Reverse Technique

Shooting on the reverse is one of the harder skills to master in hockey and many of the girls won't have done this at school. The first drill is all about teaching the drill in a static isolated condition so the correct technique can be learnt. Players will spread all the side of the pitch and use the rebounds off the side boards to practice the two different techniques (5 minutes should be spent on each). They will need big gaps between them to avoid players being hit by a stick or the ball. Upright Hit Technique: Grip- Use the double ‘V’ grip hands at top of stick with the ‘V’s in line with back edge. Make sure the hands aren't too close into the body as this will reduce the swing the player is able to do. Body position- the toe of the stick points to the floor and the feet should be at right angles to the shooting line. Rotate the shoulders to the left on back swing, this swing is more upright and far back as a drive hit would be on the forehand. Swing and ball position- The stick should be nearly vertical at impact with the ball which should be positioned slightly to left of right foot. If the stick isn't vertical its likely the player will lift the ball or top it (where you hit the top and it bobbles only a few yards forward). Tomahawk Technique: Grip- hold the stick in a normal hitting grip but with your stick turned by about a quarter so that when you hit the rounded edge of the stick would be facing the ground and flat side facing the sky (frying pan grip). Body Position- again the player is at a right angle from target and very low to the ground (different to the upright position). With the right foot lunging forward and the side of the right thigh facing the goal. The right foots toes are facing the ball rather than the target. Ball Position- the ball is a stick length in front of the right foot and in line with the feet. The balls impact with the stick is about slightly up from the stick head. Swing- start from the right shoulder, in contact with the ball the stick should be parallel with the ground and follow through around the body. - For both of these techniques it is important that the players keep their eye on the ball and have their body positioned at a right angle to the board/ goal. If players are struggling break the skills down into the swing, the contact and then the follow through. Most will struggle with the swing as its an awkward position to be in and not comfortable. If players have phones with them get them to film each other in partners using the slow mo feature to see where they are going wrong and how they can improve. Make sure that the ball is static to start with. 1.) The ball is very unlikely going to be stationary when doing a reverse shot so by players gently rolling the ball they can start to gauge how far the ball needs to be in front of them before making contact. Will also help them weight the ball correctly (how hard they push the ball in front of them) when they come to do the next shooting drill.