
Staying behind the halfway line and shifting with the movement of the ball engaging only once the ball is over the halfway line. Patience and a disciplined press forced the opposition to make a smart decision to break down the play. Allows for your team to attack into space and ideally force a 3v2 towards goal.
front three need to get their angles right, keeping distance between eachother as they shift left to right Middle-player needs to be three to four paces deeper than the front two to create a pocket of space. If carried into the pocket then close down the space The left forward covers the board with their glove and the middle-player covers the inside. Right forward has more leeway as it is on their front stick Defenders - cover the left shoulder line of the middle person and right forward and shift with the play while always scanning to be aware of the forward movements
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
2026 is the first full year with mandatory face masks for penalty corner defence. Here's how to train your defenders for the new equipment reality.
Move beyond drills and let your players discover solutions through play. The constraints-led approach is transforming how hockey is coached at every level.
From mandatory safety equipment to evolving tactical systems and player-centred coaching methods, field hockey is transforming. Here's what every coach needs to know for 2026.