Games played on ice
There are a variety of games that can help the young and the young at heart learn how to skate in an enjoyable atmosphere. Feel free to modify and adapt the games to your needs, keeping in mind that safety always comes first. Students can also suggest changes and take an active part in developing other games. The following types of games are described below: tag games, catch-me games, cooperative games, skills games and speed games.
-
Tag games
General rule: Tag games always involve a player (the “IT” person) chasing other players in an attempt to “tag” or touch them. There are several variations.
- Freeze tag
- Description – If the “IT” person tags someone, that person must spread their feet and stop moving. The only way for the tagged person to become “free” again is to have someone crawl between his or her legs without getting tagged.
- Safety rule – Never run behind a tagged player and take into account the physical abilities of the participants.
- Hospital tag
- Description – The tagged player becomes “IT” and must hold his or her hand in the place where he or she was tagged.
- Safety rule – Make sure there is enough room to avoid collisions.
- Goalkeeper’s tag
- Description – Two players face each other and must try to touch each other’s knees without being tagged.
- Safety rule – Avoid pushing the opponent.
- Ring tag
- Description – Two “ITs” hold on to a ring and must tag the other players. The one who tags a player is freed and replaced by the one who was tagged.
- Safety rule – Make sure there is enough room to avoid collisions.
- Ground hoop tag
- Description – Players are protected from the “IT” person when they are inside the hoops. When a player is tagged, he or she must come to a stop and can be saved if another player takes him or her by the hand and into a hoop. Once inside the hoop, the tagged player can re-enter the game. However, if one of the two players is tagged while moving toward a hoop, both must come to a stop.
- Safety rule – Make sure the players do not trip over the hoops.
- Freeze tag
-
Catch-me games
- Crossing the river
- Description – Players must “cross the river” without being tagged by an “IT” person. If they are tagged, they then become an “IT” person. The game ends when there is only one player who has not been tagged.
- Safety rule – Make sure players know how to stop on skates.
- Ringette tag
- Description – All players have a ringette stick and a ring. An “IT” person uses his or her stick to try to take away another player’s ring. If he or she succeeds in doing so, he or she becomes a player and the person who loses his or her ring becomes “IT.”
- Safety rule – Keep the stick close to the ice and do not hit opponents with the stick.
- Three- or four-person relay race
- Description – Teams of three or four skate in single file. Only the last skater can move to the front of the line. Teams keep skating in this way with the last skater attempting to move to the front. The first team to reach the finish line wins the race.
- Safety rule – Make sure that participants know how to stop on skates.
- Crossing the river
-
Cooperative games
- The big wheel
- Description – Participants link arms and turn together, while staying in a straight line.
- Safety rule – Make sure the bigger players are in the middle and the best skaters are on the outside.
- The circle
- Description – Participants form a circle. Each player crouches down and leans back on the skates of the person behind him or her. The goal is to try to move in such a way as to make the circle rotate.
- Safety rule – Make sure everyone is wearing gloves.
- The snake
- Description – In single file, participants must closely follow the scout (i.e. the skater at the front of the line). The scout guides them so that they move in a snake-like fashion. If a participant falls, the game stops.
- Safety rule – Make sure participants do not skate too fast.
- Bus driver
- Description – A skater in a seated position (like a bus driver) is pushed by another skater. The bus driver can ask his or her partner to change direction at any time.
- Safety rule – Make sure that participants do not push each other too vigorously and that they do not fall.
- The big wheel
-
Skill and speed games
- Slalom course
- Description – Several pucks are scattered over a section of the rink. Participants must skate around the pucks as fast as possible. The number of corners and the recovery time must be in keeping the participants’ skill and fitness level.
- Sculling on ice
- Description – Each participant skates forward by sculling. Both skates must remain on the ice. Several pucks can be used to make the activity more challenging.
- Standing sticks game
- Description – Two players, each with a ringette stick, face each other. When given the signal, they must let their sticks fall and rush forward to catch the opponent’s stick before it hits the ice. The level of difficulty can be increased by having the players stand farther apart.
- Cops and robbers
- Description – The cops skate outside a circle and the robbers skate inside the circle in the opposite direction. When given the signal, the robbers must skate outside of the circle without being tagged by the cops.
- Obstacle course with cones
- Description – Sticks are placed on cones to form obstacles. Participants must pass over or under the obstacles depending on the instructions given. The group can be divided into two or three teams. Note that this activity requires a fairly high level of technical skill.
- Slalom course
