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Hockey: Defence the circle

Excellent, used the drills at our first training session today with...

Shane, Hockey Coach

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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MORE Defending Skills

Reverse side defending

Players from the side of the area, pass the ball to a player in the goal. This player, on receiving the ball can try to run the ball under control out of the area across the 23 metre line. The player coming from the 23m line has to try and win the ball and score a goal.

Defending Skills

Reverse Stick Interception

- Ball is passeed to the left foot - Player receiving deliberately traps the ball on the reverse side

Defending Skills

Reverse Stick Tackle

- Utilising a reverse stick pick challenge - 2 lines of players - One player will dribble in a straight line - The defending playing has to come from the left side and try to steal the ball

Defending Skills

Running onto the ball and keep moving

Playere lined up in a relay with 1 ball. Player starts by running with the ball into the grid and pass the ball to the player opposite. Player 2 has to run onto the moving ball collect and keep moving to pass the ball back to the other side .for player 3 to run onto the ball. Each player has to run to the back of the opposite side each time they have passed the ball.

Defending Skills

Shadow the player with ball

Two players with one ball position them selves either side of a line. Ball carrier on the left and the other player on the right hand side of the line. Player with the ball then starts to run and tries to cross the line.The player with the ball can only do this by stopping or accelerating, he/she is not allowed to run back on him/herself.

Defending Skills

Shadowing

Setup as shown. Blue players have to run along the line and try and lose their marker by stopping and starting, as well as using a change of pace. Players take it in turns to be the marker.

Defending Skills

Steal - Reverse Stick

Players are split up into pairs One player starts with the ball and runs about 5 yards into space, with the defender behind them to the left The defender then must hook their stick round in front of the attacker to steal the ball if successful, the defender should change pace to accelerate away from the attacker that lost possession.

Defending Skills

Tackling in a Crowded Area

- Set up a rectangular box - One forward and one defender - Ball is bounced in, and the forward has to try and use elimination skills to get past the defender - The defender has try and gain possession of the ball

Defending Skills

Terminator

The players each have a ball. On the coaches command the defending team comes in to the area and tries to hit all the balls out. If a player gets his ball hit out then they can stay in and help their team mates by finding space to receive a pass. Progression: Change the numbers for this drill to 3 defenders with 8 attackers with 8 balls.

Defending Skills

Tracking Back

- Ball is fed into a forward on the half way line T- spot - Two defenders - One defender is set slightly ahead of the forward - The second defender is on the half way line, and must run back to assist his team once the initial ball has been fed in

Defending Skills

Under pressure

2 players have to try and pass the ball to each other. While the other 2 players have to close down the player on the ball. The defenders can tackle and intercept. The attackers can move anywhere along the line.

Defending Skills

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