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Roles and Responsibilty/Press

The two 'lessons' on formation, don't expand. they don't actually go into what the roles and responsibilities are.Also, a while ago Im sure that there was something on differnt types of 'press', FULL and HALF COURT....? Cant find them on the web site....Also don't quite understand being a paying member and the 'free' aspect of thge website, what do I get by paying, I am slightly confused.I do like the website, but it doesnt appear to be as good as it eas last season?Hope you can help me,Regards,Alistair

Archived User Coach

I'm looking for suggestions on set plays for free hits?

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

Please explain the rule about the free hit outside?

Please explain the rule about the free hit outside the sirkle.

Archived User Coach

self pass rule confusion

Hi everyone, I have been hunting for a more detailed explanation on the self pass rule for hockey. My under standing of it is that a self pass must involve the ball moving five meters before it is hit by the player or it must be hit from a dead positon (not moving) I have umpired many games where the players 'tap and hit' the ball, often with another player rushing in to tackle just as the 'tap' is played. This seems dangerous but im not sure if the tackler is playing dangerously or if the 'tap and hit' player is dangerous? I have read the rule book but this rule is not explicit enough. Any interpretaions welcome. Thanks

Archived User Coach

Free hit drill for 7-8yr olds.

Does anyone have a simple drill for 7-8yr olds to help with what to do when the whistle blows for a free hit?

Jill McKee Coach, New Zealand

Rule clarification: If a player's 5 yards from the free hit is it obstruction?

player is getting ready to hit free hit. other player on same team is 5 yards away waiting if pass is needed it. defender is right behind her. is tha obstruction?

Ed kolnaski Coach, United States of America

Defending lifts on free hits

I am a high school coach in the USA. We played a team this past weekend who had a defender who lifted on a free hit 30-40 yards. That was pretty much their only offense. All of their forwards were ready to receive the long balls. How do we defend that? Should I have almost everyone drop back 30-40 yards?

Archived User Coach

5-yard rule in hockey?

could someone comment on the 5 yard rule when entering the scoring area? There always seams to be a lot of wrong information regarding this rule.

Gaby Coach, United States of America

Does it cost me anything to be a member for this website?

Does it cost me anything to be a member for this website?

Kim Gadwood Coach, United Arab Emirates

Drills with Lock sign

Hello Team, I am new to this site and have signed up for free individual membership. In a few drills, I see a lock sign however can see the videos post clicking on it. Would like to understand if these are available for free or if there is a cost associated with it. Thank you, Bhumit

Bhumit Coach, India

What do I get with free membership?

Archived User Coach

How to coach school team with novices and experienced players?

Hi,I perhaps naively, expected to have most of our team from last year carry over and only have a few new comers to integrate and get up to speed with the rest. However meeting the team at our first practice last night i find I have five players still at school from last year and the rest all new comers, most of whom had not held a hockey stick at all till practice.This being only my second season coaching (year 9 to year 13 boys) has left me feeling a little blindsided, and feeling quite unsure how to prepare practices that target both groups of boys. Do i lump them both groups together, keep them separate? What drills/exercises to best bring the new comers up to speed.I don't want to neglect either group, keep practice worthwhile for the experienced boys, but also bringing the new comers up to a level were they can mix in with the others and learn organically from them while practicing as a team. David

David Smith Coach, New Zealand

Break through a team that is playing half court press?

How can you train to break through a team that starts half court and your team starts with the ball? Four players in the defence start maybe playing the ball first to the left wing and this player hits the ball back to the free defence player who passes the ball to the right defence player who is over the 23 meter line... I like to understand the different tactical approaches. Can you share some ideas with me?

R.P. Witkamp Coach, Netherlands

how much does it cost

I can;t work out how much the site costs, if I upgrade what do I get

Dina Gray Coach, England

The monthly charge for Sportplan?

After the free joining fee, how much is the monthly fee for sportplan?RegardsJM

JM Coach, England

free trial

Hi! Do you offer a free trial, so people can get to know what you offer?

Sam Makelele Coach, Finland

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

5-yard rule in hockey? | Sport...

could someone comment on the 5 yard rule when entering the scoring area? There always seams to be a lot of wrong information regarding this rule.

Gaby Coach, United States of America

Midfield positioning on 16yd h...

hi there I'm using 4-4-2 and on sometimes 3-1-4-2 with a lower level hockey team.I've chosen this over other formations, simply because the hockey experience and ability of my players is not of a high level (and most people have an approximate understanding of 442). Also, I believe that one must choose a formation based on players traits and what they can deliver. For example, I'd ideally prefer to have 3 forwards, to help with more height and width but then would have to either play 3 in the middle or 3 at the back... and my player strengths don't permit this. In short, I simply don't believe I have a strong enough CH / CM to handle 3 in the middle and I'm not convinced that the off-the-ball support from other players is strong enough to allow 3 in the middle. OFFENSIVE PLAYS Anyway, I'm not 100% where to get my centre mids to stand when we have a 16 yd hit to take (i.e. our possession). Obviously one of the CMs comes deep to offer a potential direct outlet from the centre backs or offer an overload option if the ball goes out to the sides (which is more likely, since I've pretty much banned the high risk play of releasing up the middle - we've had far too many turnovers in our final third or quarter because we tried to play up the middle). My players are 'aware' of posting up and leading runs. However, I'm not sure about the 2nd CM. On the one hand I'd ideally like the 2nd CM to come deep as well, in order to potentially help break up the opposition press but by doing so, I distort the midfield and if we do manage to get the ball to one of the CMs, he won't have the 2nd CM in a higher position to release to, etc. DEFENSIVE POSITIONING Can someone suggest, again, about midfield positioning using 4-4-2 or 3-1-4-2, when we are setting up a general press? I have traditionally encouraged man marking, simply because our general positional awareness is weak (which makes zonal play a no-no IMO) + our tracking and attitude to committed defending (i.e. you don’t give up if one tackle fails) could be better! However, looking at suggested presses on Sportplan, some zonal positioning seems a necessity and I think if I can help my players make the step, success will come because they've been forced to become more aware of their pitch positioning, etc. Also, looking at some of the presses, it looks like the midfield can go 'flat' to create a barrier... and as I encourage a diamond shape in midfield, I need to explain to my players what to do and when. Sorry for the wordy question. I hope this all makes sense. Regards, Gary

Gary Thompson Coach, England

why is shooting important in h...

why is shooting important in hockey

Archived User Coach

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