Backyard Field Hockey can be played with two or more players and asks you, the players, to collaborate in designing your own game that’s challenging and fun for everyone. So, while you stay at home, grab your sisters, brothers, mom or dad, create your game and play!
Over the coming month four expansion packs will add even more fun to your Backyard Field Hockey games starting with eight brand new Hero Power cards featuring four U.S. Men’s National Team and four U.S. Women’s National Team athletes that will be released next week.
The Hero Power Cards allow players to assume the super strengths of one of four U.S. Men’s National Team or four U.S. Women’s National Team athletes. Using the Hero Power Cards players might suddenly be transformed into a clinical goal scorer or defender that is so hard to beat that opponents are best served giving them a wide berth. In addition to the USMNT and USWNT Hero Power cards, the expansion pack includes a blank template for players to create their own Hero Powers.
The cards can be used in any number of ways including picking your own Hero Power, picking for another player or picking at random. Some will add challenge to the player in possession of the Hero Power while others will present more of challenge to opponents. Either way, the cards are sure to add a variety of fun problems to games for players to solve.
The Powerplay Challenge spinner allows players to add skill challenges to their Backyard Field Hockey games. Simply mount the printout on cardboard, cut out the spinner, place the smaller wheel underneath the bigger one so that it can be seen through the window and use a pen or pencil placed through the heart of the wheel to create the spinner. Just like the Hero Power Cards, the expansion pack includes a blank Powerplay Challenge spinner template so that players can create their own challenges.
How, when and where the Powerplay Challenges are used is entirely up to the players. One option would be to use the skill challenges to replace what would be penalty corners or strokes in the full game; they could be used before the start of the game to establish the score with both teams attempting three challenges each and goals being awarded for successfully completing the challenge; or, they could be played as a standalone game for one or more players. If players are up for a challenge, they can rotate the smaller, modifiers wheel to make the task harder.
The Goalkeeper Cards, like goalkeepers in the full game, can be added to Backyard Field Hockey games to make it harder for goals to be scored. Like all the Backyard Field Hockey resources, players can choose how and when they use the cards. One option would be to select a goalkeeper for your team at random, another would be to hand pick your goalkeeper to make your opponent’s task more challenging. In addition, the expansion pack includes a set of blank Goalkeeper Cards to allow players to create their own goalkeepers using the resources they have on hand.
Can you find a way to close the gap if you start in a losing position? Can you build on your lead to finish the game in style? If you are playing with teams of two or more, what will you do if your team has to play a player down? How will you take advantage if you have the extra player? Does this change if the score changes? The Win the Moment Cards ask players to explore answers to these questions and more.
The Goalkeeping Get Up Dice challenges goalkeepers to get on to their feet and ready to face a shot as quickly as possible. Their position on the ground and the number of goes they get are guided by the roll of the dice. The dice can be incorporated into any exercises or games that the goalkeeper or coach can think of and as such can be a great tool to add more fun, challenge and variety to existing practices.
