Field Hockey: free hockey

The two 'lessons' on formation, don't expand. they don't actually go into what the roles and responsibilities are.Also, a while ago Im sure that there was something on differnt types of 'press', FULL and HALF COURT....? Cant find them on the web site....Also don't quite understand being a paying member and the 'free' aspect of thge website, what do I get by paying, I am slightly confused.I do like the website, but it doesnt appear to be as good as it eas last season?Hope you can help me,Regards,Alistair

2 Indoor Hockey situations%3A 1.)Could Sportsplan have Russel lay out how to defend a free hit/push into your circle from the left,center and right? More importantly show how the team moves/shifts when a pass is made from that area of the court to another in this situation. 2.) How to play against a 1/2 court system defense. What should the team be looking to do to find space and be successful.

are the new hockey rules ie hitting into the d direct from a free hit being applied to junior hockey

i want to know how to position the ball when i drag flick?

Are there any screen formations set up on sportplan for Hockey? I am after a basic outline for the different screens you can run for 16yd hits, free hits, side line hits etc. Thanks

I am having problems with players lacking vision whilst in possession of the ball any suggestions for training?

In your opinion who will win this year, and why? Feel free to vote with both your heart and your head.

Hi, Does anyone have a smart way for giving all your players a number when they are taking part in a trial. Was trying to avoid having to print and laminate and pin numbers onto their backs. How do others manage this when you might have up to 50 kids at a trial and you don't know them all. Any suggestions appreciated. Cheers Tracey

Why wont this session open for me when i log in its not there ??

Would anyone have a powerpoint suitable for 7-11 year olds to introduce them to the game of hockey, basically explaining the game, rules, equipment, game play and so on?I'd love to inspire the children.Many thanks

Does anyone have any drills they would recommend for minkey players? First year coaching and I want to start off on the right foot. Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Hi,Before I upgrade to a paid account for the current season I wanted to check to see if there is still a discounted rate or free access for England Hockey Coach Members.All the best.Andy

I had a free membership and am trying to add a voucher provided by my hockey club Forestville. I think I have foolwed the steps.... when i try and add in the club password , it tells me my log in has already used this password. How do I get help with this ?

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

rules of free hit

explan about diving

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

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

I am coaching my first season as head coach. I am confident that my team has improved on alot of skills (mostly due to sportplan.net, thank you!). The only thing that is driving me crazy that my team has not improved on is the over committing block tackle. When an opponent is coming down the field on a breakway, my defense runs up and block tackles, and the opponent shoots right past them. This will happen two or three times in a row, one defender after the other. I've told them to keep their feet moving and to keep off their toes, keeping their momentum with the opponent. I don't know how to practice this with them. We only have 9 players (this is a high school varsity team) so we can't scrimmage full field during practice. Please help! I'm desperate for a solution.

I have taken over a club as head coach this year and inherited a captain. She is a good player but is not my ideal captain and is used to communicating almost exclusively by email. I had a successful meeting setting objectives for the 1st team last weekend and following that meeting received lots of feedback for how well it was received. My captain yesterday sent a long email about her thoughts on the meeting and where we are and what the players should be doing in order to progress from her perspective. It is a long rambling email that I think has no objective or point to it that I think is completely inappropriate, now I know her heart is in the right place but this is really stepping on my toes as a coach as it is my place to do these type of emails. I am looking for advice on how I should be dealing with this, I am happy to pull her up but as she is very unconfident about herself I feel this might push her back into her shell even more and then she might do something daft like send another email apologising to the team! I am not sure if I should just ignore it as I wonder if it undermines me? Thoughts?