Rotorua hockey players will get a chance to show the rest of the country what they can do indoors.
The 45th annual United Hockey Indoor Tournament got under way this morning at the Sportsdrome for the two-day event.
With 60 teams from across the North Island - and 12 from Rotorua, co-ordinator
and United Women's president Jennie Taylor said the courts would be "buzzing" with energy.
Taylor said this year's event was the biggest since its inception 45 years ago, when it was strictly a women's tournament.
"We used to get the husbands and partners of the women saying they wanted to take part in it as well. It has just grown bigger ever since."
She said there was a mix of serious and fun teams who took part in the tournament.
"A lot of Auckland teams who take part use it as a travel away event, because it's near the end of their season."
Unlike traditional hockey, the indoor version sees teams reduced to seven-a-side with only pushing allowed. The women will contest grades A to D and the men an open and a mixed grade.
Up to 120 12-minute games will be played during the hectic two-day schedule.
Taylor said she was excited with the five United teams made up of two men's, two mixed and a women's team taking part in the event.
The first of 72 games gets under way at 8am and is set to finish about 7.50pm. Day two will feature 48 games, with the first game starting at 8am.
