Field Hockey - Half field press. - Help

Adnan ZakirCoach, England

Hey Andrew In facing to half court be patiant and no lose balls from 3d battrey. I have 3 ideas is%3A- 1. Hard hitting in oppenet week areas. 2. create a space in corners and play arial balls there. 3. play in sides and making fouls.and fast transfars. its all depand on the situation which tool you will use on the current sutation. Thanks Adnan Zakir

Hockey CoachCoach

Hi there. It is amazing, even if you know how to play against - guys still struggle. Hence - we still play a half court press against many teams. And of course it works. Counter-attacking into lots of space. Hopefully the following will help you. NEVER approach the press carrying the ball. Obviously the last thign you want to do is have a 1 vs 1 situation with no defenders behind you. Let the LH and RH creep up and keep the ball moving between the two CH's. This will fatique opposition strikers as well. Two easy ways to break down the half court press. Hit a striker with a longish ball. The strikers must lead towards the midfield area with all the midfielders creating space/ holes for them. The second is to move the ball quickly from the left hand side of the field to the creeping RH who plays a 2 vs 1 against their LL with you RL. Ball speed is obviously crucial. It then becomes very easy to break down. Finding a pass to a bursting LL or RL will also work as they then release early to LH or RH. Hope that helps. I say all of this, because I play with a half court often and see where the holes are at times. Also find their one player who doesnt mark well in the midfield and exploit that. I like the previous suggstion of aerials too. If the oppisiton defence allow space behind them. Throw aerials into that space for strikers to run around and try pick up. ie not directly to them but in space behind them.