A classic that lives on and on! Like Jason at Halloween, this game continues to live on in youth ministry.

If you have never played, here you go! A classic that I just brought back to life with my new group that my students continue to love.

Supplies

• A small ball (tennis ball or tennis ball size work great)
• 2 goals (small goals/hockey goals or 4 cones)
• An indoor playing area, preferably with no windows.

Object if the Game

Everyone takes off one shoe, the shoe then becomes the hockey stick for a game of “one legged shoe hockey”.  Usually rules and safety applies for old school “gym class floor hockey”.

Set Up

• Create or place a goal on either end of the playing area. For larger groups, consider creating 4 goals in the corners or on the sides.
• You can also play this game outside on a parking lot or a field if you would like.
• Divide the groups into equal teams and assign a goal to each team.

Basic Rules

• For the most part, the usual rules for floor hockey apply.
• Keep pushing and body checking to a minimum, based on your group.
• With people bent over trying to hit the ball with their shoe, there is no such thing as “high sticking” or “slashing.”
• The ball can not be kicked, grabbed or thrown.  All contact with the ball must be with the shoe.

Hints and Tips

• A regular shoe works best, flip flops are useable but not as great.
• The best way to use the shoe as a hockey stick is to grip it by the toe and hit with the heal.
• Students will try to swing their shoe by it laces or put their hand inside, but it will not work as well.
  

ENJOY, HAVE FUN AND ALWAYS STAY SAFE! 

DAN ISTVANIK is the 5th to 8th-grade pastor at Victory Church in Lancaster, PA. He has been working in youth ministry for over 20 years serving churches in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Virginia. Besides serving in the local church setting he is also the youth ministry content writer for Parent Ministry.Net, along with being a contributor to a variety of other great youth ministry resources like Youthworker Journal, Group Magazine, Download Youth Ministry, and more. Additional he shares daily Jr. high/middle school ministry specific resources, and hints on his own blog “The Middle Years” at: www.middleyearsministry.com