Open Receiving

DESCRIPTION

A.

Player 1 makes a leading run away from the baseline and receives a pass from player 2. They are aiming to control the ball in an open stance so that they can pass the ball onto player 3 in one movement.

Change the drill so instead of receiving on their stick side, they are receiving a pass under their arm.

B.

Same long playing area but with an attacker and a defender in the centre.

Attacker receives the ball from the first player and is aiming to turn the defender to pass it on to the opposite player. Run this for 4 passes before swapping the outside players for the inside players. Then again with attackers and defenders swapped.

COACHING POINTS

A.

What is the most important thing for a successful open receive? THE PASS!!! Too many of the women smack the ball at eachother at full power which forces the receiver to take it in a closed position, stop the ball and lose momentum.

We want to weight the pass so it matches the speed of our attacker.

Receiving on the front side - shoulder and feet towards the direction of travel. Follow the movement of the ball with your eyes and your stick and pick it up on your right foot.

Receiving under arm: try to match run with speed of the ball. Time your movement so that you start facing the passer then turn your stick, shoulders and feet to the way you want to go.

B.

Watch 90s England Hockey video on creating space vs a defender who is front marking or back marking.

It's about the movement of the attacker to create space for themselves and see if they can create a position where the receive the ball open with their body between the defender and the ball. Double movements to draw the defender then lead into the space. Think about first touch before making the lead.