Field Hockey: covering

I need to set up a technical training session covering midfield to attack please can anyone help ?

What are the key skills in individual defending and what are the best ways to practise them?

How can we coach young players (U18) to get better at individual defending skills such as closing down, tackling, marking and covering? I'm looking at all these areas and I'm coaching at the JRPC in Leeds this season and one of our sessions needs to be on individual defending. What I want to do is ensure that I am providing a training session (or set of training sessions) which cover the key skills involved in being a good defender and then build drills or constrained games around these key skills. Any advice much appreciated! Best wishes, Jayson

My team are constantly allowing oppositions to score from penalty corners we do 1st runner 2nd runner amp; 2 players on the post, what can I do.

Hi,I need to play 4 linked hockey sessions to a specific theme I don't know which one to chose such as I can't say attack because there can be so much to cover . So any help?

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

What can I use for drills to get my wings to score a goal? They constantly miss the ball. Ann

Do the three backs pivot off the middle defender? Does anyone drop - just asking

Looking gro theory or practicals on defending help side vs ball side.Any help?

How do I defend two High hanging strikers?

What is the best formation and game play for 7 sides tournament in defending and attacking?

what is the positioning and tips to no left them through the centre by heading to the lineand them cutting in

how can I help my goalkeeper to stop a direct shot froma corner hit

Hi, my defense I'm worried cos two of my boys are heavy and slow. they working hard but I'm struggling to create a formation that doesn't put my defense at risk. I need your advice on what to do.

Why does the covering defender not stay off the left shoulder of the front defender?

Hi,I perhaps naively, expected to have most of our team from last year carry over and only have a few new comers to integrate and get up to speed with the rest. However meeting the team at our first practice last night i find I have five players still at school from last year and the rest all new comers, most of whom had not held a hockey stick at all till practice.This being only my second season coaching (year 9 to year 13 boys) has left me feeling a little blindsided, and feeling quite unsure how to prepare practices that target both groups of boys. Do i lump them both groups together, keep them separate? What drills/exercises to best bring the new comers up to speed.I don't want to neglect either group, keep practice worthwhile for the experienced boys, but also bringing the new comers up to a level were they can mix in with the others and learn organically from them while practicing as a team. David

I'm doing an expo project on hockey goalkeepers and I want to know if there is a need for a basic training guide for beginers eg. goalies for dummies

I am coaching 1,2,3,5 formation in an U16 Girls team but I am having trouble getting my Halfbacks connecting with my Inside Forwards - Any suggestions

Hi Im new to coaching hockey want to know what position do I play some of my weaker players without them losing interest and there confidence.

Anybody got any ideas on how to get 14-15 year old girls to treat a first time coach as a coach and not just a friend?