Zone Hockey gala day

Equipment

Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area
Markers or cones
Hockey sticks or equivalent
Airflow/whiffle balls or alternative balls
Chalk or marking tape to mark out playing area

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

Organisation

In the week prior to the gala day, organise students into teams.
Students may be given time to create signs to support their team at the gala day.
Select a student from each team to be the team captain for the gala day.
Set-up Zone Hockey games as a circuit for teams to rotate around.
2 teams at each circuit to play against eachother.
Games for the gala day include:
- - Hockey relay
  - Waves
  - Zone Hockey

Zone Hockey games

Hockey relay

An introductory game to develop positioning, dribbling and shooting skills as a lead up to Zone Hockey.

Game set-up

Play team vs team
Mark out parallel slalom courses and goals at the end of each course.

How to play

Players dribble and attempt to shoot a goal at the end of the slalom course.
The next player is not allowed to start until the previous player has completed their shot at goal.

Safety

Ensure appropriate space between teams.
No stick to be raised above waist height.

Hockey relay - Sports ability playing card

Modifying Hockey relay using TREE

Teaching style

Keep slalom courses close enough to create competition but still safe to avoid any collisions.
Encourage students to try different techniques moving the ball through the slalom to discover which gives the most control over the ball.

Rules

Players can have a support player who shadows them and fields the ball if it strays.
Introduce a goal keeper as skills increase.
Play to an agreed number of goals or set time limit.

Equipment

Experiment with balls of different sizes and weight 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 decrease difficulty, widen the goal size or decrease the number of obstacles.
To increase difficulty, create a longer slalom course with less space between markers or cones.

Waves

A lead up game to Zone Hockey to develop passing, teamwork and movement in the playing space.

Game set-up

Mark out the playing area.
Play as a race team vs team
Teams line up at the same end of the playing area.

How to play

Players travel down the playing area passing from player to player along the line.
Every player must make at least one pass before the end of the line.
Markers or cones can be used to create a moving or passing challenge.

Safety

Ensure appropriate space between teams.
No stick to be raised above waist height.

Waves - Sports ability playing card

Modifying Waves using TREE

Teaching style

Emphasise to play (hit) the ball in front of the player receiving the pass.
Encourage players to strike the ball in different ways, e.g. hard or soft.
Encourage players to move in different formations and develop strategies to beat the defenders such as passing faster, holding the ball until they run past the defender, skipping a person when they pass along the line.

Rules

Change positions in line after each complete run through.
Control the ball before passing.
As skills improve introduce:
- - ‘one touch’ play -replace markers or cones with real defenders who don’t move or tackle
  - progress to tackling defenders when appropriate.
Introduce a time limit to add pressure.

Equipment

Experiment with the size and weight of the ball to increase or decrease 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:
- - reduce space between players
  - increase space between markers or cones
  - reduce the number of players.

Zone Hockey

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

Game set-up

Divide playing area into 3 length way zones with 2 goal areas using chalk or tape and markers.
The central zone should represent 50% and wing areas 25% each. (See image)
Place 2 cones at each end for goals.
Play team vs team.
Allocate players a specific zone. Players should be matched by ability in each zone and must remain in their zones:
- - 1 player per wing zone
  - 2 or 3 players in the central zone
  - 1 player as goalkeeper

How to play

Aim is for players to pass the ball through the zones to score by hitting the ball through their designated goal.
A free hit is awarded for entering another zone, reaching across another zone or raising the stick above waist height. Opposition players must be 2m away from place of free hit.
No player other than a goalkeeper may enter their goal circle. • Players must not kick the ball.

Zone Hockey - Sports ability playing card

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.
Goalkeepers should be encouraged to wear a face mask, hand protectors and knee protectors.

Modifying Zone Hockey using TREE

Teaching style

Encourage using short and long passes to move the ball down the court.
Encourage calling for the ball and to indicate where they are moving to receive the ball.
Instruct passers to place the ball in front of the receiver so the receiving player can run onto the ball and continue playing the ball forward.

Rules

A free hit is not awarded if the ball simply hits a player’s foot, wheelchair structure or walking aid. It is awarded only if the incident causes a break in play, disadvantage or stops a goal.
Add a rule that everyone needs to touch the ball before a goal can be scored.
As skills develop add a defender in each wing zone to increase the challenge.

Equipment