Hockey Skills & Game

Overview

A highly engaging, 60-minute hockey session for year 8 students (12-year-olds) designed according to the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Health and Physical Education (HPE). The lesson balances skills practice with game-play to develop competence, confidence, and enjoyment in hockey while fostering key competencies such as managing self and relating to others.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate fundamental hockey skills including stick handling, passing, receiving, and shooting.
• Apply basic hockey rules and strategies in small-sided game play.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with teammates.
• Reflect on their performance and make choices to improve skills and game tactics in a supportive environment.

Curriculum Links

Health and Physical Education – Movement Concepts and Motor Skills

• Level 4 achievement objectives (Year 7-8):
  • Movement competence - Select and demonstrate specialised skills and movement sequences in a variety of physical activities.
  • Movement strategies - Demonstrate strategies to effectively work with others to successfully achieve common goals.
  • Health-related fitness - Participate regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activities to enhance fitness and health.

Key Competencies

• Managing self: Students take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour.
• Relating to others: Students work collaboratively with peers during skills and games.
• Thinking: Planning, monitoring, and evaluating tactics and strategies during hockey play.

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Equipment Needed

• Hockey sticks (one per student)
• Balls (one per pair)
• Cones for drills and boundaries
• Goals/nets or markers for scoring zones
• Whistle
• Bibs/vests for team differentiation

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Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Jogging laps around the field combined with dynamic stretches (leg swings, arm circles).
• Followed by "stick and ball" dribbling where students move around within a designated area controlling the ball with their stick.

2. Skills Practice (30 minutes)

Focus Areas:

• Stick Handling (10 minutes)
• Passing and Receiving (10 minutes)
• Shooting (10 minutes)

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a. Stick Handling (10 mins)

Purpose: Develop control and confidence with the hockey stick and ball.

Activity Steps:

• Students spread out inside a marked area with a ball each.
• Practice dribbling around cones using both left and right sides of the stick.
• Incorporate changes of direction, speed variation, and basic feints.
• Partner challenge: Dribble past a stationary partner without losing control.

Coaching Points:

• Keep the stick low and close to the ball.
• Eyes up to increase spatial awareness.
• Use gentle taps to control the ball.

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b. Passing and Receiving (10 mins)

Purpose: Build accurate passing skills and effective ball control when receiving.

Activity Steps:

• Pair students up about 3-4 meters apart.
• Practice push passing the ball back and forth using correct grip and technique.
• Introduce moving passes on the move, encouraging students to take a step forward before receiving.
• Add a receiving drill where the receiver controls the ball and dribbles away after the pass.

Coaching Points:

• Use the flat face of the stick for pushing passes.
• Follow through towards the target.
• Receive with the stick ahead of the body to control the ball smoothly.

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c. Shooting (10 mins)

Purpose: Teach safe and effective techniques to shoot towards the goal.

Activity Steps:

• Set up shooting zones in front of the goal.
• Students take turns shooting at the goal after receiving a pass.
• Use push shots with controlled power.
• Encourage aiming for corners to practice accuracy.

Coaching Points:

• Position feet shoulder-width apart.
• Eyes on the ball.
• Swing the stick with controlled power, following through to the target.

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3. Game Time (25 minutes)

Structure: 5-a-side or 6-a-side small games with rotating teams to ensure everyone plays.

Rules and Guidelines:

• No high sticks: The stick must stay below waist height.
• No body contact with other players or sticks.
• Basic fouls lead to free hits (coach explains free hit rules simply).
• Encourage fair play, communication, and teamwork.
• Rotate teams every 5-7 minutes to keep students engaged.

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4. Cool-Down and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Light jogging fading into walking.
• Group stretches focusing on legs, arms, and shoulders.
• Brief group discussion encouraging students to reflect on:
  • What hockey skill they improved today.
  • How working as a team helped during the games.
  • One thing they would like to practise more.

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Safety Considerations

• Emphasise correct stick handling to avoid injury.
• Ensure all students wear appropriate footwear and shin guards if available.
• Monitor playing area for hazards.
• Encourage hydration breaks and remind students to communicate if they feel unwell.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Use observation during skills practice to provide individual feedback on technique.
• During game play, assess students on their ability to apply skills and work collaboratively.
• Note students’ willingness to participate and self-manage behaviour.
• Offer positive feedback highlighting effort and improvement.

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Teacher Tips

• Differentiate instruction by providing simplified instructions or modified equipment for students needing extra support.
• Use peer coaching: pair more skilled students with others to encourage leadership.
• Use questioning during reflection to develop students’ thinking about their learning and game strategies.

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This lesson supports students to develop the “do” aspect of HPE where they acquire and apply movement skills, alongside the “understand” and “know” elements vital for safe and socially responsible participation – reflecting the ethos of the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Physical Education .

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If you want, I can also provide you with a detailed step-by-step hockey skills progression for the year or additional game variations!