Hockey Drills

Set out cones on lines creating lanes across or down the pitch, each lane approx 2m wide. The player with the ball runs diagonally across the lanes, while the defender has to try and get in front of the player with the ball. Whenever the defender gets into the same lane as the player with the ball, the player with the ball has to change direction and run diagonally across the lanes in the opposite direction. Once the players get to the end of the lanes, the roles reverse.

Every player has a ball. The designated leader (chosen by the coach) sets off in any direction with the ball. All other players must follow in the same direction. On the command of STOP by the leader all the players have to stop and stand with the stick head in front of the ball. Coach should check everyone's position and correct where necessary. The leader then starts to move again but in a different direction.

Players are trying to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. Players inside the area can use the two players on the outside of the grid to help them keep the ball.

Set up two cones about 2 meters apart. Players dribble the ball back and forth between the two cones without taking their hands off their stick.

Pass the ball from right to left ( slightly backwards. 2nd player takes the ball with the open stick to then pass the ball down the line to the left wing who takes the ball in and scores a goal. Every player rotates to the next place.

First set out some 2 vs 2 pitches consisting of 2 goals, 15 to 20m apart with each goal being 1 stick length wide. Once the pitches are laid out, number the pitches 1,2,3,4, etc with 4 players and one ball per pitch. The aim of the game is to try and score goals from about 2m out. The length of the game is approximately 2-3 minutes long and starts on the first whistle and stopped by the second whistle.

- Two groups - Practice push pass off both feet - Dribble with the ball, then pass on the move - Strongside to Strongside passes

Players don't need a stick for this practice which is probably best played with a tennis ball. A few balls between a group of 6 with one or two defenders wearing a bib. The defending players have to try and catch a player in possession with the ball. When they succeed they swap places with the caught player

Pass ball to player and then chase pass to put pressure on player. Receiving player either passes first touch or two touch to the next player. First touch should be in direction of intended pass. First clock wise then anti clock wise then both ways Group size can vary 5 would be in a square. etc

One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle (blue cones). When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones). The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.

Set up two lines of players as show in the image. The players with the ball start from the middle of the pitch on the 23m line and run out towards the side of the pitch. The first player (blue) runs with the ball at pace and then stops the ball inside the box in front of the other player. The blue player continues their run around the cone in front of them and then runs back inside the area. The receiver (red) runs onto the ball left by the first runner and then runs into the D and tries to finish through one of the wide goals. The blue player should have continued their run and now tries to put pressure on the receiver's shot.

Players with ball run down the byline and pass the ball to a player at the top of the circle who receives and shoots on goal

Set up with cones set out in a square 10m x 10m, and inside the square have two teams of three players each, and one ball between them. The aim of the game is for each team to make as many one touch (wall) passes as possible. Every wall pass is awarded 1 point.

- 3 vs 3 - Small goals either end of an area - Ball must be taken through the goal under control - Once a goal has been scored, the opposite team gain possession

Set up with three players in position. One with the ball, two metres from top D. One at top D, five metres to the right. One outside the far left post a couple of metres in from the baseline. Player 1 passes to player 2, who in one movement takes the ball in front of them before striking the ball on the floor to the far post Player 3 runs towards goal and deflects the ball with the reverse edge of the stick into the goal Follow your pass to the next destination.

The practice starts with the first red player dribbling their ball to the goal line before passing the ball back to the player who is on the penalty spot. The player receiving the ball then shoots at goal and the player who made the pass (red player 1) carries on their run to the penalty spot to replace player 4. The same happens on the left hand side and the practice continues to loop around alternating from the the right and then the left.