Hockey Shooting

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

1. Place your 2 goal posts 2 metres apart beside the fence or wall.
2. Show your child how to hit a hockey slap shot.
3. Stand to one side of the ball with feet shoulder width apart.
4. Hold your hockey stick with hands apart 20-30 cm.
5. Imagine a straight line drawn between the toes of your two feet. This line should point at the goal.
6. Reach for the ball with your hockey stick. Your arms should be comfortably extended.
7. Lift the blade of your stick straight back until it reaches your shoulder height, then swing to hit the ball.
8. Practice shooting without a goalie.
9. 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.