Hockey: Continual Side Line Attacks

Build the whole of your game upon having a rock solid defence. Work on defending 1-on-1 as well as a team unit, starting from the front. This session develops the whole teams reaction to losing the ball and working hard to win it back as soon as possible.

Turned over the ball? No big deal! Produce a team that are ready to work twice as hard to win the ball back!

As we're approaching the festive break it's a good idea to recap and refresh the core skills with your players!

Players work in pairs in this drill - attacking and defending pair.

The player who starts with the ball has to dribble around the cone and then try to score a goal on the half way line.

At the same time one player from the defending pair also runs around the cone. Once the player with the ball has run around the cone the drill is live.

The defending team are trying to dispossess the player with the ball and score against the keeper and the last defender.

The drill continues until one of the team has had a shot at one of the goals.

The aim of this exercise is to encourage the players to attack down the wings. The attacking team is not allowed to pass or attack through the zone. Defenders, on winning the ball, have to try and get the ball out of the 23m area, also wide of the zone.

Four teams of 3 or 4 players. Put one goal 15m over the half way line so the half way line is the top of the circle.

The four team teams, one playing and one on the 23m line, are working in two partnerships - whites vs blues.

Team 1 starts with the ball and tries to score against team 2. When team 2 gain possession, either after a goal or tackle, they have to pass the ball to team 3 who now can try and score in the other goal.

Team 1 has to run back and defend. When team 1 win the ball they have to pass the ball to team 4 who attack against team 3 etc.

After a team has passed the ball to their partner team they take their place at the 23m line and wait for their chance to attack.

One of the players on the half way line passes the ball back to the two central defenders (7 and 8)
The midfielder may then make him/herself available.
The aim is to try and score a goal but try to attack round the outside
The two attackers (1 and 2 are being man to man marked.
Defenders are not allowed out of the half.