Field Hockey: matches

Hello Everyone! I coach at many schools and a reoccouring problem is that there are always 2/3 players that are too good for the rest of the team. I can't keep giving special conditions to the these children to make it fair (E.g. they have to play in defence) or they will feel I am picking on them. Any ideas? Robert

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

As of 1 September, major FIH events such as the Champions Trophy, Hockey World League Final and Rio 2016 Olympic Games will assume a new format that includes moving to four 15-minute quarters and having 40-second time-outs when a penalty corner is awarded and after a goal is scored. Do you think this a positive or negative for the future of hockey?

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

Can someone give me advice on the best was to teach ladies 3d skills while entering the D? I am open to any suggestions. I have tried to get them lifting the ball over sticks but it doesn't seem to transfer to matches.

I am doing A level PE and I need to find a coaching plan that includes a number of drills that get progressively harder. The plan has to be game based, I was thinking of doing one on possession but I cannot find drills that link together and get harder. Please help, Thanks

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

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

Im doing some training with the team and i need some good training sessions which will help with controling of the ball and i also have some juniors in the team as well Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

I find it impossible to find recent full match videos to show to my youngsters especially on those frosty mornings when training is cancelled. I have tried FIH and England Hockey who frankly are woeful at providing coaching support. Can anybody help me source recent full matches. Thanks Mark

Drills for decision making/attacking phases of play for 13/14 year old girls. I don't want to do goal work yet.Thanks

I'm playing an important match on Wednesday I was wondering how do I prepare for matches . I was at training with the A team on Friday and learned new things that could be useful is it too late to try it with the team?? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Hi just wondering the best way to teach drag flicks to young ladies. I've tried a following videos by make players and am not getting results. Any ideas? Thanks in advance Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Hi,I coach a university team that has a group of mixed abilities, ranging good players with some previous hockey experience to some who are starting from the basics. We've managed to polish on basics and now the team is able to play together. They move the ball well around the pitch using the wider areas, good defence and tackles, but the big problem is creating scoring opportunities. Without goals we can't win matches... The best is draws which we get most times. I was wondering if anyone could share a small sided game or drill that could help create the attack mindset so my team can have that hunger for goas and go for it.

We intend to vidoe our matches with a Gopro this season and its been suggested we need to get it about 5m high.Does anyone have suggestions on cost effective poles to use?

hi allI'm currently coaching 12 and 13 yr olds and the team has a massive problem with shape and being disciplined positionally.Any tips, ideas, drills etc for helping with / teaching this?many thanks,Gary

I really have a big problem with my u/15 girls.  They just can't play as a team. Any advice please. There's always a fight between someone. Mariette