Game version
Let the child be the coach for a turn: show the grown-up how to do “Push the Ball Along”, then swap.
Push the Ball Along
Push a soft ball along the grass with a short stick, keeping it close. Stick low, little pushes.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Give your child a short stick and a soft ball.
- Ages
- 4 to 6
- Time
- 3 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Short field hockey stick or plastic stick, soft ball
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Dribbling
The steps
How it works
- Give your child a short stick and a soft ball.
- Show how to keep the stick low, near the ball.
- They push the ball gently to a cone and back.
- Try pushing it around the cone too.
Coaching point
Praise the try: “Little pushes, great control!”
Safety: The tool stays low, and everyone else stands back, clear of the swing. A soft ball only.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
You are a superhero in training, and “Push the Ball Along” is today’s mission.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free field hockey week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.