Hi Sarah,

Hitting a backhand (toma) is one of the trickiest skill to get right in hockey, but if you get the technique right and try not to overhit the ball, you will soon be able to hit the ball flat and accurately!

Take a look at these coaching points and watch the video for hitting a toma and let us know how you go!

• Look to hit the mid-line of the ball.
• Start initially with the grip, the 'V's' should be pointing down the face of the stick.
• Slide the stick along the ground and back to strike the ball.
• When comfortable with hitting the midline of the ball, move the stick away taking it away from the ground to swing back through the mid-line of the ball.
• Work out the comfortable distance away from the ball so not be too close or too far away from the body. Progress to taking a step into the ball and swinging through the mid-line - Step forwards with your right foot first to get your weight going towards the goal. Hitting with your left foot forward is more difficult, causing you to fall back and mishit the ball.
• Test the players balance by making them continue to walk through after the strike. (This will correct common mistakes of being off balance and hitting the up or with the back of the stick.)
• What will determine the success of the strike will be the speed the ball is travelling away from the player and the direction of it. (The player needs to have the ball under a controlled pace to keep it the right distance from them and so not to be off balanced and stretching for the ball at impact.)

I hope this helps!

Tom

The Reverse Stick Hit

Description:

*** AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON ***

Objective: To introduce a more advance style of hitting, often called the tomahawk, to get the player to hit the ball accurately and firmly, developing a sound technique. 

Purpose: Being able to accurately hit a back hand shot or pass creates numerous different opportunities to get a shot away or to deliver a pass.

Structure: Pairs 

 

Coaching Points:

• Look to hit the mid-line of the ball.
• Start initially with the grip, the 'V's' should be pointing down the face of the stick.
• Slide the stick along the ground and back to strike the ball.
• When comfortable with hitting the midline of the ball, move the stick away taking it away from the ground to swing back through the mid-line of the ball.
• Work out the comfortable distance away from the ball so not be too close or too far away from the body. Progress to taking a step into the ball and swinging through the mid-line.
• Test the players balance by making them continue to walk through after the strike. (This will correct common mistakes of being off balance and hitting the up or with the back of the stick.)
• What will determine the success of the strike will be the speed the ball is travelling away from the player and the direction of it. (The player needs to have the ball under a controlled pace to keep it the right distance from them and so not to be off balanced and stretching for the ball at impact.)

 

- Rotate the stick to reverse side.

- Strike centre of the ball 

-Both feet hsould be faced 90 degree angle from the target. 

-Keep weight over the ball.

- Speed of the ball determines the success.

- Keep balanced