Multiball: Three Balls in Play at Once

A 6v6 hockey game with three balls in play at once and benches on their side as goals. Everyone touches the ball constantly and has to decide which ball to attack or defend.

How to play

1. Explain: two teams per court and a bench on its side at each end; a goal is when the ball hits the bench. Three balls are in play from the start (3 min).
2. Game with three balls: each goal is counted and that ball restarts from center (6 min).
3. New rule: goals only count from push passes, no slaps (5 min).
4. Balls have different values: the colored one is worth two points, so it needs special attention (4 min).
5. Final count: each team explains how it split up the balls so everyone didn't chase the same one (2 min).

Rules

• With so many balls, heads stay up: nobody dribbles looking only at their own ball.
• Push passes and low shots only; no slaps.
• Nobody sits or stands in front of the bench to block it.
• If two players go for the same ball, the first one there takes it and the other finds another.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: play only with a ball that makes sound, reserved for their team, in a side lane.
• Wheelchair users: their team has its own ball that only they can touch once they receive it.
• Students overwhelmed by lots of stimuli: start on a court with a single ball.

Learning goals

• Make quick decisions with several things happening at once.
• Split up tasks as a team.
• Stay involved in the game all the time.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• floorball balls: 6
• gym benches: 2
• pinnies: 15

Teacher tip

Use a differently colored ball if you have one; otherwise mark one with tape. Students who barely touch the ball in one-ball games tend to love this one.

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