TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM'S SEASON WITH PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED SESSIONS
Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.
JOIN NOW
Can you please assist me, I am coaching the 1st school team (0/18). we are playing 3-3-3-1 but there is a big gap between the forwards and links and also between the links and the backs. How can I change that. Is there any excercises that I can do with them or must we rather change the system??
Hello Mariana,
You are not alone with the problem you outline. All Hockey coaches are essentially struggling with three issues:-
Formations as such, are useful only as a means of communicating with players. Essentially you are telling them where you want them to operate in the length and width of the pitch. If you press the âPause buttonâ on a piece of game footage you can ascribe any number of different formations to a team depending where you stop the action.
In using a 1:3:3:3 formation; you are setting up in their minds, three lines of three players. If your deepest player is on your defensive 25yd line and your forwards are operating on their 25 yard line you have your lines 25 yards apart. Players will struggle to connect over these distances and what you will find is that all is well, provided you can beat opponents in a one versus one contest. When you play a really competitive match this will not be the case and the side with the better combinations will prevail.
If you watch FC Barcelona or Real Madrid in particular, you will note that they retain closer links between their players, (sometimes too close for hockey because of our reach with the stick), but there are very positive lessons to learn. Logically, if you want your players spread through 60 yards of depth, at 15m intervals that means, you need at least four lines rather than three. A forward can operate in a withdrawn position creating a diamond in midfield.
One of your back four can advance to provide a link (Centre Back) or width and depth (Right Back or left Back). One (or both of the remaining) forwards can operate higher having the freedom to work across the width of the pitch and at different depths.
So, how to coach this:-
There are times when longer passes are better: by using the steps above you will create those opportunities. Try and work out why this could be?
A lot to mull over - look forward to hear other coach's suggestions too.
The Sportplan Team
Create a resolution to develop your coaching confidence by seizing the opportunity to discover new drills, turn ideas into action and seek advice from the coaching community.
World Rugby has reportedly conceded Aaron Smith's disallowed try in the World Cup final should have stood.
"It is not only useful for staff who are experienced but a valuable tool for those subject staff who have to take teams."
Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.
JOIN NOW