Floor Hockey

Floor Hockey Vocabulary History Gameplay Rules Strategy Techniques Hockey Positions and Ice Rink

Vocabulary blade: the lowest part of your stick shaped like an “L” bully: aka “face off” - two opposing players face each other with their sticks on the floor. The puck is dropped between them and each player tries to move the puck towards their opponents goal. puck: object moved throughout the playing area often a flat round object or a ball. intermission: resting time between periods. period: a span of time the game is played.

History Tom Harter, director of Civic Recreation in Battle Creek, Michigan, introduced the new game of floor hockey modified from the original game of ice hockey.

Gameplay The object of the game is to hit the puck into the opponents goal. Each goal is worth one point. A regulation NHL hockey game has 3 periods, each lasting 20 minutes, with 15 minute intermissions between each period. It is a fast paced game, and the only game allowing player substitutions during play. A typical team has six players: 1 goalie, 1 center, 2 forwards, and 2 defenders Games begin with a center “bully” or face off and each time a goal is scored. When a puck goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it loses possession. When play is restarted all players must be 3 yards away. Any player can stop the puck with their hand but cannot hold, pass, or throw it. The goalie is permitted to catch and drop the puck to the side but not toward the opponents goal. Do not kick the puck to gain advantage. You can not kick the puck into the goal.

Rules Do not throw your sticks Absolutely no checking or body contact The stick must always be carried below the waist (ESPECIALLY THE BLADES) No high sticking Play the puck or ball, not the opponent Play is continuous (Players should be constantly moving)

Strategy Never pass in front of your own goal on defense. Be responsible for covering your area or person. (Make sure everyone is being guarded.) Move the puck using stick handling to evade defenders rather that just clearing the puck away. If no one is defending you, stick handle and possess the puck or ball towards the opponent’s goal until you become guarded. Keep moving to create passing lanes and open shots. Always look to pass before shooting. Dribble to create space.

Techniques Dribbling: Dribbling can be done straight down the court or in a zig-zag motion from left to right. Dribbling straight down the field requires you to use short controlled taps on the front or flat side of the stick with your hockey stick staying directly in front of you at all times. The zig-zag type motion is more effective and requires you to alternate using both sides of your hockey stick blade.

Techniques Passing/Shooting: Push pass: this pass is used for shorter, more accurate passes. The pass is executed quickly off the dribble with no backswing and is pushed or swept along the ground. Scoop pass: is lofted into the air using a shoveling motion. The top of the stick must be tilted backward so the blade is behind and under the ball to give it loft as the force is applied. Slap shot: uses a short backswing to drive the ball at great force and speed for a longer distance shot/pass. Contact isn’t made with the ball until it is hit and deflected off the blade of the stick at the last moment.

Techniques ­Fielding: refers to stopping and controlling a moving puck/ball. Fielding requires the ability to absorb the momentum by “giving” with the stick, depending on the speed of the puck/ball.

Hockey Rink

Hockey Positions