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Hockey: Chasing the Tackle 2 - Closing Down.

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Closing down

Objective: To encourage a defender to close down rapidly, reducing the time the opponent has on the ball but at the same time avoiding a situation where they get too close and are eliminated.

Purpose: By closing down the attacker and running alongside them forces the attacker wide and to continue down the line, rather than coming inside to attack a more dangerous part of the field.

Structure: 2 attackers + 1 defender

Channel onto teammate

Objective: To introduce the concept of channelling the ball carrier onto a team mate to complete the tackle.

Purpose: For the defender to dictate where the attacker goes so the cover defender can win the ball with a low hard tackle.

Structure: 2 attackers+ 2 defenders, in a narrow 10 yard channel.

COACHING POINTS

Closing Down:

1st Defender

Closing down rapidly whilst the ball is in en route to the wide attacker (The defender must arc their run towards the attacker to force the attacker down the line. If they close down the attacker by running straight at them, the attackers first touch could take him inside and eliminate straight away.)
'Jump turn' to turn feet in the same direction as opponents.
Focus on matching the attackers speed, keeping your body slightly ahead of your opponent, whilst watching the ball.
Retain arm + stick distance at all times.
Anticipate a change of direction rather than reacting to it.
Utilise a dummy tackle to force your opponent to keep their head down and force them away from goal.
Repeat exercise with right shoulder leading. (Left half, showing right winger the line, keeping their stick in a strong position rather than dangling it out on their reverse).

Channel onto team mate

2nd Defender

Position themselves on the shoulder of the defender, slightly more infield so that when the first defender gets infront of the attacker, he is forced onto the covering defenders challenge.
Open the stance 45 degrees to allow an open or reverse stick challenge to be made as required.
The stick should be held in a central, neutral position.
The tackle should be proactive and made in a 90 degree arc infront of the tackler - earlier than the opponent may anticipate.
THE NUMBER ONE DEFENDER SHOULD CONTINUE THEIR RUN IN BEHIND THE BLOCK TACKLER IN CASE THEY ARE ELIMINATED TO PROVIDE COVER AND SECURITY

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Chasing the Tackle - Matching Their Speed + Forcing Attacker Away From Goal:

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Objective: To establish the principle that matching your opponents speed places the tackler in a position to control an opponent and to not let them beat them to attack on the inside.

Purpose: By staying level will the attacker and putting sufficient pressure on the ball carrier will prevent them from being able to beat the defender on the inside. Instead it will force them to continue on the outside, running into trouble and hopefully giving the ball away.

Strcuture: Pairs.Â

Condition: Forward has a ball and moves in a straight line, defender tries to match their speed, putting pressure on with dummy tackles.

Moving with the ball

Cross over relays:

Same principle as the straight relays, but players have to run diagonally across avoiding the other team.

It is that all players keep their heads up and do not run so fast that it causes them to lose control of the ball.

Moving with the ball

Dribbling Players v Runners:

On the command the player with the ball runs around the blue cones, with the player without a ball running around the red cones. It is a race to see the first one back.

Moving with the ball