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Hockey Maths

Maths in hockey: personal bests

Compare old and new results.

Quick answer

Maths in hockey: personal bests helps you compare your old and new scores to see how much you've improved – like how many goals you've scored or how fast you can run. It uses numbers, addition, subtraction, and comparison to show your progress.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare your old and new hockey results to find out how much you’ve improved, using subtraction and number lines. Success signs:
  • You can find the difference between two numbers.
  • You can show your improvement with a number line.
  • You can explain how your score changed using words like “better”, “worse”, or “same”.
  • You can use maths to track your progress in hockey.

Why this matters

Maths helps you see how you’re getting better at hockey. When you play hockey, you can keep track of how many goals you score or how fast you run. If you compare your results from last week to this week, you can see if you’ve improved. This helps you stay motivated and set new goals for next time. Maths is also used in hockey by coaches to track how players are doing, and by fans to enjoy the game more. When you know how to compare scores, you can understand how teams or players are doing better or worse over time.

How it works

To compare your hockey results, follow these steps:
  1. Write down your old score (like how many goals you scored last week).
  2. Write down your new score (like how many goals you scored this week).
  3. Subtract the old score from the new score to see the difference.
  4. Use a number line to show how much you’ve improved.
For example, if you scored 3 goals last week and 7 goals this week, you can find the difference like this:
  • 7 – 3 = 4
  • You scored 4 more goals this week.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you play hockey every week. Here are some examples of how to compare your scores: Example 1: Goals scored
  • Last week: 2 goals
  • This week: 5 goals
  • Difference: 5 – 2 = 3
  • You scored 3 more goals this week!
Example 2: Time to run 100 metres
  • Last week: 20 seconds
  • This week: 16 seconds
  • Difference: 20 – 16 = 4
  • You ran 4 seconds faster this week!
Example 3: Points in a game
  • Last game: 12 points
  • This game: 12 points
  • Difference: 12 – 12 = 0
  • You scored the same number of points.
You can also use a number line to show your improvement. For example, if you scored 3 goals last week and 7 this week:
  • Draw a line from 3 to 7.
  • Count how many jumps you make from 3 to 7 – that’s 4.
  • You improved by 4 goals!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Hockey Hero Challenge You are a hockey hero who wants to track your progress in a fun way. Every week, you record your hockey scores. Here’s your challenge:
  • Week 1: You scored 4 goals
  • Week 2: You scored 6 goals
  • Week 3: You scored 3 goals
  • Week 4: You scored 8 goals
Your task is to find out:
  1. How many more goals did you score in Week 4 compared to Week 1?
  2. Which week did you score the most goals?
  3. How many more goals did you score in Week 4 than Week 3?
Answer the challenge:
  1. Week 4: 8 goals, Week 1: 4 goals. 8 – 4 = 4. You scored 4 more goals in Week 4.
  2. Week 4: 8 goals – this is the highest!
  3. Week 4: 8 goals, Week 3: 3 goals. 8 – 3 = 5. You scored 5 more goals in Week 4.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Subtracting in the wrong order (e.g., 3 – 7 = 4 instead of 7 – 3 = 4)
    Why it happens: Kids sometimes forget that the bigger number comes first when finding the difference.
    Fix: Always subtract the smaller number from the bigger number to find how much more you have.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down the scores before comparing them
    Why it happens: It’s easy to forget numbers when they’re in your head.
    Fix: Write down your scores before working out the difference.
  • Mistake: Thinking that a smaller number means better performance
    Why it happens: In some situations, like time, a smaller number is better, but in others, like goals, a bigger number is better.
    Fix: Think about what the numbers mean – more goals = better, faster time = better.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Setting up a simple chart or table to track their hockey scores each week.
  • Encouraging them to write down their old and new scores before comparing.
  • Using a number line to help them see how much they’ve improved.
  • Practising subtraction with real-life examples like goals, time, or points.
  • Reinforcing that it’s okay to get worse sometimes – it’s all part of learning and improving.
It’s important not to pressure your child to be the best. Instead, focus on how much they’ve improved and celebrate small wins. You can say things like, “You scored 2 more goals this week – great job!”

Practice questions

  1. Sam scored 5 goals last week and 8 goals this week. How many more goals did he score this week?
  2. Lily ran 100 metres in 15 seconds last week and 12 seconds this week. How much faster was she this week?
  3. Tom scored 6 points in a game last time and 6 points this time. Did he improve?
  4. Emma scored 2 goals last week and 7 goals this week. How many more goals did she score?
  5. Jack scored 9 goals last week and 4 goals this week. How many fewer goals did he score this week?
Answers:
  1. 8 – 5 = 3
  2. 15 – 12 = 3 seconds faster
  3. No, he scored the same number of points.
  4. 7 – 2 = 5
  5. 9 – 4 = 5 fewer goals

FAQ

What does “personal best” mean?

Personal best means the best score or time you’ve ever achieved. It’s your own record, not someone else’s.

How can I track my personal best in hockey?

You can write down your scores each week, like goals, time, or points. Then compare them to see if you’ve improved.

Why is it good to track my progress?

Tracking your progress helps you see how much you’ve improved, which makes you feel proud and motivated to keep trying.

Can I use maths to compare anything in hockey?

Yes! You can compare goals, time, points, or even how many times you missed the ball. Any number can be compared using maths.

What if I don’t improve? Is that okay?

Yes, it’s okay! Sometimes we don’t improve, and that’s part of learning. The important thing is to keep trying and having fun.