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Hockey: Defence the circle

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DESCRIPTION

Defender passes the ball. Attackers go 1 on 1 and try to penetrate the circle. Defenders priority is to stop the player getting through gate 1, then gate 2, then gate 3. The defender engages as far away from the the circle edge as possible. Work the left and right sides.

COACHING POINTS

Defending player should avoid getting too close to the player attacking the circle. To avoid the player chuck and running the ball in the circle.

Defender should sprint as soon as the ball is passed, and slow down when the attacker has the ball under control.

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Defending the circle:

Defenders on 23 metre line closes down and forces the attacker outside away from the goal. Attacker has to try and score a goal.

Defending Skills

1 v 1 - Channelling:

Split your group into two teams - defenders and attackers.

Players with the ball have to run around the cone and try and score. Players without ball also have to run around the cone, and then try and stop the other player scoring.

Defending Skills

Channelling onto the forehand:

This exercise is designed to encourage defenders to force attacking players to move onto the defenders forehand

The player with the ball tries to run through between the 2 cones, indicating the maximum 10 points.

This should encourage the defender to try and force the player onto their open stick side, away from this high scoring gate!

Defending Skills

defending 3 v 2:

Players from the 23 metre line pass the ball to two players in the goal.
These two players, on receiving the ball, can try to run and pass the ball under control, out of the area across the 23 metre line.
Players coming from the 23m line have to try and win the ball and score a goal.

Defending Skills

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