School Field Hockey: Switching Play to the Weak Side

A 5v5 school field hockey game with four small goals, two for each team at each end line, that rewards overloading one side and switching quickly to the other. Students work on switching play, long passes along the ground, and shifting as a defense.

How to play

1. Use a 44 x 27 yd court with two small goals at each end, about 16 yd apart; teams of 5 plus a spare team (2 min).
2. Passing warm-up (4 min): partners 13 yd apart hit or push the ball hard along the ground and stop it on the forehand and reverse.
3. Game (2 x 6 min): teams may score in either of the opponent's goals; a goal is 1 point, and 2 if the play starts with at least three passes on one half of the court and ends in the goal on the other side.
4. Break (1 min): each team picks who stays wide on the weak side waiting for the switch.
5. Switch teams and debrief (3 min): did the defense shift in time, or did it leave a goal open?

Rules

• The stick never goes above the waist, whether hitting or defending.
• Long passes always stay on the ground; a lifted ball is a foul.
• Nobody may stand in front of his or her own goal for more than 3 seconds.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: stays wide on the weak side and gets 3 seconds unpressured to receive.
• Visual impairment: each team's goals have bright-colored cones, and the nearest teammate calls out.
• Lower skill level: may push the ball instead of hitting it on every pass.

Learning goals

• Draw the defense to one side and switch play to the other.
• Hit and stop the ball along the ground accurately.
• Shift as a team to protect two goals.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hockey sticks: 25
• Balls: 6
• Small goals: 4
• Pinnies: 15
• Cones: 10
• Whistle: 1

Teacher tip

At first everyone attacks the nearest goal: stop play and point to the empty one. Space each end's goals far apart so the switch pays off.

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