Zone Hockey case study
Nottinghamshire County Council Special Needs Games June 2005, Nottingham Trent University
The games were organised by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Leisure Services department for young people with special needs and hosted at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton campus.
Already boasting a range of young talent, it proved to be an extra special event with the launch of Zone Hockey.
Played as a five-a-side game, this high scoring, fast moving version of hockey is played in three longitudinal zones with special adapted Zone Hockey sticks. The game has been specifically designed to allow young people with disabilities or impairments to play and interact together with other children.
The event proved to be a great success.
- Many teachers were surprised at the way the youngsters can now be involved in a very dynamic invasion game.
- The zone structure gives the participants a framework to identify with on the ground, and also aids the teachers in their coaching and in the support they deliver from the sidelines.
- The zone element also ensures that each team member is actively involved and also stops participants all chasing the ball at once.
The English Hockey Association is now considering using the game for early development within mainstream primary schools. Hopefully it could then become the equivalent of what Kwik Cricket is for cricket development.
