4 Pillars to becoming the complete Hockey Player

Technical Pillar Physical Pillar

Distribution + Finishing Fitness
Receiving Explosive movement (Acceleration / Deceleration)
Elimination skills + Ball Carrying Speed
Defending Physicality / Strength
Warm up

Tactical Pillar Mental Pillar

Pressing (Shape without the ball) Preparation
Outletting (Shape with the ball) Professionalism
Defending principles Mentality in games (Winning / Losing)
Attacking principles Umpires
Numbers Opposition
Match situations Proactive
Reactive
Momentum (Managing the Phase)
Communication
 Age-group Objectives

Under 8’s

1. Technical Pillar
Hockey Basics How to hold the stick
Rules of the game
Distribution + Finishing Push Pass
Receiving How to stop the ball
Elimination skills Indian Dribble / Yard stick / TikTak (Side to side)
Push and run
Ball Carrying How to run with the ball
Keep ball on the stick
Defending Block Tackle
2. Tactical Pillar
Defending principles Apply pressure to ball carrier
Attacking principles Not bunching – Play space
3. Physical Pillar
Fitness Being involved not just standing around waiting
4. Mental
Fun
Positive
Life Skills (Teamwork, Respect, Sharing, Friendship, etc)
Quick reactions
Under 10’s
Technical Pillar
Distribution + Finishing Sweep
Bouncing Pass
First time push
Receiving Closed – Strong arc
Open – Let ball run across player
Elimination skills Strong Arc
Strong pull (Right to left pull)
Lifted scoop (Areal Skill)
Ball Carrying Running with the ball at speed
Ball control (Stick taps – Keep ball off ground)
Defending Block Tackle (Not uncontrolled swing of stick)

Tactical Pillar
Defending principles Apply pressure to ball carrier
Attacking principles Identifying Space + playing in it
Spread out (Don’t Bunch)

Physical Pillar
Fitness Being involved – not just standing around

Mental
Fun
Positive + encouraging
Life Skills (Team work, Respect, Sharing, Friendship, etc)
Quick reactions
Under 12’s
Technical Pillar
Distribution + Finishing Reverse stick slider
Forehand hit
Deflections
Receiving Closed receives – Strong and weak arc
Open receives – Strong and weak side
(Know correct time to use both)
Bouncing pass receive
Elimination skills 3D skills (Areal skills like pop and squeeze)
Strong Arc spin with ball in the hook
Body faints
Ball Carrying One hand extensions (Left hand only)
Defending Channelling (Using body to force opposition where you want them to go)
Don’t dive in, stay stick distance away

Tactical Pillar
Pressing (Shape without the ball) Chicken formation (Head, Wings, Body, etc)
Knowing multiple positions and where to stand
Knowing roles of each position
Force other team to the side-lines / outside
Outletting (Shape with the ball) As Above
Use width to go around the opposition or open spaces to go through the
other team
Defending principles Channelling
1 v 1 defending
Marking
Attacking principles Far post
Left foot Hockey (Attack defenders weak side)
1 v 1 Attacking
Numbers 2 v 1, 3 v 2 situations (When to pass / run)
Match situations short and long corners
Restarts

Physical Pillar
Explosive movement Acceleration
Speed With the ball
Physicality / Strength Strong on the ball
Warm up Routine before match

Mental
Preparation Good warm up
Professionalism Arrive on time
Mentality in games (Winning / Losing) Have fun no matter what
Opposition Not being intimidated
Proactive Anticipation rather than always reactive
Reactive Quick reactions to changes in phase (Att / Def)
Communication Get comfortable using basic commands to help
Under 14’s
Technical Pillar
Distribution + Finishing Flicks
Reverse stick hit
Deflections
Wrong foot passing (Right foot)
Receiving Inside tuck
Hook-shaped lead + receive
Bouncing receive
Advanced open and closed (Increased speed/ areal after receive)
Elimination skills + Ball Carrying 3D Skills (Pull and get areal)
Weak side extension (Left hand left side)
Over the top strong pull
Defending Jab Tackle
3D skill defending
Tactical Pillar
Pressing (Shape without the ball) Understand basic shape, positions, terminology
Outletting (Shape with the ball) As Above
Defending principles Channelling to the outside
Stick distance away from opposition
Knowing when to make a tackle
Ballside / Helpside
Man-to-man defending
Reduce space for the other team
Attacking principles How to Lead to create space or offer an option
Left foot Hockey
Transfers to helpside
Make field as big as possible
Numbers 2v1, 3v2, 4v3 (overload – when to pass/ run)
Numbers up / down attacking and defending
Match situations PC Att + Def
Long corner / free hit inside the 23
Baseline Att + Def
Physical Pillar
Fitness Minimum average for age (compared to other teams)
Explosive movement Acceleration and deceleration
Speed Good agility and footwork
Physicality / Strength Using body to protect the ball (Strong on ball)
Warm up Routine before match
Mental
Preparation Warm up (Before match and training)
Professionalism On time, dressed appropriately
Mentality in games Hunger in the match
Umpires Leave them alone, focus on own game
React positively to bad decisions
Opposition Don’t be intimidated / underestimate
Don’t let other team get into your head
Proactive Anticipation in various situations around the field
Reactive Quick response to information
Quick response to instructions
Momentum (Managing the Phase) Understanding phases of a match (Ups and downs)
Being able to control match depending on result (Speed up / slow down play)
Communication Clear, concise information
Helping place people around you in the correct positions
Under 16’s

Technical Pillar
Distribution + Finishing Overhead
Fake Slap
Drag Flick / Pass
Unorthodox finishing
9 yard finishing
Receiving Deception added to various receives
Receiving on the move
Elimination skills + Ball Carrying Body fake / faints
Ball carrying position (Back left, Front right, etc)
Elimination principles (how to create and use space when eliminating)
Defending Baseline defending
Shave tackle
Ball to goal line (body position in relation to attacker)
Tactical Pillar
Pressing Understanding various shapes
Running press (being able to pounce on other team)
Outletting How to create overloads on one side
Building up play from the back (Passing patterns)
Defending principles Counter defence principles
Helpside tuck in to close space
Attacking principles Counter attack principles
Transfer ball to space (1 side to the other)
Numbers Man up / down situations
Match situations Short corner routines
Physical Pillar
Fitness Above average compared to agegroup
Explosive movement With and without the ball, change of speed
Speed Quick feet, fast
Physicality / Strength Strong on the ball, use body to protect the ball
Warm up Dynamic Routine with and without the ball
Mental
Preparation Warm up (Before match and training)
Preparing the day before (Food, rest, etc)
Professionalism On time, dressed appropriately
Mentality in games Hunger in the match
Remaining calm under pressure
Umpires Leave them alone, focus on own game
React positively to bad decisions
Opposition Don’t be intimidated / underestimate
Don’t let other team get into your head
Proactive Anticipation in various situations around the field
Reactive Quick response to information
Quick response to instructions
Momentum (Managing the Phase) Understanding phases of a match (Ups and downs)
Being able to control match depending on result (Speed up / slow down play)
Communication Clear, concise information
Helping place people around you in the correct positions
From coach to player around selection (Transparent)
Senior Men and Women
Technical Pillar
Distribution + Finishing Back space finishing
Upright reverse stick
Squeeze shot
Drag Flick
Bouncing shot
Receiving Overheads
Under pressure – use body to protect
Elimination skills + Ball Carrying Analysing opponent and anticipate what they will do
Dictate don’t be dictated to
Defending L – shape marking
Touch-tight marking
Interceptions
Tactical Pillar
Pressing Knowing various defensive shapes
Knowing which shape to use when and against who
Knowing strengths and weaknesses of each press
Man up v Man up (What shape to be in)
Which press to use in a phase (chasing a game, etc)
Knowing multiple roles and positions in the press
Timing
Helpside cover (Shift infield to reduce space)
Outletting Knowing multiple shapes with the ball
Identifying space to play ball into
Identifying extra number in channel
Advanced overloads and rotations between positions
Defending principles Not diving in if beaten to the ball
Man to man marking in our defensive half
Attacking principles Playing in space (If need be transfer to other side)
Knowing when to run and when to pass
Running through the lines
In out movement
Pass and move
Numbers Overloads
Man up v man down
Identifying numbers in a situation (5v5 but actually 2v1)
Match situations Redirecting ball into the circle
Free hits in and around the 23m
Baseline attacking and defending
Physical Pillar
Fitness Above average fitness level in comparison to others
Explosive movement With and without the ball
Change of speed
Speed Decision making
Quick feet, agile and fast
Physicality / Strength Strong on the ball
Warm up Routine with and without stick and ball
Mental
Preparation Warm up (Before match and training)
Preparing the day before (Food, rest, etc)
Pre-match team talk
Professionalism On time, dressed appropriately
Mentality in games Hunger in the match
Remaining calm under pressure
Mentally strong – focus on controllable
Umpires Leave them alone, focus on own game
React positively to bad decisions
Opposition Don’t be intimidated / underestimate
Don’t let other team get into your head
Proactive Anticipation in various situations around the field
Reactive Quick response to information
Quick response to instructions
Momentum (Managing the Phase) Understanding phases of a match (Ups and downs)
Being able to control match depending on result (Speed up / slow down play)
Communication Clear, concise information
Helping place people around you in the correct positions
From coach to player around selection (Transparent)
Pressing
Shape 1: 3-3-4
Arrow heads to force to outside channels
Protect the middle of the field
No lines flat (Forwards, midfielders, defenders)
Helpside tuck infield to close space on ball side
Fwd role: Create 1st arrowhead / roof
Centre forward in charge of the 2 centre backs
Outside forward in charge of the outside back on their side

Mids role: Protect balls into their midfielder

Protect the gap between our forwards
Create 2nd arrowhead

Defs role: Free centre back on ball to goal line for interceptions
FCB to clean up any mistakes or overloads
Other centre back and outside backs stay with their player
Outside backs intercept balls down the line

Shape 2: 2-3-2-3
A zonal press to begin with – protect the middle
Once they commit to attacking down 1 side, ballside players man to man on their players
Helpside slide across to close space and stop ball being transferred across the field
Fwds: Manage 2 centre backs – force them to pass outside
Once they commit, cut to keep the ball that side of the field
Apply pressure to player on the ball

Mids: Zonal to start – outside mid steps onto outside back when they commit to attacking down that channel
Slide from side to side when they move ball around the back (Hold shape)
Force the other team to play the ball down the line

Blockers: Ball to goal line

1 marks ballside midfielder, 1 sets up for interception/ cover

Def: Zonal but pick up players in their zone

Intercept balls down the line
Outletting:

Shape 1: 4-3-3
Width provided from outside backs
Height from forwards
Mids hold infield and lead out or leave space on the outside
Mids and forwards lead off each other (Channels)
Rotations: Overlapping outside defender down the line (4 def to 3 def)
Centre mid splits 2 centre backs (Becomes 3 def)
Outside mid slide to outside back position

Shape 2: 3-4-3
Width comes from outside mids (Outside backs more central in this shape)
2 blockers – different height and depth (Offer options to all 3 def)
Hold shape and play in space
Rotations: Blocker drops to become a centre back (4 def)
Blocker slides to outside back – creates overlap on the outside
Old School New School
Direct Patient – play in space
No set positions (Playing across the line) Versatile players
Limited substitutions Regular substitutions
Negative and harsh criticism Positive and encouraging criticism
Attacking down the right Attack down both channels
1 style / speed throughout Dictating speed of play (Slow / fast)
Strong, physical athletes Fast, Agile, Nimble athletes