Hockey Session (Under 8s): u8s Small Games
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
Making Connecions (15 mins)
- Mark out a square area (use strips not cones if possible)
- 4 players on the outside of the square (one each side) with a ball
- 4 players on the inside of the square
- Players on the inside receive the ball and must pass to a different player on the outside of the box.
- Play for 3 mins, then swap the players on the outside and inside.
- Count connected passes completed (total per team) to see which team makes the most successful passes.
- Rollout on receiving the ball
- V drag on receiving the ball
- Expand the area to make them pass over greater distance
- Only allowed 3 steps on receive before making the pass.
- Flat passes
- Weight through the ball - don't lean back (it lifts the ball)
- Scanning
- Give a crisp but kind pass
- Pass to open stick
- Use first touch to position the ball for the pass
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
4 v 4 Box game (15 mins)
Game outline
- Two teams of 2 (adjust for numbers) and 3 magic players to give the possession team a big advantage (adjust for ability)
- One floating (magic) player who always plays for the possession side.
- Objectives are to make 3 consecutive passes without interception or make a successful pass into the player in the box and out again.
- The defending team is not allowed in the box.
- The player in the box does not have to stay in the box and any of the players in the possession team can enter the box.
- Play in 3 or 4 minute sets
Scoring
1pt for 3 consecutive passes
1pt for a successful pass into and out of the box.
Adaptions
Allow more/less than one magic player to increase over load
Change the size of the box
Increase/decrease number of required passes.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
The numbers game (15 mins)
- 2 teams A and B
- Spare players on the side
- Coach calls out two number, 4 and 2 for example
- 4 players from team A and 2 from team B must run around the back of the goal and enter the playing area (teams to self organise)
- Coach feeds the ball
- Teams must score by completing a pass through the cones at either end
- Players play trying to score until coach stops the game with whistle
- When the whistle blows players reset to the side of the pitch and await the next two numbers (3 and 1 for example)
- Play 3 minute sets, stop and chat, review the score
Keep the score
Scoring
1 pt for a pass through the cone goals
1 pt for 3 (or 5) successives passes
Use cones on the side to keep the score
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
End zone (15 mins)
3 v 3 End Zone
Focus on basics along with attacking principles: Scan, play foward fast, play into space
3v3 with goal scorers for each team in the End Zone
Teams score by passing the ball to either Goal scorer in the End Zone
When a team scores, the End Zone player who receives the pass is released and another must take their place.
Teams must complete 3 successive passes before they can score each goal
Change It: Each player must get a touch on the ball before they can score in the End Zone
Scoring
Play in sets of 2 mins
2 pts for pass into end zone
1 pt for 3 successive passes
Coaching points
Scanning
Apply pressure quickly to get the head down
Footwork
If in doubt play the way you are facing
First touch
Quick reaction to turnover
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
Interception Rondo (10 mins)
Set up one, two or three areas (based on numbers)
Group players into 4s or 5s (not more preferably)
Players outside the area pass the ball to each other
Passes must travel through the area
Player in the area tries to intercept
Coaching points
Weight through the ball (step)
Make eye contact
Receiver use stick to indicate where they want the pass
Receiver to use first touch round the cone
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
Piggy in the middle (15 mins)
5 v 2 in a small(ish) area, play sets of 2 or 3 minutes then change the defenders.
5 players trying to regain possession of the ball
The team of two try to win possession.
Scoring
1pt for 3,4 or 5 completed passes (adjust for ability)
1pt to the defenders for each ball win
Change it
Once a pass is made a player must move 5 steps
10 passes wins a possession life
3 seconds on the ball
Coaching points
Scanning
Footwork
Leading runs (support the player on the ball)
If in doubt play the way you are facing
First touch
Pressure the recieve
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Hockey images.
4 boxes
Set up an area with 4 boxes (use strips not cones)
Set up two teams of 3 and 2 magic players (play for whoever has possession) - adjust numbers for ability
Teams must pass the ball to one of their players in a box
Player can only stay in the box for 5 seconds (or 3 if ability is higher)
Teams must try and complete a pass into each of the boxes
Out of possession team try and win the ball, if they succeed they are joined by the magic players and they try and complete passess into the various boxes
Play 3 or 4 minute sets and stop and discuss
Scoring
1 pt for 3 passes in a row
1 pt for a pass into one of the boxes
5 pts for completing a pass into all 4 boxes in the 3min set
Change it
Teams must complete 3 passes before they can pass into a box
Adjust the numbers based on ability
Adjust the pitch size to create longer passes
Adjust the size of the boxes to simplify / make harder
Coaching points
Head up and scan
Make eye contact with the person you are passing to
Use your stick to show where you want the ball
Play the way you are facing
Move the ball into space - players must move into space to recieve
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
Raid the nest (15 mins)
Raid the Nest
4 teams of 4-5 players
Players must run to the Nest, grab a ball and dribble it back to their box.
They may only take one ball at a time and may not steal from anyone else.
They may not pass to their team mates.
Once all the balls are gone from the Nest, teams must count the number of balls in their box. Highest score wins.
Change it up: a certain colour ball is worth 5 points
Change it up: ONE player from each team can be the Chief Thief and steal balls from other teams' box
Change it up: TWO players from each team can be Chief Thieves but players can tackle them if they catch them between boxes
FOCUS: After each round, allow the teams to form a a strategy and play the game again. Get some feedback from them after the strategy round about HOW / IF they were better etc.