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loop DRILLS
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Island Bulldog

All the players with a ball must try and get from one side to the other without having their ball taken from them by the defender. If they are tackled then they also become a defender. None of the players are allowed on the islands (use cones to mark off these areas). The last player to be tackled is the winner.

Conditioned Games

Move left then strike

Players set up as shown in the diagram. The ball is pushed out to the stopper at the top of the circle. The main striker (Blue 3) runs over the top of the ball giving the impression they are going to strike the ball. The stopper moves the ball to the left for a strike (Blue 5). Players 1 and 6 move in to pick up any rebounds with player 4 staying slightly deeper.

Set Pieces

Movement & Kicking Drill

Setup as shown. Place 4-6 balls per station. The goalkeeper starts on the cone nearest the goal and moves sideways to the cone on the penalty spot. When the keeper reaches the cone the feeder rolls a ball under arm for the goalkeeper to kick the ball left-footed into the goal. The coach feeds the balls from each station before moving onto the next one. The goalkeeper moves on the command from each coach.

Goal keeping

Pass and score

Players line up in two groups outside the 23 metre area.Player on the left, passes the ball to a player on the right running towards the goal. On receiving the ball this player runs into the circle and shoots at goal. After passing the ball, the player on the left runs towards the goal and receives the pass from the player on the left etc.

Shooting & Goalscoring

Quick Shot Relay

The practice starts with the first red player dribbling their ball to the goal line before passing the ball back to the player who is on the penalty spot. The player receiving the ball then shoots at goal and the player who made the pass (red player 1) carries on their run to the penalty spot to replace player 4. The same happens on the left hand side and the practice continues to loop around alternating from the the right and then the left.

Shooting & Goalscoring

Reverse stick Drag stage 6

To finish the skill progression you can put out a pretend player with a flat stick and get the player to do a double drag or a lift the video shows a double drag

Session Videos

Shooting Warm-Up

Pass the ball into the path of the player running towards the circle. Player receiving the ball, should keep the stick on the ball when entering the circle and try and shoot as close to the top of the circle, as possible.

Shooting & Goalscoring

Standard Straight Strike

Players line up as shown in the diagram. The ball is pushed out for the stopper to stop at the top of the circle, before moving the ball in for the striker to hit the ball at the goal.

Set Pieces

Train Line

Jogging gently in lines of about 4 / 5, one behind the other. The back player moves to the front of the line (not a sprint but quicker than a jog) and slows to a jog. The front person chooses where to run and leads the group.

Warm-up Games

Two players one ball

Player 1 passes the ball square to player 2 and has to run diagonally to get in front and ahead of player 2. Player 2 on receiving the ball runs diagonally and passes the ball in front of player 1. Then player 2 runs on to receive the ball square again from player 1. Who then again runs diagonally in front to receive the ball back. They should continue this until the first player into the circle receives the ball and shoots.

Movement off the ball

three man weave from half way ...

White Player  passes the ball toRed player who runs in field with the ball to allow the white player to loop round .Red Player passes to Blue player Blue player on receiving the ball runs infield to allow the red player to loop round. Blue player passes the ball to the white player and the practice repeats until a shot at goal.

General

Quick Shot Relay Shooting & Go...

The practice starts with the first red player dribbling their ball to the goal line before passing the ball back to the player who is on the penalty spot. The player receiving the ball then shoots at goal and the player who made the pass (red player 1) carries on their run to the penalty spot to replace player 4. The same happens on the left hand side and the practice continues to loop around alternating from the the right and then the left.

General

Pass and switch positions Pass...

The player without the ball (player 2) runs towards the opposite cone and communicates to their partner that they are ready to receive the ball. After making the straight pass player 1 runs to the opposite cone to receive a square pass from player 2. Player 2 must adjust their body and footwork in order to receive the ball.

General

2 vs 1 Movement off the ball -...

The player with the ball passes the ball square to the other attacking player. Upon receiving the ball player 2 runs laterally across the defender, staying just out of reach. In the meantime player 1 has to run diagonally into the space behind the defender. Player 2 has two options they can pass the ball into the space behind the defender for player 1 to run onto or player 2 can keep the ball and continue to run past the defender. Player 2 can pass at any time and must run to be available for the return pass from player 1.

General

Colour code Movement off the b...

Set out lines of cones in two different colours. One player always along the red line and the other always along the blue cones. Players pass the ball to the other player every time they reach a cone, culminating in a switching of sides and changing of passing order when they reach the final cone.

General

2 vs 1 Scoring on the break - ...

The player with the ball passes the ball square to the other attacking player. Upon receiving the ball player 2 runs laterally across the defender, staying just out of reach. In the meantime player 1 has to run diagonally into the space behind the defender. Player 2 has two options they can pass the ball into the space behind the defender for player 1 to run onto or player 2 can keep the ball and continue to run past the defender. Player 2 can pass at any time and must run to be available for the return pass from player 1.

General

Hockey: Two player square pass...

Moving back and forth between two cones players make straight and diagonal passes to each other while moving.

General

Principles of Flicking Shootin...

- Basics of flicking the ball<br />- Similar to the push movement<br />- Left hand at the top of the stick, right hand at the bottom of the grip<br />- Feet should start shoulder width apart, with the ball just behind the left foot<br />- The head of the stick should be slightly angled, and make contact with the underside of the ball<br />- Place the stick behind the ball, and step ahead of the ball, transfering weight from the back to the front foot<br />- Move the stick through the ball, lifting the stick towards the end of the movement

General

roll out to shoot Shooting & G...

Player at the top of the circle receives the ball with his/her back to the goal. Then turns with one touch, either left or right and shoots at goal. Shooting with either the flat reverse stick or the forehand.<br /><br />Each time the passer runs to the circle to become the next receiver and shooter.

General

Hockey: Reverse turn and rever...

Players do 2 reverse turns through the cones (turning around the cone furthest away from the goal each time after which they take a reverse stick shot at goal.

General

Far post Scoring Shooting & Go...

Players start with a ball on the back line they run with the ball to get the Goalkeeper to commit and then pass the ball across to the far post for the player to score the goal.

General

Hockey: Pass and follow exerci...

When player 2 receives the ball, player 3 creates a space behind them, for player 2 to pass the ball in for player 4 to run onto and receive. Player 4 can then cross the ball to the player 5 who has a shot at goal. <br>Every player then rotates to the next position.

General

Working in the D Shooting & Go...

Ball fed in to any attacker. The defenders defend against all 3 attackers. The attacker who receives the ball either shoots or passes to a free attacker. Player that shoots, comes out to the top of the circle. The player that passed the ball into the circle, takes their place.

General

Principles of Flicking Passing...

- Basics of flicking the ball<br />- Similar to the push movement<br />- Left hand at the top of the stick, right hand at the bottom of the grip<br />- Feet should start shoulder width apart, with the ball just behind the left foot<br />- The head of the stick should be slightly angled, and make contact with the underside of the ball<br />- Place the stick behind the ball, and step ahead of the ball, transfering weight from the back to the front foot<br />- Move the stick through the ball, lifting the stick towards the end of the movement

General

Shoot and Rebound Shooting & G...

Setup the practice as shown.Coach starts on the goal line by one of the penalty corner lines.Player 1 starts on the 25 yard line and dribbles to the top of the circle before shooting at goal. The same player then continues their run to receive a second ball from the coach to simulate a rebound situation.

General

pass to score pattern Shooting...

4 players position themselves in the circle, one in each zone. A player from the top of the circle passes the ball to any of the players in the circle, and follows the ball to take the the place in that zone. <br />The player receiving the ball can shoot or pass the ball. He/she then follows the pass or comes to the back of the queue at the top of the circle.

General

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loop SESSIONS
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Overlap and Support in Front of the Ball

Baffle your opponents with the illusion of an extra man - coach your players to move positively with overlapping.
loop ANSWERS
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how can a coach help a young player keep hand positioning on the stick when stopping and passing the ball his right hand is to far up the stick

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.

marlon phillips Coach, Barbados

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?

Archived User Coach

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

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

Receiving the ball forward facing

Anybody any ideas on a conditioned game to encourage receiving the ball in a forward facing position?

Mark Stuart-Thompson Coach, England

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

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