Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the nine questions we get asked most often:
MY CHILD CAN’T SKATE….
No problem at all. There is no skating in Ball Hockey, which makes it very accessible for everyone.
McVander Hockey plays Ball Hockey is played wearing tennis shoes on any hard surface. Parking lot, tennis court, school gym, basketball court.
We even bring hockey directly to elementary schools with our Ball Hockey SCHOOL ENRICHMENT program.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED?
The only things you’ll need to play Ball Hockey are tennis shoes and a water bottle.
McVander Hockey has all the rest of the gear - portable hockey rink, protective glasses, hockey gloves, shin guards, and bags and bags full of goalie gear.
Visit our PARTNERS page to learn about what equipment we use in our programs.
ISN’T HOCKEY EXPENSIVE?
Ball Hockey is not expensive.
Ice hockey can be very expensive because the equipment is expensive and it costs a lot of money to keep an ice rink cold. McVander Hockey can play anywhere and we’ve already got the equipment.
McVander Hockey’s CLASSES and SUMMER CAMPS are very affordable.
WILL MY CHILD HAVE FUN?
This is almost guaranteed. Checkout what kids and parents are saying about McVander Hockey on our HIGHLIGHTS page.
Our programs are play-based and kid friendly. We have a very high return rate of kids that come back to play again after they’ve played with us a first time.
If your child isn’t having fun, please reach out.
IS THERE FIGHTING?
You’d be surprised at how often we get asked this question.
Fighting is not allowed. We do not condone fighting.
McVander Hockey’s coaches are always on the rink with the kids during play, and they are trained to de-escalate any rising temperatures.
IS BALL HOCKEY = FIELD HOCKEY?
Ball Hockey and Field Hockey are not the same.
Ball Hockey is like Ice Hockey without the ice and skates. If you ever played gym hockey in school growing up, our program is similar to that but way more awesome.
Depending where you’re from, BALL HOCKEY can also be called DEK HOCKEY, STREET HOCKEY, or FLOOR HOCKEY.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS NEW?
That’s perfect. Most kids that start playing Ball Hockey with us have never played before.
No experience is needed. McVander Hockey’s experienced coaches will have you out there playing on the first day. We love the game and want every kid to have a blast.
Our SUMMER CAMPS are always a huge hit, or checkout one of our Intro-to-Hockey CLASSES to get started.
IS IT JUST FOR BEGINNERS?
McVander Hockey is for everyone. If it’s your first time, we’d love to have you. If you play professional hockey, we’d love to have you.
We really enjoy having kids in our programs that have played hockey before. They are great role models for newer kids to see what is possible.
In fall 2026 we will be introducing a SKILLS SERIES of classes that focus on improving core skills.
WHAT DO KIDS DO AT BALL HOCKEY?
Each of our programs are different, but they will generally follow a similar flow. Warmup, strategy meeting, skill or game, scrimmage, handshake line.
McVander Hockey programs are very play-based. We try to provide lots of individual instruction in-game, as opposed to running drills over and over.
Kids love to just play, and we are 100% here for that!
If you have any other questions, please send us a message.