Attacking inside the D - Shoot, Pass or get a Shortie

DESCRIPTION

Making the right decision/choice is one of the hardest things to do on a hockey pitch, particularly as a Forward in the D. When do I shoot myself, when do I pass to a teammate and when do I turn possession in the D into a Short Corner opportunity?

COACHING POINTS

In the diagram on the right a red attacker has the ball. The rectangle is the area we might expect a Left Forward or Centre Forward to pick up the ball from a pass from their midfield on a break. When they turn they are faced with a defender who will try and channel them away from goal. Depending on how well the defender does the attacker will find themselves entering the D either from the side on a "banana run" or directly at the top of the D. Where you are in the D determines your options:

In the Team Zones

1. PASS - Look for a simple pass into the Selfish Zone that sets up one of your teammates
2. FOOT - If you cant see a pass, then a defender's foot will be nearby so drive the ball onto that foot/through their legs winning your team a short corner.

In the Selfish Zone

1. SHOOT - Remember aim just inside the post - if it does go just wide of the post one of your team mates should be there poaching just outside the post and "making the goal wider"
2. FOOT - If the shot isn't on because there is too much pressure from defenders..you guessed it put it on their foot (hint: a defender's left foot is their weakness as it is hardest to protect with the stick)