Box Hockey

Box Hockey is a school yard game played by two people. The object of the game is to move a hockey puck from the center of the box out through a hole placed at the end of the box (known as the goal). Each player faces one another on either side of the box, and each attempts to move the puck to their left. If a player succeeds in getting the puck to exit the box through the goal, the player scores one point. The first player to score 11 points wins the game.

Rules

*To start the game (and after each goal), the puck is placed under the center mouse hole. Each player raps the bottom of the box with their stick and then taps their opponent's blade, repeating this three times. After the third tap, both players can go after the puck and play begins.
*Each player hits the puck with their hockey stick blade, attempting to move the puck through the holes to their left (see diagram) and out the hole at the end of the box (the goal).
*In addition to advancing the puck towards their own goal, each player can use their blade to block their opponent's progress or to steal the puck.
*It is legal to use the blade to block the goal from either inside or outside of the box.
*When a player succeeds in getting the puck to exit the box through the goal, the player scores one point.
*The first player to score 11 points wins the game.

Equipment

The equipment needed to play the game is as follows:

#Box. Approximately 8 foot long x 3 foot wide x 1 foot high constructed with a plywood bottom and three plywood dividers (to create four sections in the box). Each divider has one or more "mouse holes" that are slightly wider than the puck.
#Two hockey sticks, shortened. Each player uses one floor hockey stick (plastic) whose shaft has been shortened to 12 to 18 inches.
#One hockey puck. A floor hockey puck (plastic, hollow) is the best type of puck to be used in box hockey.

Origin

The origin of the game is unknown, though it was very popular in U. S. public elementary schools (grades K - 6) during the 1970s. The game was often played indoors when children were required to stay inside during inclement weather.

References

*Ella Gardner. [http://books.google.com/books?id=hyP47Eykk6kC&pg=PA46&dq=%22Box+Hockey%22&lr=&ei=7kbDSPPOJ4SgiwHxrO3tDQ&sig=ACfU3U2kNhFFz38s489bEMBzLPYQD9z7sg Handbook for Recreation Leaders.] Fredonia Books, 2002. ISBN-13: 9781589637757; pp. 46-47
*George Butler. [http://books.google.com/books?id=22cvAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Box+Hockey%22&dq=%22Box+Hockey%22&lr=&ei=8k3DSNTfGprqiQGg5uzqDQ&pgis=1 "Recreation Areas, Their Design and Equipment: Their Design and Equipment".] National Recreation Association, A.S. Barnes, 1947; p. 75