What position should I play my weaker players?

Sportplan TeamAdministrator, United Kingdom

Hello Adrian,

Using the search bar (above) we were able to find these past answers which should help, or at least give you some ideas to get you get you started:

• Q. Rotating positions experiences
• Q. How to encourage positional play (spreading out) to U9 players?

If other coaches have suggestions to add please do, using the box below!

Hockey CoachCoach

How many players per team (age group ?) and in what formation do you play ?

There are many answers and possibilities, from my experiences here are some ideas.

- Weaker defense or midfielders on the right side (forehand techniques).

- Weaker attack player on the left side, more attacks go over the right side and as attacker it is easier to score from the left side. Also the stronger players set-up the actions over the right side, needing the skills to do that, weaker players don't get through.

- Put a strong player behind or next to a weaker player, they feel more secure and the stronger player can solve a "problem" when needed, also the reason to find a good formation with enough secure barriers.

- Maybe you would like to make a social gesture and make a weaker player start the game... don't do it, start with your strongest possible team ! The opponent must be pressured immediately, it's better to bring "weaker" players during the game as this will be less noticed. Starting with weaker players will give mental advantage to the opponent and build their confidence and is a disadvantage to your team - the kids are not stupid, they know who is the weakest player, they feel insecure when starting like this. Also the danger of getting an early goal from the opposition must be avoided.

- Make weaker players better, don't let them train always with other weak players, train them against various levels, and guide them closely, make the see how and what the opponent is doing... this will give them the chance to "study" the better players and become better themselves... let the kids "coach" each other...

It is an op door: but your team is only as strong as your weakest player(s), make them stronger and the team get's stronger...

Good luck !

Ejaz SyedCoach, United States of America

Very helpful Rob.

Are there more than one kind of weakness in a player?

How to work with it?

Hockey CoachCoach

It all depends on what level you are coaching, youth or adults, elite or more recreational... but the focus would be the same. In short I believe that teams and therefore each individual player should be prepared to invest in themselves - work hard - during training and games, otherwise go play chess or something. my top 5 is like this:

1) Health (good sleeping, eating, drinking, resting, no injuries...)

2) Mental (willingness to listen, work and "sacrifice")

3) Physical (without 1 & 2 they will not do the physical work)

4) Tactical (without 3 they cannot execute any tactical plan)

5) Technical (with enough training any one can improve technique)

Again, it all depends on the level you work with, but the basics for me is the above and I start from there.

Best regards

Coach JacksonCoach, United States of America

Just my two cents:I do not typically put the weakest players back on the defensive line.  I try to rotate them through the front (attacking) line on the left side.  Putting weaker players on defense leaves you vunerable to (potentially) lots of corners getting called against your team.  Hope this helps.

Ejaz SyedCoach, United States of America

Thank you for highlighting the 5 characteristics Rob.

If players arrive on time each day, then chess is not their 1st choice.

Would you share some more on weakness with your experience working with U16?

For Jackson: why left side?

Thank you. 

crayton moyoTeacher, Zimbabwe

Thanks Rob you just helped me a lot!!

Thankyou.

Hockey CoachCoach

@Ejaz: some specific issues or questions/problems you have in mind ?

@Crayton: happy to hear that :-)

ahmed mohammed sabaCoach, Nigeria

"Weaker attack player on the left side, more attacks go over the right side and as attacker it is easier to score from the left side".

Can you kindly expantiate on the above, thanks.

Hockey CoachCoach

A "weaker" player is more focussing on the forehand techniques. Therefore he/she will position him/herself with the left shoulder or even the back towards the goal recieving a pass from a co-player. In this position the stopping/control of the ball will be in forehand and a shot/push can be taken also in forehand. An attacker comming from the right side must be capable of giving also a backhandshot, which most "weaker" players cannot.

crayton moyoTeacher, Zimbabwe

@Rob i tried it out with my first team during prac and i had to shuffle my players around different positions (placing the weaker players on the left and so on..) ....it worked wonders....the team won that game ..and not only was i impressed with the result..but also how the `team` as a whole looked good playing with great shape and structure and mostly ...how it became easy for the team to cover up for their weaker players during the game...thanks!!..will keep at it for the rest of the season!!

Hockey CoachCoach

Would be better to think of players in groups of three: one weaker player supported by two stronger players. Also don`t entirley agree with having weaker player set up on LHS, can see the advantage around pick-ups and turning out strong, but teams generally attack centre/right so you are placing the weaker player in the thick of action defensively...