While reports indicate that participation in team sports can significantly boost physical activity levels and foster crucial social skills among young people, finding engaging and safe activities for physical education classes can sometimes be a challenge. In the video above, Chris Hastings and Dan Deschamps from Flaghouse introduce a fantastic solution: floor hockey drills. This high-energy sport is a gym class favorite, renowned for its ability to develop teamwork, communication, and cardiovascular fitness. Let’s dive deeper into some of the best floor hockey drills and strategies that will have your students moving, collaborating, and mastering essential skills on the court.
Mastering Floor Hockey Fundamentals: The Ready Position
Before any serious action on the floor, understanding the “ready position” is paramount. As Dan Deschamps emphasizes in the video, this foundational stance is like a spring coiled for action, preparing players for immediate movement in any direction. Picture a tennis player waiting for a serve or a basketball player on defense; their knees are bent, weight is evenly distributed, and eyes are up, anticipating the next play.
For floor hockey, the ready position involves bent knees, a slight forward lean, and the stick held low and in front, offering a wide defensive and offensive range. This athletic posture is not merely about looking ready; it significantly reduces reaction time and improves agility. Encourage students to visualize themselves as a statue, ready to explode into motion at a moment’s notice.
Essential Floor Hockey Drills for PE Class
Implementing a series of progressive drills is key to building both individual skill and team cohesion. Here are five fantastic floor hockey drills that teachers can integrate into their PE curriculum, expanding on the concepts introduced in the video.
1. The Line Run: Conditioning and Agility for Floor Hockey
The “Line Run” drill, as demonstrated in the video, is an excellent warm-up that combines cardiovascular conditioning with spatial awareness. It’s a simple yet effective way to get students moving and accustomed to the court dimensions. Think of it as a sprinter’s start, but repeated across various lines on the gym floor.
**How to Execute:** * Divide students into small groups or pairs. * Have them start at the goal line. * On command, they run to the blue line and back, then to the red line and back. * Emphasize maintaining the ready position and keeping heads up, even without a puck. * This drill builds stamina and familiarizes players with transitions across the court, much like a shuttle run in basketball.
Adding stick work to this drill once students are warmed up can further enhance coordination. Have them stickhandle as they run the lines, challenging their ability to control the ball or puck while moving quickly. This mimics the demanding nature of a real floor hockey game, where players must constantly manage their stick while navigating opponents.
2. Dynamic Stickhandling Drills: Ball Control Masters
Puck (or ball) control is the bread and butter of floor hockey, much like dribbling in basketball. The video highlights basic stickhandling in stationary and moving capacities. Expanding on this, teach students to treat their stick blade like an extension of their hand, gently guiding the puck back and forth. The goal is to develop “soft hands,” controlling the puck with finesse rather than brute force.
**How to Execute:** * **Stationary Stickhandling:** Start with students standing still, knees bent, stick in front, gently moving the puck from side to side using the forehand and backhand. Encourage them to keep their head up periodically, scanning their “surroundings” like a driver checking their mirrors. This develops muscle memory and spatial awareness. * **Moving Stickhandling (Follow the Leader):** Progress to walking and running while stickhandling. Set up cones or use gym lines for a designated path. Have students follow the instructor or a designated leader, focusing on keeping the puck close and under control. This drill is similar to a synchronized swimming routine, where individual skill contributes to a cohesive group movement.
To further challenge students, introduce obstacle courses using cones or other gym equipment. This forces them to change direction and maintain control under varied circumstances, preparing them for dynamic game situations. A small bell inside the puck can also provide auditory feedback for control, teaching players to minimize excessive contact.
3. Continuous Passing and Shooting Drills: Offense on the Move
The game of floor hockey thrives on seamless transitions from passing to shooting, and the continuous rotation drill shown in the video is perfect for this. It simulates a fast-paced offensive play, requiring players to react quickly and make accurate shots. Think of it as a baseball assembly line, where each player performs a critical task before moving to the next station.
**How to Execute:** * Set up a passer at one point and a shooter at another, with a net in front of the shooter. * A third player runs towards the net. As they approach, the passer delivers the ball/puck. * The runner receives the pass, immediately takes a shot on net, then rotates to become the next passer. * The original passer moves to the end of the runner’s line. * Emphasize communication (“Pass!”, “I’m open!”) and quick transitions. This drill highlights the importance of hitting the target, much like an archer’s precision.
Vary this drill by having players shoot from different angles or distances. Introduce a defender (passive at first, then active) to increase the challenge, mimicking the pressure of a real game. This transforms a simple drill into a strategic exercise, teaching players to adapt to defensive pressure.
4. Precision Practice: Shooting on a Goalie
Shooting on a goalie, as demonstrated in the video, moves beyond simply getting the ball on net to strategic placement. This drill hones accuracy and teaches players to identify openings, crucial for scoring goals. It’s like a game of chess, where each shot is a calculated move against an opposing force.
**How to Execute:** * Have students line up at a designated shooting spot, facing a goalie. * Each student takes a shot, focusing on placing the ball away from the goalie’s immediate reach (e.g., corners, five-hole). * Rotate shooters and goalies regularly to give everyone experience in both roles. * Encourage goalies to practice blocking techniques and quickly resetting for the next shot. * This drill not only improves shooting skill but also builds the goalie’s confidence and reaction time.
To add variety, challenge students to hit specific targets within the net (e.g., small hula hoops in the corners). Introduce a time limit for each shot to simulate game pressure. This encourages quick decision-making and efficient execution, preparing players for those critical moments when scoring opportunities arise.
5. The Full Scrimmage: Integrating Floor Hockey Skills
The ultimate goal of any drill is to apply learned skills in a game setting, and a full scrimmage or modified game, like the one shown at the end of the video, is perfect for this. It’s where all the individual components of floor hockey—passing, shooting, stickhandling, communication, and teamwork—come together in a dynamic and engaging experience. This is where the orchestra plays its full symphony, with each instrument contributing to the overall harmony.
**How to Execute:** * Divide the class into two balanced teams. * Start with a face-off, as demonstrated by the children in the video, to initiate play. * Emphasize fair play, sportsmanship, and the rules of floor hockey (no high sticks, no body checking, no hooking or slashing). * Encourage constant communication, calling for passes, and praising teammates’ efforts. * Introduce modified rules if needed (e.g., touch-pass only, specific zones for shooting) to manage skill levels and promote inclusivity.
A scrimmage allows students to practice strategic thinking, offensive drives, and defensive stands in a fluid environment. It’s also an excellent opportunity for teachers to observe individual progress and team dynamics. Remind players that success isn’t just about scoring goals, but about effective collaboration and mutual support.
Face-Off: Your Floor Hockey Questions
What are the benefits of playing floor hockey?
Floor hockey is a high-energy sport that helps develop teamwork, communication, and cardiovascular fitness. It also boosts physical activity levels and fosters crucial social skills among young people.
What is the ‘ready position’ in floor hockey?
The ‘ready position’ is a fundamental stance where players stand with bent knees, a slight forward lean, and their stick held low and in front. It prepares you for immediate movement and improves agility on the court.
What basic skills does floor hockey help you learn?
Floor hockey helps you master essential skills like passing, shooting, and stick handling. It also improves your conditioning, agility, and overall ball control.
What is a floor hockey scrimmage?
A scrimmage is like playing a full game of floor hockey, allowing you to apply all the skills you’ve learned in a fun team setting. It brings together passing, shooting, stickhandling, communication, and teamwork.