Practice Plans
PLAY FASTER | PLAY SMARTER
A solid practice plan should always include hidden conditioning and hidden chalk talk.
Coaching Points
Two-touch field hockey: receive with a strong base and pass or trap and shoot
open hips and set feet facing the direction you want to take the ball/shoot the ball
this allows you to
let the ball cross in front of your body and receive it out in front on stick's strong side
receive on your forehand out in front
immediate movement away from the original passing lane in desired direction with a change of speed
Shapes: Always think shapes on the field- triangle (3v3), diamond (4v4)
Know your offensive/defensive role in relation to ball location
on ball? offense=ball carrier & defense= pressure
did you get beat? recover to the space- win the angle/win the space
1 pass away? offense & defense =trail and does all the talking
2 passes away? offense= outlet & defense= cover
Ball direction: field hockey is not just north-south- to maintain possession it should travel in every direction "eyes up" to make the smart pass
"Force left": take away the ball carrier's strong side by overplaying the ball carrier's right shoulder
Elimination Skills
Deception skills -track left pull right OR track right pull left
timing
change of speed
seal off defender
Press
the offensive line needs to press the free hit in a arrow head formation no more than 5 yards away
"pressure" "cover"
No tackling/ "contain": force the turnover: channel the ball carrier at an angle (never flat) and contain. Result? force a bad pass for interception or dribble out of bounds
Trail: the ball carrier and pressure players should always have support behind no more than 7 yards away
Sweep pass ball location: the ball should be one stick's length and one step away from hitter
Drills should always be executed in both directions.
🍁#1 Fall Session _ Intro to Field Hockey_Practice Plan (1).pdf[Session 1]
No matter the skill level, day 1 should always start with focusing on foundational skills. Stress technique first and speed second.
🚫Rule of the Session:
Foot (advancing): the most common penalty, called when the ball hits a player’s foot causing an advantage for their team. If there is no advantage, the ref may choose to hold their whistle and play on.
🍁 #2 Fall Session _ Intro to Field Hockey_Practice Plan.pdf[SESSION 2]
No matter the skill level, day 2 should continue with focusing on foundational skills. Stress technique first and speed second.
Review and Build
🚫Rule of the Session:
Hacking: this foul is the second most common penalty, it’s called when a stick hits another player’s stick causing a loud noise. The b/c (ball carrier) is less likely to be guilty of this. If there is no advantage, the ref may choose to hold their whistle and play on.
🍁 #3 Fall Session _ Intro to Field Hockey_Practice Plan .pdf[Session 3]
No matter the skill level, day 3 should continue with focusing on foundational skills. Stress technique first and speed second.
Review quickly and Build
🚫Rule of the Session: Dangerous Play
The nuances in FH rules are driven by what the refs deem as dangerous.
For example, a lifted ball or big stick swing into open space is not dangerous and is not a foul. A lifted ball or big stick swing into players is dangerous and is a foul.
-Can the ball be lifted? Yes —as long as there is not a player in the direct line of the ball and no one is in harm’s way.
Penalty Corner Exception: in order to score off the initial shot, the ball must remain 18” or lower.
🍁#4 Fall Session _ Intro to Field Hockey_Practice Plan .pdf[SESSION 4]
No matter the skill level, day 4 should continue with focusing on foundational skills. Introduce tactical skills.
🚫Rule of the Session: Advantage/Held Whistle
In an effort to reduce the number of whistles blown in a single game, refs will hold their whistle after a foul to assess the next play. IF the foul doesn not translate into an advantage for the offending team, the whistle will not be blown.
Situation 1: The ball hits the foot of the ball carrier and the ball carrier maintains
possession. The Ref will blow the whistle and award the ball to the opposing team.
Situation 2: The ball hits the foot of the ball carrier and the opposing team gains possession. The Ref will not blow the whistle and stop the play.
🍁#5 Fall Session _ Intro to Field Hockey_Practice Plan .pdf[SESSION 5]
FOCUS: Core skills and tactical skills
🚫Rule of the Session: Obstruction
-Third party obstruction: in a 1v1 situation, if a 3rd player tries to go for the ball, a foul is called (no picks/screens allowed).
-Obstruction: you can’t stop your feet and use your body to shield the ball (feet and ball must be in constant motion)