Field Hockey: pushing

pushing DRILLS
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pushing ANSWERS
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Is it too late for me to get involved in hockey?

I'm a junior and really wanna play. Is it too late? Also, how do I get started? Thanks!

Archived User Coach

Midfield positioning on 16yd hits and presses when using 4-4-2?

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

What should go on my team tryout checklist?

Do you have a checklist sheet for the week of tryouts for Varsity level?

Archived User Coach

How can I help my U12 girls to attack?

How can I help my u/12 girls to attack? At the moment they are running beside the opponent but not attacking the players.

carien Coach, South Africa

Question about a drill in the Sportplan session

Hi, in this week's session "My players lack the ability to pass accurately", there's a progressive exercise called "shoot and recover". Sorry if this is a dumb question but when a player is 'shooting' at their target goal, is the other player allowed to defend the goal?I ask because the diagram makes it look like you're pushing over around 12m and I'd have thought that unless you make the goals huge, with a player defending the goal, people just aren't going to score.Also, if you make the goals really big, it kinda defeats the person of the accuracy element to the exercise.Hope you can assist. Regards,Gary

Gary Thompson Coach, England

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

How do you teach children aged 7 how to play a hockey match?

I coach aged 7 children and I don't know how to teach them how to play a proper hockey match without all of them going for the ball and not staying in their positions. Do I put lines where they are not allowed to pass? or what?

Bev Coach, South Africa

How to trap penalty corners like the Spanish?

I wanted to learn how to trap pc's like the the Spanish team i.e with the stick upright. Does any have any tips?

Archived User Coach

Distance between the Cones

I would like to see the distances between the cones shown for most of the exercises

Graham Bone Coach, New Zealand

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

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

How do you do a good hockey warm up with just ball and stick

hockey warm up basic equipment 5 mins

Ellie Coach, England

Problems Clearing the Circle

I'm in the U.S., coaching a team of 11-12 year olds, with 1-2 years of experience. Defending the circle, when the ball is loose, my players are not getting control of the ball to hit out of the circle. It's congested with opponent and my team's players. If my players get control, they lose it quickly. If the opponent has control, my players aren't very good at taking the ball or stopping the opponent from taking a shot. Luckily we have a good goalie but she can only do so much. (Full disclosure: I didn't play FH but have a decent understanding of the game. No one else in my community would step up to coach so it's fallen to me.)

Brandon Cowart Coach, United States of America

throwing games away in last quarter

we are often the better team,for three quarters we push the opposition but in the last quarter we concede 2 or more goals.We have a massive national tournament coming up with the best teams in the country,and I am afraid that this might cost us dearly.Does anyone have a drill or structure plan I could use?

Leone Lanuti Coach, South Africa

Break through a team that is p...

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

Drag flick for teen girls | Sp...

Hi just wondering the best way to teach drag flicks to young ladies. I've tried a following videos by make players and am not getting results. Any ideas? Thanks in advance Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Leesa Coach, Australia

I'm planning a 30min pan-disab...

I'm planning a 30min pan-disability session. Players are new to hockey, and have various physical and learning disabilities. We'll cover pushing and dribbling. Then need a fun drill that can be flexible for all abilities. Any ideas everyone?

Philippa Leguen de Lacroix Coach, England

Please tell me about strong pa...

My team's players don't have strong pass. So our pass is hard to arrive for FW. Please tell me way to pass (push, sweep, hit) strong.

Archived User Coach

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