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Mixed ability PE group - any suggestions?

I'm really struggling with teaching a really big mixed ability group at school. 35 girls ranging from county level to struggling to hold the stick correctly. i've done mixed ability tournaments and splitting them, but its getting a bit stale. any ideas? Pretty basic I know, but hey, we've got to start somewhere!

Jennifer theeditorTeacher, United Kingdom

Defeating the screen?

I notice the screen is hard for a weaker teams backs to get the ball through. What are some methods of defeating the screen for juniors? The Olympics dont seem to use screens, they seem to instead retreat first to fill holes in the middle? while the team with the ball does back and around in front of their goal for a while before sending it down the wing. Would the umpire notice if you put one of your players amongst their screen to provide a path past that player to another player deeper? Your player in the screen blocking the path of the defender from getting a stick to the passing ball. Is it just that senior players are able to do effective lateral cross turf hits, so the screen is unrealistically player intensive, leaving holes in the middle risky? Whereas entirely logical to use a screen against a weak team?

Hockey CoachCoach

Identify when the PC shot is a drag or a hit

When the PC shot is identified as a drag, it seems the defenders should veer away, else suffer the penalty shot if they get a body hit high? Whereas if it is instead identified as a hit, run straight, then if it hits feet, another PC, or if it is higher then it is turnover and maybe pain? If so, I guess the expert defenders are used to quickly deciding whether it is a drag or a hit, so whether to veer off for the drag, or to stay on track for the hit, protect feet, or if the hit is higher then take some pain for the benefit of the team? I am coaching young girls at present, where the penalty shot is not used yet. I dont play hockey myself, but the Olympics shows these events. Although the replays, sunlight reflection and the angles were a bit dissapointing.

Hockey CoachCoach

When is blocking not blocking?

After coaching my team to spin with the ball we started getting the whistle for blocking. Yet during the olympics when running down the clock the experts take the ball into a corner, contain the ball there, and there is no whistle. What is the detail?

Hockey CoachCoach

Tournament prep -building fitness.

I have just returned from coaching my first high school hockey tournament. It was great fun but the girls really felt it by the end of the tournament. I want to offer guidance in the form of a fitness build up to the girls for next season but am not sure what my expectations should be. How fit should you be looking to get if you are preparing to play 7 50min games over 5 days? And what types of fitness should I be suggesting? Sprinting and Intervals along with Swimming are things I feel that could be introduced. Ideally it needs to be accessable (not expensive or require special equipment), self managed (to an extent) and let it fit in with their daily rountine as best possible to give them the best chance to commit (i.e. I feel like suggesting they power walk to school rather than get dropped off will work better than asking them to join a gym to do the pelaton classes) Any ideas? Or things that have worked in the past?

Hockey CoachCoach

looking to run a session on v drag

looking to run a session on v drag bringing in 4 v 2 using v drag to make space please could you help me

mark boltonCoach, England

Should we play differently on real grass?

Playing field hockey on real grass not turff. Any advice as to good tactics, more running with the ball rather than passing game?

Bruce WalgrenCoach, Canada

Coaching small teams

I have a team of 12 girls, many are new to the game. How do I prepare them to work together as a team and learn their positions when I can't simulate a game in practice?

Hockey CoachCoach

I have a squad of about 22 men and half a field!

I have a squad of about 22 men who play at a pretty high level. However we only have the use of half a field as we share the astro with others. Not ideal. Need some advice to keep everyone busy and interested. Do I split the guys into 4 or 5 stations and rotate them? If so, what stations would you recommend and how long at each station? Your advice on this would be appreciated a.s.a.p. Thank you

MarkCoach, Austria

Re involving GKs in junior coaching sessions.

I really struggle to make practice fun and useful for the GKs. My attention is naturally focussed on the outfield players, meaning most of the time I simply have drills finishing with a shot on goal to keep the GK involved. Pretty boring for them. Any ideas how I can involve them more? Thanks, Charlie

Carol RidgeCoach, England

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