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Field Hockey: unit play in attack

unit play in attack DRILLS
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positional unit play Game rela...

Start by putting your players in their position on  half a pitch. (whateve the formation you want to play.) Give one of the players a ball and ask the team to pass the ball around the team as fast as they can. This should start to get players used to the players around them.

General

Unopposed 11-a-side Game relat...

The team has to pass the ball around the team using two touches. However, when ever players run out of position, a player misses the ball or runs with the ball, the coach throws in a new ball and the team has to react to the new ball (keeping the shape of the team at all times).

General

Continual Side Line Attacks Se...

2 equal teams in the circle and lots of balls on both side lines. The coach calls out a team. 1 of the players has to run to one of the sidelines and take the freehit. All the other players have to run to the 23 metre line before they can get involved. After each break down or shot at goal, coach calls out the next team.

General

Chasing the Tackle - Matching ...

Objective: To establish the principle that matching your opponents speed places the tackler in a position to control an opponent and to not let them beat them to attack on the inside. Purpose: By staying level will the attacker and putting sufficient pressure on the ball carrier will prevent them from being able to beat the defender on the inside. Instead it will force them to continue on the outside, running into trouble and hopefully giving the ball away. Strcuture: Pairs.  Condition: Forward has a ball and moves in a straight line, defender tries to match their speed, putting pressure on with dummy tackles.  

General

Hockey: Carrying ball - Right ...

Objective: To understand the requirments of the player when dribbling with the ball down the right hand side of the field.  Purpose: The ball position and technique when you are dribbling the ball down the right side will alter where the next pass or tackle is going to come from and gives a clear message to the rest of the team, eg. wingers/forwards leads.  Structure: Pairs   

General

Hockey: Carrying ball - Left w...

Objetcive: To understand the requirments of the player when dribbling with the ball down the left side of the field.  Purpose: The position of the ball and technique when dribbling will alter where the next pass or tackle is going to come from. Carry in the correct position to give as many options for the pass and to send a clear message to the rest of the team, Eg. wingers/forwards leads.  Structure: Pairs   

General

1 v 2 break defense Defending ...

Players work in pairs in this drill - attacking and defending pair. The player who starts with the ball has to dribble around the cone and then try to score a goal on the half way line. At the same time one player from the defending pair also runs around the cone. Once the player with the ball has run around the cone the drill is live. The defending team are trying to dispossess the player with the ball and score against the keeper and the last defender. The drill continues until one of the team has had a shot at one of the goals.

General

Team relay Self Pass - Hockey ...

Four teams of 3 or 4 players. Put one goal 15m over the half way line so the half way line is the top of the circle. The four team teams, one playing and one on the 23m line, are working in two partnerships - whites vs blues. Team 1 starts with the ball and tries to score against team 2. When team 2 gain possession, either after a goal or tackle, they have to pass the ball to team 3 who now can try and score in the other goal. Team 1 has to run back and defend. When team 1 win the ball they have to pass the ball to team 4 who attack against team 3 etc. After a team has passed the ball to their partner team they take their place at the 23m line and wait for their chance to attack.

General

1 vs 1 practice Eliminating a ...

Split the players up into two groups for a relay type exercise which starts with one player from group 1 running with a ball to the goal on the half way line, trying to score a goal. As soon as player 1 has had a shot at goal a player from group 2 runs with a ball to the other goal to try to score a goal. The player that had the first shot (player 1) has to try and defend against the player from group 2. When this player scores or loses the ball to the defender the next player starts from group 1 and the player that has just taken the shot becomes the new defender. The player that had the first shot and then defended (player 1) goes to the back of theirre queue.

General

1-1-3-4-2 Roles and Responsibi...

This system gives support to the backline as well as the midfield. It relies on the 2 forwards to do a lot of running in defence and play further forward when their team is in possession. When to use: If your team is very fit and want to force the other team back by creating overloads in your defence and midfield.

General

1-3-1-3-3 Roles and Responsibi...

This system is more attacking then the sweeper behind system (1-1-3-3-3). The advantage of this set-up is that you have a free player behind the midfield (highlighted). This creates a numerical advantage for your team in the middle. This overload will help your team, especially your attackers, to push forward and penetrate the opposition's circle. When not in possession you will have an extra man to support your midfielders. This arrangement gives more opportunities to 1/2 court press and/or full press the opposition. When to use: You would employ this system if your midfiled is being overrun and is struggling to cope with the opposition, but your back line <span style="text-decoration: underline;">is coping with their players.

General

1/2 Court Press Roles and Resp...

The 1/2 court press is again a team effort and relies on all players joining in and being disciplined. The 1/2 court press is a bit like space invaders - players must move as one unit, from side to side in front of the ball. It is very important that once the ball has gone into the zone, past the highest defenders, the team goes in to full court press mode. But when the ball is played back out of the 1/2 court zone the 1/2 court disciplines have to be adhered to once again. The advantage of the 1/2 court press is that it is easier than taking the initiative, also less agreements need to be made compared to the full press. When to use: The Half court Press is very good for the underdog team that is not able to create chances from their own possession. So using this system you choose to let the opposition have most of the possession and wait for them to make a mistake. Your team will create lots of break opportunities because with every loss of possession the opposition will leave a large amount of space behind them which your side can exploit for the break.

General

First Time Deflection Into Cir...

This drill focuses on quick delivery of the ball into the circle.Midfielder passes the ball into player in a wide position who uses the pace of the pass to deflect the ball into an attacker making a run in the circle. Attacker receiving the ball in the circle, should shape their run to create space where the ball is going to be played into.Attacker should then look to put a ball across the goal.

General

Short Corner Defence 3 - 1 Set...

Setup the defence as shown with 2 defenders inside the goal on either post.In front of them are two runners.Once the ball is injected Player 1 runs to the top of the circle, with player 2 running 3/4s of the way on their right hand side to cover the slip left. Player runs out on Player no 1s left hand side and runs level with Player 2. Player 4 comes 3 to 4 paces off the line to sweep the pads of the goalkeeper.

General

Full Press - Puting Pressure o...

The basis of the press is that no player commits to the ball but a team screen is set up in the decided territory of the pitch. The aim is not to try and steal the ball from the opposition, but instead to make the opposition give the ball to you. By pushing up you are trying to make the opposition make a mistake in trying to run or pass the ball out of these areas. After intercepting a bad pass your team should be looking to break and score. When to use: The Full Press should take place only if: The opposition has a free hit in one of the 2 zones shown in the diagram.<br /><br /> Or a player in possession in the 23m area is given a very bad bobbly pass to their reverse stick side. However, this is slightly harder to read as all players need to react, because of this this tactic is probably not worth exploring to begin with. Your team's press should prevent all lateral (sideways) passes across the pitch. All other passing options are easier to close down if you use the side lines to your advantage.

General

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unit play in attack ANSWERS
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Rolling player substitution pl...

Need help with planning a rolling subs with 11 players and 5 subs.Keeper,4 backs, 4 midfied, 2 strikers.Any ideas please

Barry Prestney Coach, New Zealand

How do you keep your team moti...

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

Brenda Strohmer Coach, United States of America

Full court, half court and 3/4...

Hi all, thank you for taking the time to read my question. I was hoping for some clarity around 'presses'Pressing oppositions 16- Full press3/4 pressHalf courtWhat are the pro's and cons offensively of each and in what situation would you suggest using each?

Joel Forrester Coach, England

2323 formation can it work? - ...

2323 formation can it work?

Archived User Coach

left mid job in defending a hi...

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

Rachel Sweetnam Coach, Northern Ireland

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