Quicksticks

Quicksticks is England Hockey's brand new game designed specifically for Primary Schools and is aimed at 7-11 year olds.  It is fast, safe and exciting and has been designed so that teachers with little or no hockey knowledge or background can deliver the game.

What is Quicksticks?

Quicksticks is a brand new game for 7-11 year-olds which has been specifically designed to introduce the sport to teachers and students who have little or no prior knowledge of hockey. 

The field of play is the size of a standard netball court and a team consists of six players; four outfield pitch players and two ‘officials’ (one manager/coach and one umpire).  All players must rotate with the two official’s roles within the game...there are NO GOALKEEPERS in the game of Quicksticks!  Played in three periods (so that all players have a go at playing, managing and umpiring), one game can last up to 30 minutes for 11 year-olds.  At the lower end of the scale, games can last just over 20 minutes for 7-8 year-olds.

Supported by 49 illustrated Challenge Cards which introduce the game gradually and a full Curriculum Resource which includes six-weeks  worth of lesson plans for the whole Key Stage 2 curriculum, Quicksticks can be played or taught by anyone!  The general philosophy is to have fun whilst learning and developing core skills.

Please note: Quicksticks will not be adopting the new self pass rule. Simplicity is the ideal of Quicksticks and therefore we will keep the free hit rule detailed within the original rules.

We don’t have an astroturf pitch so we won’t be able to play!

WRONG!  Quicksticks can be played on a variety of surfaces...playgrounds, netball courts, astroturf, grass and in sports halls.  It is totally accessible...in fact, the ball which has been developed for the game has been specifically designed for use on various surfaces including tarmac!

I’ve always thought of hockey as a dangerous game...

Played correctly, the game of Quicksticks is as safe as any other sport played at primary school.  Although the game can be played with existing hockey equipment (sticks and balls), England Hockey, in conjunction with Davies Sports, has developed a range of gear specifically for Quicksticks including a safer ball. 

I don’t know anything about hockey!  Are you sure I could deliver the game?

Absolutely!   There are 49 illustrated Challenge Cards which introduce the game of Quicksticks in gradual stages starting with core skills as simple as dribbling the ball.  The front of the card gives a written explanation and illustration of the challenge to be carried out and the back of the card gives more information for teachers.  The supporting Curriculum Resource includes 24 weeks worth (six weeks’ each for years 3, 4, 5 and 6) of lesson plans and the waterproof Challenge Cards have been written for use with primary age children throughout Key Stage 2.  The programme uses these Challenge Cards to bring a variety of linked activities to children and follows the Key Stage 2 curriculum content and strands.

Tell me more about the supporting resources

The resources have been specifically designed so that they:

• Provide clear, concise information on organising and managing teaching activities which can be used with and by a variety of children, keeping all children involved
• Offer a variety of linked and progressive activities for developing and applying the basic skills of Hockey within Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum
• Include challenges and small sided games  which can be set up quickly and easily and which are designed to help children understand tactical aspects of playing Invasion Games
• Aid progression of children from Key Stage 1 multi skills to sport specific stages
• Give useful advice to teachers on: safety, adapting games and differentiation, equipment, core teaching points

As you will know, PE lessons include children with a wide range of abilities! Some children will need to be faced with harder challenges and some will need simpler challenges. The STEP framework helps modify the challenges accordingly and gives the teacher/organiser four methods of differentiation.

>> Order your resources now!

Do we need to buy special equipment?

No, you don’t.  Existing hockey sticks and balls can be used, but a special range of equipment has been developed specifically for the game and will aid the delivery of Quicksticks.  A Quicksticks kit bag includes: 30 Hockey sticks (size range 30”, 32” & 34”), 30 Quicksticks balls, and 12 Quicksticks Bibs.  The Quicksticks ball has been specifically designed for use on various surfaces traditionally found in Primary School playgrounds.

Quicksticks Kit Bags are now available to be purchased from Davies Sports. Please call Davies Sales team on 0845 120 4515. Fax 0800 138 3788. Enquiries@daviessports.co.uk or via the web site www.daviessports.co.uk/quicksticks

The products will appear on the web site and in the new catalogue in January.

The resources available from Davies Sports and their costs are:

Delivery charges may also apply.

The Quicksticks goals have been purposely designed at 8ft wide x 2ft high, so that schools can use their existing Samba Football goals which were provided by the Football Foundation and Youth Sports Trust to 18,000 primary schools. Two Samba target goals can be made into one Quicksticks Goal.  Quicksticks nets and goals can be purchased from Samba Sports at www.sambasports.co.uk at a cost of £81 including VAT and delivery.

Class Delivery

The Units of Work have been designed to teach up to 30 children and the Quicksticks equipment bags have enough equipment for 30 children to have their own stick and ball.  Depending on class sizes you may not have the appropriate number of children to divide the groups into recommended numbers for the challenges and it will be necessary to modify the challenges accordingly. One of the fundamental objectives of the challenges is for children to be active and so it is important that the group sizes are not too large as this may encourage inactivity and boredom.

Sounds like an expensive game!

We don’t think so!  The great thing about Quicksticks is that it can be played with existing hockey equipment within the school.   Schools will have the chance to get funding for the resources and the Quicksticks Kit Bag.  The resources to deliver the game will include 49 illustrated waterproof Challenge Cards, the rules of Quicksticks and a Curriculum resource which gives 24-weeks worth of lesson plans for years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (six weeks per year) to save you time and energy in writing out your own! 

If you want to buy a Quicksticks Kit Bag, you will be able to get hold of them from Davies Sports by visiting www.daviessports.co.uk/quicksticks from the end of October 2008.  Remember, a kit bag will include: 30 Hockey sticks (size range 30”, 32” & 34”), 30 Quicksticks balls and 12 Quicksticks bibs.

Schools may be able access funding, if they are linked to a School Sport Partnership, to support the purchase costs of the kit and resources.  For more information on how to access this funding, please contact your regional office:

What is Quicksticks based on?

Quicksticks hockey is based on the belief that small team games:

• Are enjoyable to play for players of both genders and of all ages and hockey abilities
• Require fewer players and offer players full involvement and increased ball contact
• Do not need sophisticated facilities and can be played on pitches of various sizes and surfaces
• Have common skills and techniques, which make the transition to mini-hockey and 11-a -side hockey measurably easier
• Offer excellent development and opportunities for playing, umpiring and coaching/managing roles within hockey

What are the other benefits of the game?

Quicksticks is focused on providing new and fun opportunities and focuses on non-hockey players.   Quicksticks is inclusive for young people of all ability levels and is:

• A safe and exciting programme designed to take young people through from ‘FUNdamentals’ related activities to lifelong involvement in hockey as players or officials.
• A game which does not include Goalkeepers making it safe, accessible, cost and time effective
• Based on small sided game principles the game is simpler to play and teach, minimises danger, makes the game more exciting, minimises stoppages and maximises playing time
• A developmental, process based programme using various challenges where the pace of learning can be modified according to the individual needs of the child.
• An opportunity for Young Leaders and local clubs to help deliver the lessons and festivals. 
• Aligned to the England Hockey Single System, Competition Framework and Club–School Links policies – Exit routes should be identified and promoted through the school, clubs and Local Authorities.

What are the benefits of the framework?

The key outcomes of the framework are to:

• Assist the delivery of 4-5 hrs quality PE in the curriculum and ‘out of school hours’ activity and so increase the number of primary schools delivering hockey
• Have a cost effective mini game
• Make the game of hockey more exciting and simpler to teach by minimising danger, reducing stoppages and maximising playing time and involvement.
• To make a relevant progression to Key Stage 1 Multi-skill development.
• Be inclusive and provides a fun and flexible approach to high quality competition for girls and boys, whatever their ability and keeps children healthy and fit, helping to prevent obesity, strengthening muscles and developing healthy hearts.
• Is easily adapted and helps develop essential motor skills, team spirit, social interaction and fair play
• Increase participation levels.  More opportunities will be created to engage young people in a wider variety of school hockey competition
• Offer clear pathways that will allow the child to progress within hockey should they choose to.
• Enable volunteering opportunities for young people. Hockey Leaders can be involved in assisting the delivery
• Suit a variety of teaching situations (curricular and out of school hours clubs)
• Involve all schools within a School Sport Partnership
• Link to Hockey’s grassroots initiatives