As the children arrive for the training session the are allocated to a pitch and a team. Initially only one pitch will be used and the teams will be very small (i.e. 1v1s, 2v2s) - if there are odd numbers then one side will have a numerical advantage over the other. Continue 'growing' team sizes as the children arrive until Pitch 1 has a 6v6 match - at this point each team is split into two with half moving to Pitch 2 (i.e. there is now a 3v3 match being played on both Pitch 1 and Pitch 2). Continue to 'grow' team sizes until both reach the split point (6v6) this time leading to a 3v3 game on 4 pitches. Continue until all 8 pitches have roughly equal numbers of players.
in more ways than one
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in more ways than one
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England Hockey's rule guidance for 2026/27 takes effect from 1 September. Here are the changes that will actually alter how you coach, and how to brief your squad in one pre-season session.
