¶ Block 4 – Game Flow, Strikes and Simple Strategy
This block prepares players for participation in a real game environment by introducing basic game flow, strikes, and simple structure of play.
Linked Individual Fundamental:
Moving in the Water
– Effective movement supports strikes, game flow, and participation in structured play.
- Understand how the game starts, stops, and restarts
- Execute a safe and legal strike
- Participate in structured mini games
- Apply passing, support, and positioning in live play
Coach Reminder: This is not about teaching new skills. It is about applying what players already know in a game setting.
Game Flow & Rules
- Explain how play starts (strike)
- Explain stoppages (whistle, fouls, goals)
- Explain restart after a goal
- Reinforce core rules:
- Stick only contact on puck
- No pushing or grabbing
Linked Drill:
Restart Practice
Coaching Focus:
- Clarity over detail
- Keep explanations short
- Demonstrate visually where possible
Strike Practice
- Players line up on both walls
- On signal, swim toward the puck
- Make first contact with the stick
- Attempt to gain control and move forward
Linked Drill:
Wall Strike
Coaching Focus:
- Correct positioning on the wall
- No early movement
- Controlled first contact
Structured Mini Game
- Divide into two equal teams
- Use clear team identifiers (e.g. black and white)
- Run mini game with strikes and stoppages
- Reset after goals
Linked Drill:
Full Mini Game
Coaching Focus:
- Reinforce game flow
- Encourage support and spacing
- Keep play calm and controlled
- Stop and reset when needed
Full drill descriptions available in the
Game Flow and Strikes Drill Library
.
¶ Exit Standard
By the end of this block players should demonstrate the following during structured mini game play:
-
Executes a legal strike from the wall
Linked Drill:
Wall Strike
-
Understands basic game flow (start, stop, restart)
Linked Drill:
Restart Practice
-
Participates in a full mini game
Linked Drill:
Full Mini Game
-
Passes and supports teammates during live play
Linked Drill:
Full Mini Game
-
Maintains involvement without excessive fatigue
Coach Note: Monitor rotations and encourage early surfacing
Players learn how the game starts, stops, and restarts, creating structure and predictability.
- Understand start signals
- Reset correctly after goals
- Follow direction of play
Rule: Start correctly, reset calmly, play in the right direction.
The strike is the controlled start of play and should be executed safely and correctly.
- Start from correct wall position
- React to the signal, not before
- Make clean first contact
Players apply all previous skills in a structured game environment.
- Support teammates
- Maintain spacing
- Stay involved in play
- Surface early and reset
- Wait for the signal
- Stick to puck only
- Reset quickly
- Support your team
- Stay calm
- Surface early
- Players execute clean, legal strikes
- Play starts and restarts smoothly
- Players understand direction of play
- Teams stay organised during mini games
- Players support each other and remain involved
- Play remains safe and controlled
- False starts on strike
Cue: Wait for the signal.
- Players unsure where to go after restart
Cue: Reset and face the correct direction.
- Chaotic play during mini games
Cue: Slow down, spread out.
- Over-aggressive contact
Cue: Stick to puck only.
- Players staying down too long
Cue: Surface early.
- Keep games small, structured, and controlled
- Stop play frequently to reinforce understanding
- Prioritise safety over flow
- Reinforce calm, repeatable play