ball hogging habits ?

Hockey CoachCoach

Hi Paul, when this has happened to my team/s I generally take the player aside and have a quiet word to the player about teamwork and try to point out that the other kids may stuff up, but if he/she passes the ball and then calls for it back. They may be in a  better postion to score a goal.(appeal to their egos!!)

At practice rund the drills,  only so many steps can be taken before passing to a teammate.

If really bad then occasionally i have placed a forward as fullback and made them watch the play and work out how they could make the team play it better (older kids here). I haven't dragged any kid for being a hog, just try to work their skills to the betterment of the team.

cheers ian

Bram van Asselt, England

Paul

Which age group are you talking about?

Regards

Bram

Hockey CoachCoach

Evening.

I am new to this system of sharing ideas, but old and experienced in hockey and dealing with these sort of problems. So, here goes.......

small sided game, maybe 3 v 3, or pehaps slightly overloaded 4 v 3, where the extra man is the HOG. The HOG has a coloued bib (like a pig) and is limited in his touches to 4 per 'ownership of the ball. It is his job to 'run' the attack v the defence, to dictate speed of attack, direction, etc. and work out how to get the best from the skills he has in order to get the outcomes the TEAM wants / needs.

Then I switch him out of the game, put someone else in the bib, getting the 1st HOG to watch and critique with me (quietly between us) what is going well or not. I then put him back in to demonstrate what he means. After a few weeks of 'running the team' the hogging usually reducers drastically and I have built me a Centre Half! 

I also believe in letting young players show what skills they have to offer and can deliver - in the right way, at the right time, with decision making skills and to the benefit not detriment of the team ethic. We must not surpess their natural talents but get them to use those skills gainfully.