Requirements
- Open space (indoor or outdoor) with hard floor surface at least 3m by 5m
- Building wall without windows or tall fence to shoot against
- Street hockey ball or lightweight plastic ball with holes
- Plastic or wooden hockey sticks (child-size)
- 2 empty milk cartons, large yoghurt containers or other objects for goal posts
Instructions
- Place your 2 goal posts 2 metres apart beside the fence or wall
- Show your child how to hit a hockey slap shot
- Stand to one side of the ball with feet shoulder width apart
- Hold your hockey stick with hands apart 20-30 cm
- Imagine a straight line drawn between the toes of your two feet. This line should point at the goal
- Reach for the ball with your hockey stick. Your arms should be comfortably extended
- Lift the blade of your stick straight back until it reaches your shoulder height, then swing to hit the ball
- Practice shooting without a goalie
- Celebrate goals!
Variations
- Practice some wrist shots – simply hold the blade against the ball, then quickly twist or “snap” your wrists to propel the ball at goal
Benefits
This activity develops hand-eye coordination and timing while using a hockey stick (i.e., striking tool). These skills also transfer to striking with a bat or racquet
