Indoor Hockey: Ball on the Floor and Playing off the Boards

Games under basic indoor hockey rules: the ball is only pushed, it stays on the floor except for shots on goal, and the side boards are part of the field. Teams learn to use the board like a teammate to beat a defender.

How to play

1. Explain the indoor rules: no swinging hits, only pushes; the ball cannot be lifted except on a shot inside the circle; no stick above the knee; the boards (benches on their sides) are in play (3 min).
2. 2 vs. 1 along the board: the attacker plays the ball off the bench to get past the defender and collects the rebound, while the teammate offers an inside pass (6 min).
3. 5 vs. 5 games on two 25 x 15 m fields with boards along the sidelines and mini goals; the referee calls lifted balls, high sticks and hits; the scorekeeper counts board passes that lead to a shot (12 min).
4. Compare the data: how often the board was used, how many lifted-ball fouls there were and how to improve (4 min).

Rules

• The stick never rises above the knee.
• The ball may be lifted only on a shot inside the circle.
• No body contact; steal only by playing the ball from the front or side.
• Benches are secured before play, and nobody stands on or jumps over them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: plays from a wheelchair as goalie or in a protected zone next to the board.
• Low vision: uses a larger fluorescent ball on their field.
• Knee injury: referees, since the low hockey stance requires sustained knee bend.

Learning goals

• Apply the specific rules of indoor hockey.
• Use the side board as a tactical attacking tool.
• Referee the technical fouls specific to this format.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hockey sticks: 24
• hockey balls: 4
• Swedish benches: 8
• mini goals: 4
• pinnies: 12
• cones: 12
• cards: 2
• pencils: 2

Teacher tip

Lay the benches on their sides against the wall or braced with cones. If the gym is small, set up one field and rotate teams every five minutes.

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