Making the right decision/choice is one of the hardest things to do on a hockey pitch, particularly as a Forward in the D. When do I shoot myself, when do I pass to a teammate and when do I turn possession in the D into a Short Corner opportunity?
In the diagram on the right a red attacker has the ball. The rectangle is the area we might expect a Left Forward or Centre Forward to pick up the ball from a pass from their midfield on a break. When they turn they are faced with a defender who will try and channel them away from goal. Depending on how well the defender does the attacker will find themselves entering the D either from the side on a "banana run" or directly at the top of the D. Where you are in the D determines your options: In the Team Zones PASS - Look for a simple pass into the Selfish Zone that sets up one of your teammates FOOT - If you cant see a pass, then a defender's foot will be nearby so drive the ball onto that foot/through their legs winning your team a short corner. In the Selfish Zone SHOOT - Remember aim just inside the post - if it does go just wide of the post one of your team mates should be there poaching just outside the post and "making the goal wider" FOOT - If the shot isn't on because there is too much pressure from defenders..you guessed it put it on their foot (hint: a defender's left foot is their weakness as it is hardest to protect with the stick)
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
sportplan_hockey
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