Unit Plan 10 (Grade 7 PE): Floor Hockey — Systems & Team Roles

Focus: Develop controlled striking, purposeful passing to space, and stronger team play through simple offensive systems, defined positions, and reliable defensive responsibilities in floor hockey.

Grade Level: 7

Subject Area: Physical Education

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–55 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this Grade 7 Physical Education unit, students build on basic floor hockey skills by learning how team structure, spacing, and role awareness improve game play. Rather than chasing the puck or ball in a crowd, students learn how to use an offensive shape, move the ball into space, and stay organized defensively with clear responsibilities. The unit emphasizes controlled striking, safe stick use, passing on the move, and understanding where to be as a defender, center, wing, or support player. Students also learn that success in floor hockey depends not just on individual stick skill, but on reading the game, making timely decisions, and staying committed to team shape. By the end of the week, students should be able to explain how positions and systems create more effective offense and stronger defense.

Essential Questions

• How does team shape help create better passing and scoring chances in floor hockey?
• What makes a pass or strike more effective than simply hitting the ball hard?
• How can players stay in strong defensive position instead of just chasing the ball?
• Why do clear team roles and safe stick habits matter in floor hockey?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Strike and control a floor hockey ball or puck with improved accuracy, purpose, and consistency.
2. Combine stick-handling, passing, movement, receiving, and shooting fluidly during extended play.
3. Use spatial awareness to spread out, maintain positions, and move into helpful offensive and defensive locations.
4. Adjust the force, angle, and timing of passes, shots, and runs based on pressure, distance, and available space.
5. Apply simple offensive concepts such as support triangles, passing to space, and maintaining shape.
6. Apply defensive concepts such as marking, staying between the attacker and goal, helping, recovering, and transitioning quickly.
7. Follow safety rules, use equipment properly, and help maintain safe game conditions with minimal reminders.

Standards Alignment — Grade 7 PE (SHAPE America-based custom)

• PE:S1.7e – Striking with Implements for Placement, Power & Consistency Strike stationary and moving objects with paddles, rackets, bats, or sticks to consistently send them to intended areas with appropriate speed, spin, and trajectory.
  • Example: In floor hockey, a student uses a controlled push pass or sweep shot to send the ball accurately to a teammate or open scoring lane.
• PE:S1.7f – Integrating Multiple Skills Fluidly During Extended Play Combine locomotor, manipulative, and stability skills in extended game play, maintaining control and appropriate technique even when fatigued or under pressure.
  • Example: In a full game, a student stick-handles, passes, cuts to support, receives, and shoots with control while maintaining balance and awareness.
• PE:S2.7a – Spatial Awareness & Tactical Positioning in Team Play Demonstrate consistent understanding of space and positioning by adjusting to teammates, opponents, and scoring areas in both offense and defense.
  • Example: In 4v4 or 5v5 floor hockey, students spread out offensively, support the puck carrier, and recover to protect the middle when defending.
• PE:S2.7c – Adjusting Effort, Force, Angle & Timing to Game Conditions Adapt effort level, force, angle, and timing of passes, shots, serves, and runs in response to defensive pressure, distance, and scoring/placement goals.
  • Example: In floor hockey, a student uses a softer touch in traffic, a firmer pass into open space, or a controlled shot based on the defender’s position and distance to goal.
• PE:S2.7d – Offensive Strategies: Creating & Exploiting Opportunities Select and apply offensive strategies such as using screens, give-and-go, overlaps, switching fields, and recognizing mismatches to create scoring chances.
  • Example: In floor hockey, students maintain a simple offensive shape, pass wide, and move into open support positions to create better shots.
• PE:S2.7e – Defensive Strategies: Marking, Help Defense & Transition Implement defensive principles including marking, staying between opponent and goal, providing help defense, recovering in transition, and adjusting to changes in possession.
  • Example: When the ball changes possession, defenders quickly recover toward goal side, pick up attackers, and help stop the next pass or shot.
• PE:S4.7a – Following Rules, Routines & Safety Protocols Independently Consistently follow and model classroom rules, procedures, and safety expectations with minimal reminders, and help ensure a safe environment for others.
  • Example: Students use sticks below the waist, avoid dangerous swings, maintain spacing, and respond immediately to whistles and stoppages.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can strike, pass, and receive with more control and purpose.
• I can move to the right space to support teammates on offense or defend on the right side of the play.
• I can use simple team shape instead of crowding the ball.
• I can stay between my opponent and the goal and recover quickly when possession changes.
• I can use my stick safely and follow floor hockey rules with little reminding.