Field Hockey: space in

I'm looking for suggestions on set plays for free hits going into the circle. High school rules in the US now state that all players (attack/defense) must be 7 yards from the ball. What plans will work for drawing corners and goal scoring opportunities?

Can anyone provide me ideas on how to combat a half field press in hockey?

What's a good drill for creating space in the attacking 'D'?

My Girls team I coach get caught a lot between man marking and zonal marking in the 23 yard area and sometimes end up with half the team doing one and the rest the other. Suggestions on the ideal defensive set up inside the 23?

Can someone suggest a really good warm-up drill or exercise to get players thinking/concentrating/making decisions? I.e. something prior to a match, after having done a physical warm-up, dynamic stretches, any SAQ and technical stuff

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.

how do you stop your team over crowding in the circle? what drills or game situations could i use at training?

Dear colleagues, I am coaching a 1st women team (Argentina) and the system that is working for us very well is 3-1-3-3. Given the quality players we've got in the midfield and attack we try to emphasize our offensive game all the time. The problem I am struggling to resolve is that the forwards do not get involved in chances to score inside the circle very often. The few chances the forwards have they are able to score but it is our midfielders who most of the time get to the circle in possession with the ball. I would like to see a quick transfer of the ball from the midfielders to the forwards who need to be in touch with the ball more often during the game and have the midfielders supporting the attack rather than being the leaders of the attack.Is there any drill or way to improve this aspect of the game? Thanks for your time. Martin

I am a high school coach in the USA. We played a team this past weekend who had a defender who lifted on a free hit 30-40 yards. That was pretty much their only offense. All of their forwards were ready to receive the long balls. How do we defend that? Should I have almost everyone drop back 30-40 yards?

overlapping outside halves ? or drop Midfield in hole?

Hi can you help me setting a defence against a team playing 2 centre halves. My team plays conventional style 5321 . Thanks

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 often feel like i dont play to the best of my abilities. during practices im almost at the top of my game but come the match my skills, confidence and abilities seem to take quite a tumble. i want to please know how to keep the pace on and off the field.please please, hockey is my life!

How to coach fast attackers to control the pace of the ball as they accelerate? At higher speeds, the players' touch on the ball needs to be "softer" but this requires hands and feet to work at varying intensity. I see a lot of speedsters push the ball too far ahead of themselves, the faster they go. The outcome is often a failed shot at goal because the ball runs out of reach or out over the back line.

I like trying to play every position and find it hard to stop doing that and focus and improve my own position (right wing or center back) but how do I improve them so that I can be confident enough to trust my teammates and stick to my own position ?? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

What size space would you use in this exercise?

I like trying to play every position and find it hard to stop doing that and focus and improve my own position (right wing or center back) but how do I improve them so that I can be confident enough to trust my teammates and stick to my own position ?? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Recently been working hard developing the use of the dish around the back to create space. Working great but would now like to develop this with more drills.We have discussed decision making, leading runs and movement but I'm now looking for ideas of exercises that will develop these thoughts amongst the guys. All ideas for exercises we could use at training gratefully received

overlapping outside halves ? or drop Midfield in hole?

Dear colleagues, I am coaching a 1st women team (Argentina) and the system that is working for us very well is 3-1-3-3. Given the quality players we've got in the midfield and attack we try to emphasize our offensive game all the time. The problem I am struggling to resolve is that the forwards do not get involved in chances to score inside the circle very often. The few chances the forwards have they are able to score but it is our midfielders who most of the time get to the circle in possession with the ball. I would like to see a quick transfer of the ball from the midfielders to the forwards who need to be in touch with the ball more often during the game and have the midfielders supporting the attack rather than being the leaders of the attack.Is there any drill or way to improve this aspect of the game? Thanks for your time. Martin