The sports explored in this series carry some of the largest participation numbers in the country but fall below the mainstream radar. The overviews of each provide a history of the sport, how it is played, equipment, rules, tips, strategy, and safety guidelines. Each title looks to bring the reader a new appreciation for a sport that is widely played but not as commercial as baseball, basketball, or football. Great color photographs help encourage the reader to learn more about each sport and possibly take it up if so inclined. Second only to soccer as the largest team sport in the world, field hockey is the oldest of all ball and stick games. Though its exact origins are unknown, the sport began its present day development in mid-nineteenth century England and soon came to be considered a suitable game for women to play. Although men continue to play field hockey, it is women who have excelled at the sport and given it the popularity it has today. In the United States, teams in the Northeast dominate the sport.