Hockey drills for technique defense

• The exercise is meant to simulate a game.
• It is therefore intended that one team consists of the defenders/defending midfielders and the other team consists of the attackers.
• The attackers can score in the normal goal (decide if they can hit high as in the game).
• The defending side can score by driving the ball.
• Over the line of the goals on the half way line.   
• The attackers learn to play over and finish at goal and the defending side learns to defend to the outside.  

   

• Purpose; passing over large distances, while running. Finishing and tackleback.
• A plays long pass to B, 
• B drives the ball to the right and plays through to C who shoots at goal. 
• Once the shot has been completed, the next player on A passes to D
• and D starts a dribble towards the goal (scoring past penalty spot), 
• C defends this attack.
• Rotation: A1BCDA2

Variation:

• Attacker plays to defender, and plays the ball back to the attacker.
• Then the attacker is allowed to attack towards goal. 
• At 1, the ball begins and passes to the defender who then passes it to the out-going attacker. 
• From there it is 2 to 1
• See number 2, only the players remain and it becomes a 4 against 2.

Aim

• A game is not only fun, you also learn a lot from them.

Set up

• Very simple: 2 goals, some vests and some balls. 
• Surely no more explanation is required? 
• This kind of game isn't really for training something specific (e.g. playing outside with a box in the middle), but just to have fun.
• If a team goes loses way too easy, you can enter the rule that they have to pass 3 times before they can score. 
• Or you can make that team's goal smaller.

INSTRUCTIONS

• 2 teams
• 5 players per team
• 3 goals per team
• 2 yellow independent goals in the centre of the pitch

• Game: team blue against team red. 
• Team red scores at one of the 3 blue pilons and team blue scores at one of the 3 red pilons. 
• When the ball goes through one of the two yellow goals, the goals turn around. 
• Team blue scores at the blue pilons and team red scores at the red pilons. 
• When the ball goes through one of the yellow goals again, it turns around again.

AREAS OF CONCERN

Ball possession Take a good look at which of the 6 goals there's a lot of free space

Not in ball possession Trap the player with the ball from multiple sides

Game with different variations:

• with grip
• with globe
• with stick in weird position
• with other balls

• A player of Blue (1) passes the ball to e.g. player 2 of Orange. This team tries to score over the 23-metre line in a yellow goal.
• Blue interferes with the defending of the Orange and tries to capture the ball and score in the normal goal. When Blue is over the 23-metre line, the team-mate at the side-line is allowed to join the game.
• Blue substitutes with Orange after 2 goals from either team.

Tips Ball possession

• Pass with good speed and direction.
• Be available (outside of the field).
• Use the hard feint pass (flats and push).

Tips Not Ball possession

• Force the player in ball possession to the side.
• Provoke making mistakes.
• Perform a quick counter after conquering ball.

Tips Counter

• Force the player in ball possession to the side.
• Provoke making mistakes.
• Perform a quick counter after conquering ball

Make it easier

• Make the field deeper (towards the center line).

Make it more difficult

• 1 extra player per team.

• The trainer (T) rolls the ball (1) to one of the four front players (for example A).
• Player A receiving the ball (2) plays a duel with player V1 opposite him.
• The goal is to score the ball at the opponent's goal.
• If V1 manages to intercept the ball, he plays it to V2.
• Now V2 may try to score with player B.
• After a goal, the form of play starts over again.

Making it easier

• Play a 1-1 duel on the two fields for a few minutes, after a goal,  the substitute player comes into play.

Make it more difficult

• After the ball is taken by V1, V1 and V2 may try to score against player A (now it has become a 2-1 game).
• A has to defend. 
• If A takes the ball, he plays it to player B. 
• Player A and B play a 2-2 duel on players V1 and V2.

• It works just like a normal game only now there's a square in the middle.
• If a shot or other foul is made, or if the ball has been out of bounds, the trainer throws/plays in a new ball from inside the square.
• The ball does not necessarily go to the same team or at the place where the foul was made.
• The size of the field depends on the number of players.

• You start with 3 teams, A, B and C. 
• The game will be played on about half a field, 
• the ball divider/referee is in the centre of the field in a marked square, 
• this square can't be played through. 
• There is a goalkeeper in the goal and two goals on the half way line. 
• Team A starts defending, 
• team B is attacking, 
• team C is divided over the 2 small goals.
• Team A has to make sure the ball reaches team C. 
• At this moment team B is defending and attacking team C.

Organisation

Field: half field

General

• Orange has 6 players and blue has 4 players plus a goalkeeper.
• After a self pass, the first player of team orange passes to the right player (2) or left player (3).
• Then Orange plays in the central part of the field a 6:4+gk.
• At interception by Blue, Blue then scores in one of the goals (A/B) on the side between the 23 meter line and center line.
• Start over after a goal is scored, after the ball goes over the back line/middle line or after a maximum of 3 interceptions

Tips Ball possession

• Take an open control
• Keep depth as six (play in 3 or 4 lines).
• Make the playing field wide.

Tips Not In Ball Possession

• Slow down the attack by chanelling.
• Keep pressure on the one in ball possession (1 sticklength distance).
• Goalkeeper: coach your team-mates briefly and concisely.

Tips Switching

At Loss of Ball:

• In the event of ball loss, apply pressure directly to the player in possession.
• Quickly regroup between player in possession and own goal.

In case of ball gain:

• Choose to pass the ball.
• Walk out of the duel after winning the ball.

Make it easier

• Changing the number of players: Orange with 5 players against Blue with 3+keeper.

Make it more difficult

• Third goal at center line (just before the starting position of Orange player 1).

• Player 1 runs with the ball to the circle and shoots
• Player 4 plays the ball to the left where player 2 and defender 1 are running in (2v1)
• Player 4 plays the ball to the right where player 3 and defender 2 come running in (3v2)
• Player 4 runs with a ball into the circle and finishes off the attack (4v2)