Field Hockey
Field Hockey is always an interesting unit because there is always one boy in the crowed that says, "Field Hockey is for girls!" -- Alas, I find that teaching field hockey at the middle school level is a fantastic opportunity to teach students a little bit about the history of women's sports and Title XI.
Did you know that Field Hockey was one of the first socially acceptable team sports for women to play? Most students are fascinated to discover that Field Hockey in most of the world is played equally by men as it is women. I have students begin with a brainstorming session, they work in small groups and create a venn diagram. Sections on the left and right are labeled "men" and "women", and the middle "both". Students discuss and fill in under the categories sports that they would consider only appropriate for one gender or another, or appropriate for both. Using information from the classes venn diagrams we create a master list on the board and ask follow up questions: What seems to be the deciding factor in making any sport exclusively “male” or “female” or “both”? Of those sports listed for both genders, which would not have been listed when your grandparents were your age? Do you think it would be fair for a boy to play a “girls’ sport” on a girls team? Which sport(s)? What about a girl playing on a boys team in a traditionally “boy’s sport”? Which sport(s)? How does the amount of physical contact, the skills required and the popularity of a sport make an athletic activity either a “male” or a “female” sport? I love explaining the power of passion and determination that these women possessed, and that without generations of women pushing the boundaries we would be in a very different world. I ask students to write about something that they are passionate about and explain the feeling they get from participating in that activity (similar to perhaps how these women felt)- then imagine how it would feel to not be able to participate in that activity anymore. I certainly get some passionate responses. Teaching Tactical AwarenessThe game doesn't just happen when the ball is at your stick- the game is all around you... it's about teaching students how to look at the big picture and see that there is always something they can be doing. In order for a team to be successful, they will need to develop their tactical awareness.
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Field Hockey is a game that's focus is on stick skills - in physical education where are stick skills are still developing, another important focus of the game is off ball skills that can help make a team successful.
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Once students feel comfortable using a variety of skills without pressure (dribbling, passing, trapping), you can begin to incorporate small sided games and activities. On this day I always demonstrate and explain what good man-to-man defense looks like and use defensive mirroring drills.
-Athletic Stance
-Stick Out
-Play the ball
-Deny and Delay
-Footwork
Small Sided Games:
Tactical Awareness Discussion Teacher uses questioning so that students identify the needs of the team.
Types of questions:
1.Tactical awareness – what do you…
2.Skill and movement – how do you…
3.Time – when is the best time to…
4.Space – where is/can…
5.Decide – which choice...
I used the FH Tactical Awareness Chart to help construct group discussions to promote critical thinking.
Off Ball Skills - Team Assessment was used during modified game play. One teammate from each team sat out as an observer and there job was to focus on one section of the assessment ex: Passing. The Observer recorded the names/initials of his/her teammates and followed the guidelines on the assessment. After 3-4 minutes of observation, the observer and a different player swaped places.
Assessment Goal: For students to have a heighten awareness of there space and teammates and to play with mindfulness
After the first two observers have done their job, I called the whole class in for an opportunity to share and discuss the observations made. Having their teammates share is more powerful then listening to the teacher. The wrap up of class has a similar discussion, focusing also what the teams or individuals improved on.
"We can't pass through people! We need to move around people." - 6th Grader
"No one is communicating out there, we need to talk more and find the open player." - 8th Grader
"We need to do a better job of playing defense, don't just hit the sticks, get back and get into position." - 8th Grader
Tactical Transfer – applying similar tactical problems across several games/units