.

High Jump

The object in the high jump is to jump over a crossbar which is supported by two upright poles without knocking it down. A competitor is eliminated from the competition after three consecutive attempts to jump over the bar without knocking it down. After every round the height of the bar is raised. The winner is the competitor clears the greatest height.