Moving Goals Floor Hockey

A floor hockey game with sticks and a soft ball where each goal is a pole held by two teammates who walk slowly through their half of the field. It forces players to dribble with their heads up, look for open angles, and adjust to a target that keeps moving.

How to play

1. Form 4 teams of 6 in pinnies and run two games at once on two 65 x 50 ft fields. On each team, 4 play with sticks and 2 are the goal: they hold a pole horizontally at knee height, one at each end.
2. Skill review (3 min): dribble with the ball close to the stick and head up, and pass by pushing the ball without raising the stick above the knee.
3. Game (4 min per period): a goal is scored when the ball goes under the opposing team's pole. The goal walks along the end line and may move up to 15 ft into the field, but may not run.
4. Pole holders may not block with their feet; they can only move. Defenders may not stand within 3 ft of their own goal.
5. Every 4 minutes, rotate: the two pole holders join the field players and two other teammates take the pole, so everyone plays both roles.
6. Play 4 periods. At the end, each team counts its goals and shares its best trick for fooling the goal.

Rules

• The stick never goes above the knee.
• Play the ball, not the opponent's stick or body: no checking or hooking.
• The goal walks, never runs, and always faces the play.
• Sideline and end-line restarts are push passes from where the ball went out.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a student using a wheelchair may be a goal with the pole across their lap or play with a short stick and a 6 ft protected zone.
• Autism: give a set role each period and announce every rotation one minute ahead.
• Lower fitness: more time as a pole holder and 3-minute periods.

Learning goals

• Dribble the ball with the stick while looking up.
• Find an open angle on a goal that moves.
• Follow stick-safety rules and the rotations.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hockey sticks: 16
• soft balls: 4
• Poles: 4
• pinnies: 24

Teacher tip

Before starting, practice walking in sync with the pole holders; if one pulls, both fall. Use soft balls and make sure everyone holds the stick with both hands.

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