Stick, Push, Move! — Hockey Skills

Imagine you are holding a long stick and a small, hard ball is rolling towards you on a flat surface. How would you stop it? How would you send it to a teammate? Hockey players face this challenge every single game! Think about any sport you know that uses a stick or bat. What skills do those players need?

Hockey is a team sport played on grass or a hard surface called an Astroturf pitch. Players use a curved stick to move a small, hard ball and score goals. There are four core skills every hockey player practises. **1. The Grip** How you hold the stick is called your grip. Place your left hand at the top of the stick and your right hand a little lower down. Both hands should face the same direction — the flat face of the stick should point forward. A good grip gives you control and power. **2. Dribbling** Dribbling means moving the ball along the ground while you run. Push the ball gently forward with the flat face of the stick. Keep the ball close — no more than one stick-length away from you. Dribble in a zigzag pattern to practise control. **3. The Push Pass** A push pass sends the ball to a teammate. Start with the ball beside your front foot. Push the stick forward smoothly — like sweeping the floor — and follow through in the direction you want the ball to go. Do not lift the stick above your waist. A push pass stays on the ground and is accurate and fast. **4. Stopping the Ball** To stop the ball, angle the flat face of your stick towards the ground. Let the ball roll gently into the stick — do not stab at it. Bending your knees slightly helps you react faster and keep balance. Remember: in hockey you may only use the flat face of the stick to play the ball. Using the rounded back is against the rules.