Coin Hockey

Can you score the best shot? Find out with this easy, accessible game of coin hockey!

SUBMITTED BY: Chinook Arch Regional Library System

PROGRAM CATEGORY: Physical activity, tabletop game 

AGE GROUP: 4+

TIME REQUIRED: 10 minutes

SPACE CONSIDERATIONS: A table/workspace large enough to do activity. 

MATERIALS REQUIRED: 

  • Table (or a clean, smooth floor)
  • Coins for “sticks” and “pucks”
  • Tape
  • Timer (Optional) 

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. Each participant is given a coin as their “stick”. 
  2. Establish which coin is the “stick” and which is the “puck”. Try using a smaller sized coin for the “puck”. Have several “pucks” ready for the start of the game.

    images/coin hockey/Coin Hockey program step 1-2.jpg
  3. Tape out the centre line and goal(s) on the table or floor.

    images/coin hockey/Coin Hockey Program step 3.jpg
     
  4. Have the “referee” decide which shots count as in or out before starting the game (ie: does touching the goal line count as in?).
  5. Using one finger, slide the coin (stick) along the table to tap the other coin (puck) forward. 
     
  6. The player tries to tap the “puck” across the center line with only one push.

    images/coin hockey/Coin Hockey program step 5-6.jpg
     
  7. Once across the center line, start counting how many taps with the “stick” it takes to get the puck into the goal.
     
  8. The final shot must be taken from behind the designated goal crease area.

    images/coin hockey/Coin Hockey program step 8.jpg
     
  9. If the “puck” doesn’t cross the center line to begin, slides off the table or out of bounds, or if the final shot does not make it into the goal, it’s no longer in play and is removed.
  10. If the shot makes it in, make a tally of how many “shots” it took. If it misses the goal, do not count.
     
  11. Continue in this way until either the time runs out or the allotted “pucks” run out.
     
  12. The “referee” counts how many “pucks” made it into the goal.
     
  13. To add a bit of math to the wrapping up of the game, have the participants average out their shooting score—the amount of taps it took from the centre line to making it into the goal for each “puck” in the goal added together, divided by the amount of pucks.
     
  14. The lower the average, the better. Participants can compete against their own score, their librarian’s score, or their fellow participants score! 

BOOK/MEDIA TIE-IN:  

  • Hayley Wickenheiser by Lorna Schultz Nicholson and D.A. Bishop 
  • I Can Read Hockey Stories: Hayley's Journey by Sarah Howden and Nick Craine
  • Let's Play a Hockey Game! by Kari-Lynn Winters and Helen Flook