Week 1 - Zone Hockey

Equipment

Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area
Benches
Markers or cones
Hockey sticks or equivalent
Airflow/whiffle balls or alternative balls
Chairs for each player

Download the Zone Hockey - Week 1 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.

Skill development game

Learning intention

To practice shot placement and striking skills in order to move the ball in the direction of play.

Skill focus

Defending
Shot placement
Striking

Bench hockey

A game to develop tackling, passing, shooting skills and teamwork for Zone Hockey.

Game set-up

Divide students into teams of 3-4 players.
Lay 2 benches on their sides, facing each other, about 1m apart, creating a channel in between.
Use markers or cones to create goals at either end of the channel.

How to play

Ambulant players play from a chair, wheelchair users can play from their wheelchair or chair.
Players on the same team shoot in the same direction.
Players should change position after every 3 scores e.g. move up 1 place. End player goes to the other end.
All sticks must stay below knee level.

Bench hockey - Sports ability playing card

Safety

Rough or dangerous play should not be allowed.
No sticks raised above knee height.
All shots must be hit along the ground.

Modifying Bench Hockey using TREE

Teaching style

Encourage players to strike the ball in different ways, for example hard or soft.
Encourage players to work with their team mates to move the ball down the channel to the goals.

Rules

Allow extra points for hitting a cone in the middle of the goal.
Introduce a goal keeper to increase difficulty to score.

Equipment

Experiment with the size and weight of the ball for longer rallies. A smaller, heavier ball will increase difficulty.

Environment

To increase the chances of scoring:
- - create more space between players
  - increase the size of the goal
  - reduce the number of players.

Modified Zone Hockey game

Learning intention

To practice and refine dribbling and shooting skills and to develop an understanding of player positioning.

Skill focus

Defending
Locomotor movement
Shot placement.

Hockey turnover

A game to develop tackling, passing, shooting skills and teamwork for Zone Hockey.

Activity set-up

Divide playing area into 6 squares (zones).
Divie students into teams of 6 players.
Place a set of goals in each corner.

How to play

Hockey turnover is played 6 v 6.
Assign each player a 'zone'. There should be 2 players from opposing teams in each zone.
Players must remain in their square throughout the game.
Aim is for players to pass the ball through the zones to score at either end.

Safety

Sticks must not be raised above waist height.
Players must not play at any ball with the stick held above shoulder height.
Ball cannot be hit or bounced above the knees.

Hockey turonover - Sports ability playing card

Modifying Hockey turnover using TREE

Teaching style

Encourage players to strike the ball in different ways, for example hard or soft.
Emphasise looking ahead as they move so they can see other players.
Encourage communication with team mates to indicate where they want to hit or receive the ball.

Rules

Match players with similar abilities in each zone.
Adopt a non-tackle rule until skill level increases.
Change positions after 3 goals and rotate pairs into the next zone.
Control the ball before passing or shooting. As skills improve, introduce ‘single touch’ play.
Play to an agreed number of goals or set a time limit.

Equipment

Experiment with the size and weight of the ball to increase or decrease the speed of the game. A smaller, harder ball will increase difficulty.
Bean bags may assist initially while skills develop.

Environment

To make the game easier:
- - increase space between players
  - increase the size of the zone.

Reflection