Indoor Field Hockey

Indoor field hockey, a modified version of the “traditional” outdoor field hockey game, is a fast paced game that is exciting to play and watch! Indoor field hockey differs from outdoor field hockey in several ways:

• The playing court is much smaller than the outdoor field.
• 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 5 field players and 1 goal keeper on the court, but teams are allowed to play with a sixth player in place of a goalie. (We will play without a goalie)
• The players may not “hit” the ball, but only push it or deflect it, and may not raise the ball off of the ground unless they are inside the shooting circle and taking a direct shot on goal.
• Players typically play with a lighter, quicker stick specifically made for indoor use. (Not required for this program – regular stick is fine.)

Benefits of Indoor Field Hockey:

The quick indoor surface really allows players to focus on perfecting their ball-handling skills, and the small playing area helps players to become more proficient in their short passing skills. But not only is indoor a great time to improve your stick skills, but indoor is a lot of fun and is a great way to introduce the sport of field hockey to youth players! Team sizes are smaller which allows coaches to better know their players, provides more direct instruction to each player, and allows each player to have more touches during games and practice. Playing indoor hockey enhances overall skills which directly correlates to the outdoor game.

The Program:

This introductory program will expose players in grades 3 – 6 to the basics of field hockey, emphasizing important skills while teaching basic rules and team strategies in drills and games. Practices will begin as individual skill clinics in September and October. By the later part of October, participants will be grouped into teams and practice as teams in preparation for the beginning of game play. Game play will begin mid-October through the end of the season. Teams will have 8 to 10 players each. Exact structure of Divisions and Teams will be determined by the number of participants we have at each level.