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Field Hockey: Team lead running - with switch play

This is a great site. The days of scratching practice drills and back...

Andrew

DESCRIPTION

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.

COACHING POINTS

A second team can simultaneously do the same practice in the opposite direction.

Although this can be complicated to set up initially once it is in place it is well worth it as it gets players moving - making runs and playing sharp, fast and meaningful passes.

If your players find this exercise difficult to set up you can use cones to show where they should be running to and from.

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RELATED PLANS...

Forward Running - Positive Play

Carry the ball with confidence and run at goal! Teach your players to switch the ball and feed the lines to get the ball up the pitch!

OFTEN USED WITH...

Switching the point:

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.

Movement off the ball

Right Side Attack:

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.

Movement off the ball

Far post goal:

The player on the left passes the ball into the path of the player on the right. When this player receives the ball they continue to run with with it before passing the ball to the player on the far post who then has shot on goal.

The player passing to the far post continues to run after their pass and takes up a new position by the right post.

The practice can now start again from the other side.

Shooting & Goalscoring

Receiving the ball in space on the reverse stick:

Make two squares, one big one with a smaller inner square. 3 players stand inside the small square and a fourth player stands on one of the outside square's corners with the ball.

The outside player passes the ball anti-clockwise to the player running out of the middle, who receives the ball by the next outside cone (cone A).
This player then passes the ball to the next player running out - timing their pass so that it arrives at the outside cone as the runner does.

Passing & Receiving

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