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Hockey: Defensive Awareness

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DESCRIPTION

The attackers (Red Players) have to try and dribble the ball around one of the red cones in the middle and then go back through their gate without being tackled by one of the defenders. Every time the attackers do this successfully they score a point.

The defenders are allowed to roam anywhere they like inside the red grid in order to tackle the attackers.

COACHING POINTS

Attackers - Look ahead to see when the defenders have moved away from their nearest cone and where the unmarked cones are.

Defenders - Be aware of where the attackers are in relation to the red middle cones.

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Keeping possession in the 1 v 1 (turning away)

Play like the Kookaburras - Get your players to run with the ball with confidence and keep possession to tire out their opposition!

OFTEN USED WITH...

Defend the circle:

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.

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

Get in the Middle:

Setup as shown.

Blue players start dribbling around the larger box (Blue Cones) with the aim of having to try and get into the small box in the middle. The attackers can enter the box when they feel that they can get into the red small box.

The Red players are defenders and have to stop the attackers getting into the small red box. If players are tackled they have to enter the "prison".

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

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