One student is selected to be the “granny” or “grandpa”. They will stand at the end of the court / field. The rest of the students line up at the other end with a hockey stick each, using the correct grip and body position as follows: Stick grip – students grab the top of the stick using their left hand, their right hand is placed near the bottom of the grip. There are no left handed hockey sticks, so all students use this grip no matter if they are left or right handed. Stance – It is important that students have their legs shoulder width apart and knees bent, maintaining a low centre of gravity. We call this the “haka” position. If students are getting sore backs during this activity it means they are not bending their legs and are bending their back. Walk around the students during this activity to remind them to keep their backs straight. The students start moving towards “granny” but when the “granny” turns around everyone must freeze. If the “granny” sees anyone moving, then that person has to go back to the start. The game finishes when the first person tags the “granny”. To avoid players touching granny with their stick you can place 5 spots in a semi circlse shape around granny that players can touch if they are close enough. 

NO hockey balls will be used for this activity - the focus is on moving with correct technique whilst holding a hockey stick. 

Modifications

Students add in a ball and dribble it towards “granny”. When the “granny” turns around the student must trap the ball and remain still. This can be completed at the END of this lesson if time permits.

CORRECT GRIP AND BODY POSITION: Stick grip – students grab the top of the stick using their left hand, their right hand is placed near the bottom of the grip. There are no left handed hockey sticks, so all students use this grip no matter if they are left or right handed. Stance – It is important that students have their legs shoulder width apart and knees bent, maintaining a low centre of gravity. We call this the “haka” position. If students are getting sore backs during this activity it means they are not bending their legs and are bending their back. Walk around the students during this activity to remind them to keep their backs straight. Outline a playing area defined by cones; ensure the area is big enough for students to safely move around with hockey sticks. Start the students on ORANGE light, which means they are slowly pushing the ball around with the flat side of their stick. RED light means they trap the ball by rotating the stick in front of the ball to stop it. For younger students this will need to be demonstrated. Once the students are competent at moving around on ORANGE light, you can call out GREEN light, which means that the students can move as quickly as they can but must maintain control of the ball. This speed will vary depending on the ability of the student. Change between GREEN, ORANGE and RED light.

NOTE: if there is enough time coaches can add in a competition between boys vs girls. If boys stop quicker than the girls without using their feet and trapping the ball correctly then they will be awarded the point and vice versa.

Select an area of play and place a numnber of cones in this area that will act as the bombs. Each student will start the game with 10 points. Students will be instructed to dribble the ball around in this area while trying to avoid touching the bombs with their hockey ball, their hockey stick or their feet. If a student does touch a bomb they lose a point. 

If students are finding this activity too easy get them to dribble the ball faster and as close to a bomb as possible. If they are finding it too hard get them to slow down and not go as close to the bombs. 

Once the students have had a practice at this, add in two defenders. These defenders will use their hockey stick to try and hit another students ball away. If they do that then that student will lose one point. 

To make the game more competitive you could make it an elimination round. Where each student only has one point, meaning that they will be eliminated if their ball, stick or foot touches a bomb, or if the defender hits their ball. Continue until you have one remaining player and they will be the winner.