Blog, General News

The Advantages of Incorporating Hockey into School Physical Education Programmes

There are many good reasons why Hockey is the second most-played sport in the world – and why it might be time to add it to your school sports agenda, or develop it further! 

hockey…

  • improves quick reactions
  • increases hand-eye coordination
  • increases speed and stamina
  • improves breathing and cellular activity
  • encourages teamwork, verbal and non-verbal communication, and leadership skills
  • improves mood from endorphin release 
  • demands good decision-making and strategy processing

Whether played on a grass field, hard court surface, astroturf or ice, hockey is a demanding sport that requires explosive bursts of energy. Playing the sport regularly enhances overall cardiovascular fitness, develops lower body strength and improves reaction times and hand-eye co-ordination. It’s also really good for developing team work.

There is little doubt about the benefits of Hockey for the physical, social and mental wellbeing of your pupils and students – but not every school has the room or budget for huge, expensively-surfaced Hockey pitches and state-of-the-art goals, sticks and safety equipment.

Never fear! Quicksticks and Hockey Heroes are here!  These..

  • can be played on a variety of surfaces – playgrounds, netball courts, astroturf, grass and in sports halls
  • a special ball which is lighter and larger than a normal hockey ball
  • the ball has been specifically designed for use on various surfaces including tarmac

Or, you can stay with the traditional game but bring it indoors for year-round play, quick access and inclusivity.

Indoor hockey is a fast, skilful and action-packed version of the outdoor game. Played on a hard, smooth, and flat surface, the aim is still to score more than your opponents. However, a few changes make the sport more suitable for playing indoors.

  • the playing pitch is smaller than the outdoor pitch
  • side-boards mark the sidelines helping to keep the ball in play
  • the goals are smaller than in outdoor field hockey.
  • a team consists of five field players and one goalkeeper on the pitch, with a maximum of 10-12 players on a team
  • the players may not hit the ball, but only push it or deflect it, and may not raise the ball except in the shooting circle, with the purpose of scoring a goal
  • players typically play with a lighter, quicker stick specially made for indoor use

Furthermore, as Hockey is so omnipresent, there is a wealth of advisors, clubs and information available to support teachers at both primary and secondary level for curriculum Hockey and for clubs and competitions.

For example, England Hockey has produced support materials and guidance to support and encourage the delivery of hockey in schools at all levels and, to make it easier for schools to access support to deliver more fun, safe, and enjoyable hockey opportunities, the organisation has developed a schools membership offer which aims to bring together and enhance the range of support available for schools and teachers. 

Equally, it is vital that, although Hockey can be a fast-paced sport demanding intense physical agility, it should be recognised that it can quite simply be adapted to ensure inclusivity for all.  It is an adaptable sport, again making it highly suitable for the school curriculum.  When it comes to equality, diversity and inclusion, multiple agencies are available to offer advice and practical experience and, in the lead, is England Hockey which ‘strives to ensure that our game is played, watched, delivered, governed and enjoyed by all.’ 

Another very useful resource for schools are professional equipment suppliers such as www.Sportsafeuk.com which are used to working in education environments and know exactly which outdoor and indoor installations suit your specific requirements best, assist you with maintenance, provide certification for safety and can advise and supply the full range of equipment.  Well worth making the most of expertise on the end of a phone or when qualified engineers visit!

‘You can’t buy happiness but you can buy a Hockey stick – and that’s pretty close’

HC Schiedam   @hcschiedam

Hockey History and Handy Hints

  • the first hockey sticks were made of wood from mulberry, timber, ash and hickory and required expert craftsmanship to carve the head. Metal was also used for a brief period but is now banned due to safety reasons
  • the modern-day hockey sticks are composed of newer, more sturdy materials such as carbon, fibreglass and aramid, a type of fibre, and are mostly machine-made
  • the strands of all these materials are woven together and placed in a mould, which is then heated to give rise to the widely used composite hockey stick. This stick is stronger, a lot stiffer, more durable and the use of these modern substances makes it lighter as well