Movement skills/concepts
Ball control, dribbling with a long implement (hockey stick), varying direction and speed.
Set-up
- Hockey sticks and balls.
- Children, with a hockey stick and ball each, are freely spaced in a grass or hard surface area, with four straight boundaries named ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ and ‘west’.
Activity
When a direction is called, players dribble that way until the next call. Change the call frequently
- seeing the ball, seeing others
- moving to space
- adjusting hands, feet or the stick to push the ball in the direction called
Variations
Vary directions: Use nautical terms – ahead, astern, port and starboard.
Expand directions: Name the corners north-west, south-east, south-west and north-west to increase the number of directions to call.
Change equipment and skill: Try hand/foot dribbling with a large bouncy ball.
