Because of these differences, pond hockey places more emphasis on skating and puckhandling ability and less on shooting and checking.

Non-competitive pond hockey is played with improvised goals, rinks of a variety of sizes, and no boards or snow barriers.

In that context, it is meant to describe any form of disorganized ice hockey that is played outdoors, typically on a naturally frozen body of water.

[citation needed] Pond hockey or shinny has its origins in early Navajo Native American culture.

[citation needed] Free men and slaves lined up and an agreement was made, the terms of which was as follows.

The bats are made from wood[citation needed], they were thin with a curve and wider part at the end to hit the ball.

It is also said that the Hopi Indian had fields as long as eight miles (13 km) with the goals reaching as far as two villages.

[citation needed] In some areas of the midwest, specifically Northbrook, IL, the game is referred to as Puck.

If a goalie is not used, the goals can be defined with anything from open, regular hockey nets to player's boots.

[2] Because pond hockey discourages hard physical contact, the equipment involved is basic.

However, in very classic pick-up pond hockey, the game is planned quite spontaneously and quickly and the idea of a net could be abandoned.

Most of the game consists of open ice puck handling; therefore hand-eye coordination is crucial.

Speed is also an important ingredient that makes a good pond hockey player.

In pond hockey, a good player does not specialize in offense or defense, rather teamwork becomes important.

Another distinctive rule in pond hockey is the concept of picking teams, which usually occurs in pick-up games.

However, in some of the organized tournaments, like the Leinenkugel's Classic Pond Hockey annual event in Wausau, WI, teams are pre-established based on regions or schools they represent.

Extra shot are to be taken from center of ice and should be endeavored in the span of 30 seconds of the penalty being called.

[6] The World Pond Hockey Championship is played in Tobique Valley, New Brunswick, and utilizes 22 sheets of ice for the games.

It was founded in January 2008 in the wake of the 2008 NHL Winter Classic and has been held annually each year since.

In 2014, the PHC acquired the Big Apple Pond Hockey Classic played in NYC at Bryant Park.

In Pond Hockey it is the subject of the entire film, which celebrates the importance of the outdoor game.