Field Hockey: 1 on 1

My team have asked for drills to help them at 16s, can anyone help me

Playing field hockey on real grass not turff. Any advice as to good tactics, more running with the ball rather than passing game?

What are the best conditioning skills to practice with a junior high team? (12-14 yrs) We are limited the first few days to indoor practices in a small space. They are not in shape, so we are starting from scratch. Our first game is in 3 1/2 weeks.

we started the season 5-1 and now mid-way it seems we are fading? we have lost our last 3 games - what are some good drills to get them focused again and pumped for the rest of the season and to get them over the hump -to the next level. thanks

How can I help my u/12 girls to attack? At the moment they are running beside the opponent but not attacking the players.

Hi, Have to deliver a coaching session for my university task with 2 other people (20min long) to a group of school kids (under 8's) with no experience or very little. Need some advice as to what is best to start with (drills etc). here are some guidelines: 1. What skill are you focusing on? 1 skill only 2. What are your 2 coaching points? 3. How will you structure the warm-up, skill practice (plus progression) and conditioned game (what is this???)

I can't find numbered counters so I can refer to player 1, 2 etc. they are on the sessions I receive by email, but on the sketch board, I can only find A, D, F or coloured player counters - it's getting very frustrating as I'm sure they are somewhere! Please help.

we have started using the 3-3-3-1 formation and wanted some drills to reinforce this formation

Hi all, after "volunteering" at the last minute to coach last season, I'm looking forward to coaching again this season but would like to be a bit more organised starting the season. Last season I used drills from here (thank you contributors) and put together a practice plan each week addressing what I thought were our weakness from the game just played. This got us through the season, we were promoted after grading and finished the season in the top 4 playoffs for our grade.I wonder if there is some kind of guide to putting a more coherent training plan together for the season.I'm coaching a boys secondary school team, aged 12-18. What kind of skills should they have mastered?What should they be attempting, working towards mastering (individually and as a team)?I last played as a collage boy on grass fields, the change to turf pitches has obviously obsoleted (along with age) much of what I knew as a player.Any pointers appreciated.David

when creating a PDF of my plan it inserts blank pages in the PDF. e.g. a plan that should fit on 2 pages of A4 comes through as a 4 page PDF with content on pages 1 and 3 and blank pages on pg 2 and 4. How do i avoid this?

hi I would like to cancel my subscription.

Dear sportplan, When there was a sale on your platform I bought the membership for 1 $. It was on the 6th of novemver 2021 I wanted to try it and then to take a decision whether to subscribe again or not I didn’t add my banking card into accout by myself But today (11.12.2021) I saw that the payment has been done automatically That means that the card some how was added into my account after my first payment without actions from my side So cound you, please, refund me these money ($29.99) and cancel my subscribtion

hi team,I joined a $1 trial and that ended on the 10/12/21. on the same day my credit card was debited for $48 . how do I cancel my membership and receive a membership refund. cheers Brett

Hi There,I tried sharing the link to one of my sessions. When my co-coach received it, he was able to visit the page, however there were errors and the session plan did not open.Error on line 1 document 1 is empty.Is there a fix for this?

Can we have 1 membership per club so all coaches can access it on mulitple devices or will we have to have separate accounts?

Would you say switching it around to a 1-2-3 would make for better attacking formations?

we started the season 5-1 and now mid-way it seems we are fading? we have lost our last 3 games - what are some good drills to get them focused again and pumped for the rest of the season and to get them over the hump -to the next level. thanks

hi there I'm using 4-4-2 and on sometimes 3-1-4-2 with a lower level hockey team.I've chosen this over other formations, simply because the hockey experience and ability of my players is not of a high level (and most people have an approximate understanding of 442). Also, I believe that one must choose a formation based on players traits and what they can deliver. For example, I'd ideally prefer to have 3 forwards, to help with more height and width but then would have to either play 3 in the middle or 3 at the back... and my player strengths don't permit this. In short, I simply don't believe I have a strong enough CH / CM to handle 3 in the middle and I'm not convinced that the off-the-ball support from other players is strong enough to allow 3 in the middle. OFFENSIVE PLAYS Anyway, I'm not 100% where to get my centre mids to stand when we have a 16 yd hit to take (i.e. our possession). Obviously one of the CMs comes deep to offer a potential direct outlet from the centre backs or offer an overload option if the ball goes out to the sides (which is more likely, since I've pretty much banned the high risk play of releasing up the middle - we've had far too many turnovers in our final third or quarter because we tried to play up the middle). My players are 'aware' of posting up and leading runs. However, I'm not sure about the 2nd CM. On the one hand I'd ideally like the 2nd CM to come deep as well, in order to potentially help break up the opposition press but by doing so, I distort the midfield and if we do manage to get the ball to one of the CMs, he won't have the 2nd CM in a higher position to release to, etc. DEFENSIVE POSITIONING Can someone suggest, again, about midfield positioning using 4-4-2 or 3-1-4-2, when we are setting up a general press? I have traditionally encouraged man marking, simply because our general positional awareness is weak (which makes zonal play a no-no IMO) + our tracking and attitude to committed defending (i.e. you don’t give up if one tackle fails) could be better! However, looking at suggested presses on Sportplan, some zonal positioning seems a necessity and I think if I can help my players make the step, success will come because they've been forced to become more aware of their pitch positioning, etc. Also, looking at some of the presses, it looks like the midfield can go 'flat' to create a barrier... and as I encourage a diamond shape in midfield, I need to explain to my players what to do and when. Sorry for the wordy question. I hope this all makes sense. Regards, Gary

Hi allI am looking for advice on how to implement processes in my girls school hockey team. processes of setting up presses, defensive structures and counter attacking thinking. I have 14 players in the team from 15 years old to 18. we train twice a week. only a few play club hockey as well. We either play a 3-1-4-2 or a 3-1-3-3.I find it difficult for example, when you want to teach a press on the opposition 16, to simulate gameplay with only 14 players (if they are all at training). I can have my halves setup for taking the 16 and then get my strikers and links to setup, but then I still want defenders to see things from the back but they are taking the 16? Also when taking the 16 they then don't have any support in the drill because everyone else is setting up a press?I know we need to work on our basics in order for the other tactics and skills and game plans to work. However I find it frustrating with this team that on counter attacks for a few reasons which I am struggling to mend;- they only head forward. No one holds up the ball to wait for support.- they run straight and don't use angles- they pass too late and get tackled - they don't have the vision to see an early pass or pass into space- players without the ball do not run into useful positions and angles and get caught out by the person with the ball who then makes a pass to no one and it runs out of play.So suggestions please for;- open, creative but simple counter attacking- teaching processes for presses on free hits and 16s- coaching how to take 16s and work your way out- coaching vision and expecting your players to be in support. RegardsMatt

I just became the head coach of a middle school field hockey team and would like some pointers on how to coach. I have experience with goal keeping and defensive drills, I was a keeper, so I would like to learn more about offense as well. Any help is appreciated!!