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Hockey: Practice to learn the principle of the 1/2 court press

Excellent, used the drills at our first training session today with...

Shane, Hockey Coach

DESCRIPTION

The defending team forms a line on the half way line of the pitch (in this case the 23m line).
Any player from the opposition that runs beyond the line of defence, should be very tightly marked while inside the 1/2 court. Every time the attacking player runs back out. The defender should stop on the defensive line. Every time the team playing 1/2 court gains possession of the ball they should have a fast break situation. It is important that only 2 out of the 5 players should take the opportunity of this break, and not the whole team, because on losing the ball you still want to be able to continue playing the 1/2 court.

COACHING POINTS

Set the defending team a target to hold on to a lead of 1 - 0 for 5 minutes.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

King Ball:

This is a game where you learn to pass the ball beyond defenders, to players in space. No aerial ball allowed. Two teams positioned either side of the 23m line. One player from each team goes to the end zone behind the opposing team. The team with the ball has to try and pass the ball into the end zone behind the defence. Whoever makes the successful pass can join the player in the end zone. The aim of the game is to be the first team to have all their players in the end zone behind the opposition. The ball can only be won by the opposition intercepting a ball on the way to the end zone or back.

Conditioned Games

Playing 6 v 6:

Score at goal 1 and 2 = 1 point.
Score at goal 3 = 2 points.

If team A scored a goal at 3, team A should straight away change direction and try to score at goal 1 or 2.

Conditioned Games

Attacking down the Wing:

One of the players on the half way line passes the ball back to the two central defenders (7 and 8)
The midfielder may then make him/herself available.
The aim is to try and score a goal but try to attack round the outside
The two attackers (1 and 2 are being man to man marked.
Defenders are not allowed out of the half.

Conditioned Games

Closed Zones:

The aim of this exercise is to encourage the players to attack down the wings. The attacking team is not allowed to pass or attack through the zone. Defenders, on winning the ball, have to try and get the ball out of the 23m area, also wide of the zone.

Conditioned Games

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