Hockey is played on a flat surface, such as a frozen lake or the sandboxes of suburban backyards. Although there is some strategizing involved, the basic idea is to use your stick to move a ball (usually made of rubber) around a field (usually made of grass or synthetic turf) in an attempt to score goals. The objective is to keep the ball in or on the ground. Floor hockey is played on a court with a floor and goals at either end. The floor is used to keep the ball on the ground and is also to provide a contact surface for rolling around or taking a tumble.
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Teach The Rules First
Hockey is a game that can be both physically and mentally challenging. For this reason, teaching the rules first and demonstrating how to properly play the game are important. It is also essential to establish a good rapport with your players, especially young children. It is essential that you address any questions they may have and establish a trust while playing on a courts together.
Make Sure The Surface Is Level
Leveling the surface is critical to ensuring good hockey gameplay. Even small variations in the height of the playing field can make a huge difference in the smoothness of your game. To level the playing field, you will need to rent – or purchase if you are lucky enough to have access to one – a turf roller. A turf roller is a piece of equipment used to level sports surfaces like golf greens or football fields. Leveling the court will help ensure that your players are able to perform at their optimum level and allow for more consistent gameplay.
Establish Good Timing
Timing is essential in hockey. There are several reasons why good timing is important. First, good timing allows you to correctly gauge how much force you need to apply with your stick to successfully send the ball in the air. Second, good timing helps ensure that you have not committed a foul by anticipating an action by your opponent. Third, good timing allows for the proper execution of strategies like deking (faking an attack to draw the opponent off balance) or neutralizing (using your body to block or tackle the opponent). Finally, good timing allows you to accurately shoot the puck (or throw it) into the net.
Use Puck Skills
Hockey is a game that relies heavily on sticks and pucks. Pucks are small missiles designed to be moved around by using stick skills. Pucks can either be propelled by a hit from a stick or by a powerful throw. When a player scores, he is credited with either a goal or an assist based on how the goal was assisted. Like all sports, hockey is based on scoring more goals than the opposition.
Vary Your Sticks And Pucks
The rules state that your stick must be of a certain design and must have a specific length. In addition, the diameter of your stick must be such that it does not spin too fast or too slow. If you do not stick to these rules, you will find yourself in violation of the rules and possibly subject to penalties like technical fouls or games forfeited. These rules are there to ensure that the game remains consistent and that all players are on an even playing field. Varying your sticks and pucks to suit your needs is a great way to help your gameplay improve significantly. For instance, if you are shooting a great deal of the time, you may want to consider using a longer or thicker stick.
Make Sure The Net Is In Proper Position
Properly positioning the goal nets is critical for good floor hockey. The goal nets should be placed so that they are either a couple of feet above the playing surface or as close to it as possible without being lower than the crossbar of the opposing goal posts. This ensures that the puck cannot be trapped between the goal and the playing surface and that the play cannot be stopped by a goalkeeper hiding behind the goal post.
Set Up Good Scoring Opportunities
Even with all the strategizing that takes place on the ice, the most important thing for a floor hockey coach is to create scoring opportunities for his players. This can be done in several ways. First, by putting the puck in the corners or on the far sides of the court where your players are more likely to be able to get to it quickly. Second, by setting up screen shots or rebounds in the center of the court where players can easily reach them. Third, by getting the ball deep into the opposing territory where your fastest players can take it to the net and get a shot on goal.
Lessons Learned
Over the years, several lessons have been learned by coaches who have taught and/or played floor hockey. Among them: