Abstract

Field hockey at Stellenbosch is one of the five oldest sports at this oldest village in South Africa. Besides rugby football and track and field athletics, none of these sports have been fully researched and scientifically documented up to date. As an introductory a broad outlines is given on the history of world field hockey; as well as the origin of the sport in South Africa and in particular the Western Province where Stellenbosch is situated. The chapters dealing with Stellenbosch reveal the origin of field hockey at Stellenbosch; the various fields on which the game was played since the first club was founded in 1901; the growth of the club, including the various leagues, locally and provincially; coaching; and national and international participation. This study shows the influence Stellenbosch had had on South African field hockey. The first ever intervarsity was played in this country between the hockey teams of the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Twon, at Stellenbosch, in 1918. The predecessor for koshuishokkie (a hostel league) was the four university teams which kept field hockey at Stellenbosch alive during the years of World War One. Stellenbosch was the first team/club to have made contact with indoor hockey whilst touring in West Germany. This led to them initiating the sport in South Africa. Verf.-Referat