For many people, the word hockey triggers thoughts of schoolgirls causing havoc on the playing fields, squabbling over rugby boys they may have a crush on.

Hockey, however, isn't all about school games and clouting the enemy's ankles with the stick. It's a fast-paced sport for men and women, filled with fierce action which, like football and tennis, require both skill and strength.

What is hockey?

It's a word for a selection of games belonging to the same family. The three most popular types are field hockey, ice hockey and roller hockey. They each follow, roughly, the same rules, but are played in different surroundings. Field hockey is generally known as hockey, and that's the kind that's going to be played at Glasgow 2014.

How is the game played?

There are two teams in each game, and each team consists of eleven players split into attackers, defenders and shooters. The two teams play against each other, with the objective of scoring points by hitting the ball into the opponents' net and the team with most points wins. It's remarkably similar to football, but instead of feet, sticks are used to pass the ball around, each half of the game is 35 minutes, and there currently isn't an offside rule as it was abolished in the mid 1990s.

So what are the rules?

Fairly straightforward. Goals are worth one point and can only be scored from the shooting circle around each team's net. Players can only use the flat side of their stick to manoeuvre the ball, and must not do so in a dangerous fashion. With the exception of defenders, players may not play the ball when it is above shoulder height.

What are set to be the highlights during Glasgow 2014?

Popular tips by the bookies include England, New Zealand, and Malaysia, all of whom will play during the first round of games on Thursday July 24. With Australia prevailing since its introduction to the Commonwealth Games in 1998, it will be interesting to see how Scotland fare when they play against each other on Sunday July 27. Scotland will play Wales on Monday July 28 before taking on the Auld Enemy on Wednesday July 30.