Field Hockey: defense plays

defense plays DRILLS
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defense plays ANSWERS
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what are good penalty corner plays?

what are good penalty corner plays?

Archived User Coach

What is your best advice to a boy playing sweeper in a team with a poor defense

My son has been given the role of sweeper in a team that has only won  twice in two years.  He is probably the weakest player in the team.  What advice can I give him to think about when playing, so that he can improve and enjoy a personal sense of achievement. In training sessions I have never seen any drills designed to organise the defence which is amazing since the teams ambition is usually to keep the goals against to single figures! Are there standard apporoaches as to how close to be  to the player you are marking or which side to stand to stop the attacker getting free with the ball on his open stick?.

Archived User Coach

How can we overcome a 1-4-4-2 formation?

I coach a women's team wide range in age 16 - 54 , when the stars align we are a very strong team hard to beat and very stingy when it comes to goals against, the games we do lose are usually 1-0 games,The exception comes when we play a team that plays a 1-4-4-2 ,what makes it worse is that we play a 4-4-2 and are very successful with it, but when it comes to defending against it my Defense and Mids become confused. I have not had any luck in figuring out a way to explain to my team how to defend against it. Any ideas on an easy way to fix this? Thanks

William Phillips Coach, Canada

Defensive formations

Hi, my defense I'm worried cos two of my boys are heavy and slow. they working hard but I'm struggling to create a formation that doesn't put my defense at risk. I need your advice on what to do.

graham Coach, South Africa

2:4:4:1system....how to play i...

Suggestions on how to play this system. I have very young 1st team so feel i must play defensive hockey. Thanks

Bev Koch Coach, South Africa

teaching presses on free hits ...

Hi allI am looking for advice on how to implement processes in my girls school hockey team. processes of setting up presses, defensive structures and counter attacking thinking. I have 14 players in the team from 15 years old to 18. we train twice a week. only a few play club hockey as well. We either play a 3-1-4-2 or a 3-1-3-3.I find it difficult for example, when you want to teach a press on the opposition 16, to simulate gameplay with only 14 players (if they are all at training). I can have my halves setup for taking the 16 and then get my strikers and links to setup, but then I still want defenders to see things from the back but they are taking the 16? Also when taking the 16 they then don't have any support in the drill because everyone else is setting up a press?I know we need to work on our basics in order for the other tactics and skills and game plans to work. However I find it frustrating with this team that on counter attacks for a few reasons which I am struggling to mend;- they only head forward. No one holds up the ball to wait for support.- they run straight and don't use angles- they pass too late and get tackled - they don't have the vision to see an early pass or pass into space- players without the ball do not run into useful positions and angles and get caught out by the person with the ball who then makes a pass to no one and it runs out of play.So suggestions please for;- open, creative but simple counter attacking- teaching processes for presses on free hits and 16s- coaching how to take 16s and work your way out- coaching vision and expecting your players to be in support. RegardsMatt

Matthew Lydall Coach, South Africa

What position should I play my...

Hi Im new to coaching hockey want to know what position do I play some of my weaker players without them losing interest and there confidence.

Archived User Coach

What is your best advice to a ...

My son has been given the role of sweeper in a team that has only won  twice in two years.  He is probably the weakest player in the team.  What advice can I give him to think about when playing, so that he can improve and enjoy a personal sense of achievement. In training sessions I have never seen any drills designed to organise the defence which is amazing since the teams ambition is usually to keep the goals against to single figures! Are there standard apporoaches as to how close to be  to the player you are marking or which side to stand to stop the attacker getting free with the ball on his open stick?.

Archived User Coach

Defensive formation for a shor...

What is the recommended formation for a middle school level to set up for defense on a short corner, we play on grass.

Kim DeNato Coach, United States of America

Where do the defensive players...

Where do the defensive players stand during a corner?

Archived User Coach

I'm looking for suggestions on...

I'm looking for suggestions on set plays for free hits going into the circle. High school rules in the US now state that all players (attack/defense) must be 7 yards from the ball. What plans will work for drawing corners and goal scoring opportunities?

Ali Collins Coach, United States of America

To man mark or zone? | Sportpl...

My Girls team I coach get caught a lot between man marking and zonal marking in the 23 yard area and sometimes end up with half the team doing one and the rest the other. Suggestions on the ideal defensive set up inside the 23?

Archived User Coach

Indoor hockey defending | Spor...

Dear colleagues, what are the best ways to defend an attacking team that is playing with a field player with goalkeeping privileges? Te question concerns indoor hockey only.

Marco Koudijs Coach, Netherlands

Defensive 16yrd hits | Sportpl...

Do you have some examples of player placements and drills for clearing the ball from defensive 16 yrd hits Thanks Mark

mark beard Coach, England

what are good penalty corner p...

what are good penalty corner plays?

Archived User Coach

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