Hockey: Top D Preparation

- Restart at a penalty corner - Very important that the ball goes exactly where desired so the routine can run smoothly

- Restart at a penalty corner - Very important that the ball goes exactly where desired so the routine can run smoothly

Start a stick’s distance away from the ball. Stand sideways to the goal with your left shoulder facing the goalie. Position your feet behind the ball (away from the goal). Place your feet either together, or extend your left (front) leg behind you. Bend your knees until your reach a comfortable stance. Place your left hand at the top of the stick’s grip. Place the flat side of the stick against the back of the ball. Assess the goal and decide where you are going to shoot the ball. In one fluid motion, place your right hand at the base of the grip and scoop the ball up and forward towards the goal. (This is the same motion as a push, combined with a flick.) As you move the ball, bring your left foot forward and towards the goal, shift your weight from your back to front foot, and turn your hips towards the goal. This will supply your power.

Setup as shown. Player 1 passes the ball to player 2 who gives a return pass to Player 1. Player 3 makes a run to create speace to receive the pass from Player 1. Player 1 then makes the pass to Player.

Player on the ball waits for the player inside the D to make a move and passes the ball hard on to the stick outside the circle. The player receiving the ball can run on with the ball and shoot or pull the ball inwards to try and turn the chasing defenders and get a short corner or a shot on the reverse stick.

Setup the defence as shown with defenders on each post and a runner on each post. Player 1 runs to the top of the circle with Player 2 running on their right hand side, but only 3/4 of the way out. Player 2 is their to put pressure on any slip left or pass back to the injector. Players 3 and 4 are responsible for protecting the posts as well as picking up any rebounds off the keeper's pads. Also should be ready to adjust in case the opposition perform a set play

Setup the defence as shown with 2 defenders inside the goal on either post. In front of them are two runners. Once the ball is injected Player 1 runs to the top of the circle, with player 2 running 3/4s of the way on their right hand side to cover the slip left. Player runs out on Player no 1s left hand side and runs level with Player 2. Player 4 comes 3 to 4 paces off the line to sweep the pads of the goalkeeper.

This is one of the moves I wanted my team to see before the training session because. We are playing a 2 2 defence ( with 2 line man)  

Players line up as shown in the diagram. The ball is pushed out for the stopper to stop at the top of the circle, before moving the ball in for the striker to hit the ball at the goal.

- Stick stoppping the ball for a penalty corner

- Performing the stick stop on a penalty corner

Line up for the short corner as shown above. The ball is pushed out to the stopper at the top. The striker then moves the ball to the right. Blue 4 looks like they are going to take the ball but dummies over the top of the ball and leaves it for blue 6. Blue 6 picks up the ball and drives to the goal line before laying the ball back to score.

Players must set up as shown in the diagram. The ball is pushed out to the stopper at the top of the circle. The striker (Blue 3) picks up the ball and moves left and draws the runner (s) before passing to Blue 4 who has run into a position around the penalty spot. Blue 4 then deflects the ball back towards the striker that has run in a straight line towards the goal. The striker then lifts the ball over the prone goalkeeper. Blue 6 runs into the far post to give another option if the move breaks down.

Stopping the ball and moving it into the D on a penalty corner Allows a striker to hit the ball to score  

Stop the ball dead and then leave it for the striker to either drag flick the ball at goal, or to pass it.