Hungry Hippos Stick Handling
Four teams start from the corners and use hockey sticks to bring balls from the middle back to their hoop, like hungry hippos gobbling up marbles. The activity builds stick handling, ball control at speed, and quick decision-making.
How to play
- Place a hoop in each corner of a 65 x 65-foot area and, in the center, a ring of cones with 30 balls inside (2 min).
- Make four teams of 6 lined up behind their hoop; each student has a stick (1 min).
- Review stick handling: hands apart on the stick, blade always on the floor, and short taps to keep the ball close (2 min).
- On the whistle, the first player in each line dribbles one ball from the center back to their hoop and tags the next player's hand (4 min).
- When the center is empty, players may take balls from other teams' hoops, one at a time and never from someone's stick (4 min).
- On the final whistle, each team counts its balls; repeat after teams switch corners (5 min).
Rules
- The stick blade never goes above the knee.
- Touch the ball only with the stick, never with a foot or hand.
- One ball at a time; no stealing a ball another player is dribbling.
- No one may guard their hoop by standing in front of it.
Variations
Easier
Use large foam balls and send two players per team at a time.
Standard
One player per team goes at a time and brings back one ball.
Harder
Players must circle a cone on the way back and dribble only with the backside of the blade.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student dribbles from a wheelchair with a short stick, and their hoop is closer to the center.
- Autism or shyness: the student may always go with a teammate, each dribbling their own ball.
- Lower fitness: the student's trips count double so they can rest longer in line.
Learning goals
- Dribble a ball with a stick while keeping it close.
- Keep control of the ball at speed with others nearby.
- Choose quickly which ball to go after.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hockey or floor hockey sticks: 25
- floor hockey balls or tennis balls: 30
- hoops: 4
- cones: 10
Teacher tip
The low-stick rule matters most; stop play if anyone raises a stick. Floorball balls or old tennis balls work better than heavy rubber balls.
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