Field Hockey: team games

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Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.

Hello all, im coaching a ladies first team and im trying to motivate them to take it a lot more seriously then they currently do. They want to train hard but are afraid of making mistakes defensively. Instead of getting back behind the ball when they make a mistake they almost seem embarrassed and stand there with their arm up. I give them as much encouragement as possible without following them round with a pillow!! Also only 2/3 of the squad come to training which is frustrating as both forwards never attend training but the captain wont drop them and come saturday, they have no clue as to what we have been working on. So im having to take 15 minutes out of my pre-game warm up with the rest of the ladies to explain whats going to happen. I get paid to coach them on Tuesday nights but i do saturdays for free. It is frustrating to say the least and i would love any help you can give pleeeaaasseee!!! Mike

I am teaching 7 weeks of Hockey to a Mixed set of about twenty 14/15 year olds. I'm unsure of what to teach them each week i.e. week one attacking, week two defending etc. Any ideas for a seven week overview?

Hi all just wondering if there are any coach's that have any good tip for a new coach like me. I am coaching under 6/8yr olds and find they get bored very easy. How do you keep them from getting bored and what fun drills do you use? Cheer James first time coach

Does anyone know any good team-bonding games? I have a small team, of Under 12 Juniors, both boys and girls, with an extremely diverse range of personalities. I'm struggling to get them to co-operate, and I want them to get to know each other and build friendships between each other, in the hopes that they'll stop arguing so much, and perhaps pay a bit more attention to me when I try to explain drills. It has to be relatively simple, and fun. 

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

Can you give me some ideas for hockey games for under 8s or under 10 beginners using 7 a side

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

I help out at local skill teaching children from yr 1 to yr 7 the skills of hockey. I am always looking for fun mini games which encases all skill types. This is from non hockey to excellent hockey players.

I coach a women's team wide range in age 16 - 54 , when the stars align we are a very strong team hard to beat and very stingy when it comes to goals against, the games we do lose are usually 1-0 games,The exception comes when we play a team that plays a 1-4-4-2 ,what makes it worse is that we play a 4-4-2 and are very successful with it, but when it comes to defending against it my Defense and Mids become confused. I have not had any luck in figuring out a way to explain to my team how to defend against it. Any ideas on an easy way to fix this? Thanks

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

Hello,Does anyone have any tactics/suggestions to use when trying to protect a lead? My team were 2-0 on Saturday, and although we ended up winning the match 3-2, we'd obviously still prefer not to concede!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 am teaching corners today for my JV team. It is our first practice that is separated from Varsity. What are good drills to use?

what is a good game to play with goalkeepers

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

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

What fun warm ups can I use with a group of 7-11 year olds with and without hockey sticks? Many thanks xx

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