Hockey: Creating Space to Receive the Ball

The player without the ball (player 2) runs towards the opposite cone and communicates to their partner that they are ready to receive the ball. After making the straight pass player 1 runs to the opposite cone to receive a square pass from player 2. Player 2 must adjust their body and footwork in order to receive the ball.

- Posting towards the ball, and then rolling away - Drags defenders out of position - Use of the body to shield the ball, and then roll away from the defender - Player in possession make a L shape run, opens body out, and rolls the ball down the channel - Forward in the D posts towards the ball, and then turns out, using their body to shield the ball and move towards goal

1 passes to 2. 2 passes to 3. 3 passes to 1, who then shoots. Player 2 then moves to player 1 position, player 3 moves to 2 and player 1 goes to the back of the queue. The next ball is then passed.

First player runs towards the channel of cones. Next player in the line passes the ball to the running player inside the channel. The player should try and receive the ball while on the move and take the ball to the left or right of cones, then slalom to the end before shooting.

- Picking up the ball on the reverse side after performing a hook run - Ball should be rolled in to the right of the flag - Player should trap the ball and move off in the same direction

The ball is passed across the pitch, then passed to the player running. Either the near player or the far player, then play an attack.

Players need to get into groups of 3 with one ball in each group. Number the players 1, 2 and 3. The area can be either the whole or 1/2 a pitch. When no.1 has the ball no.2 has to run in a straight line until no.1 passes the ball. Once no.2 has received the ball player no.3 has to make a run. Players can run anywhere on the pitch.

3 Players with one ball between them. To start just play a simple pass and then follow the ball to the back of the queue. As your players become more confident start getting your players to think about moving up the pitch with the ball. To do this spread the groups further apart and get the passing player to run a few steps with the ball before passing in front of the receiving player who moves out to meet the pass and then also takes a few steps before passing the ball.

This is a basic practice to help teach players a simple pattern to get the ball out of the back. Gold players start with a sideline hit and the red players start with a 16 yard hit. Player 1 on the red team dribbles the ball towards the side line and reverse turns to pass the ball to Red 2 who in turn passes the the ball to red 3. Red 1 runs up the pitch to receive the ball back from red 3 before passing to red 3 who runs with the ball to towards the back line. Gold players do the same but start with from the sideline.

2 Players with one ball. 1 Player can only pass square, the other only straight forward. After each pass, the player has to run across to be able to receive the ball.

Player 1 dribbles the ball across the square, forcing player 2 to also switch in order to receive the square pass from player 1. Player 2 then starts again, running with the ball from right to left before then passing the ball back across to player 1.

Player 1 starts the drill by passing to player 2. On receiving the pass player 2 runs with the ball towards the next cone on the opposite side. Player 1 also starts to run at this moment. As player 1 and 2 cross paths player 2 offloads the ball to player 1 who dribbles it around the next cone. Player 2 continues their run (without the ball) around the cone. Both players repeat this pattern to the end of the grid.

2 Players with one ball. Player on right runs with the ball across to the other side. The other player also runs across but crossing behind the player with the ball. At the point of their paths crossing, player with the ball passes the ball reverse stick to the other player. They both continue their runs.

Player 1 passes the ball to player 2. Player 2 turns away from the cone, and passes the ball into space for player 3 to run onto. Player 3 now passes the ball to player 1, who has made a run around the outside of player 2. Player 1 takes the ball into the circle and shoots.

Exercise starts with the ball being played to the half back, then down the line for a player running out to receive. This player should then control the ball before switching it across to the center half. The center half then passes the ball to the Inside-forward who then passes the ball to the far post for the original receiver to run onto and score. The next ball starts immediately after on the opposite side for the player to lead out and receive the ball, pass it to the Center Half. The Center Half then passes the ball to the next channel and the ball should be passed to the far post for the player who started the move to receive and finish.

White Player  passes the ball toRed player who runs in field with the ball to allow the white player to loop round .Red Player passes to Blue player Blue player on receiving the ball runs infield to allow the red player to loop round. Blue player passes the ball to the white player and the practice repeats until a shot at goal.

Some players stand outside the 23m area with a ball each. One player has to try and play the ball to the player in the circle through the area with the two defenders. On making a successful pass he/she then runs through the area to support the attacker.

A line of attacking players stand outside the 23 metre line with a ball each, with one other attacking on the goal side of the grid. Inside the grid there is one defender. The first attacking player has to try and play the ball to the player in the circle through the area with the defender. On playing a successful pass the player then follows their pass through the area, into the circle and the next player can try and pass the next ball through the area.

Player 1 passes the ball square to player 2 and has to run diagonally to get in front and ahead of player 2. Player 2 on receiving the ball runs diagonally and passes the ball in front of player 1. Then player 2 runs on to receive the ball square again from player 1. Who then again runs diagonally in front to receive the ball back. They should continue this until the first player into the circle receives the ball and shoots.