Hockey Session (Senior): Deep Defence

Critical moment marking (5 mins)

Use as a warm-up

If rugby tackle pads are available, use those instead of a 1v1 initially and just use them to lean on player and get them used to the physical pressure

• If not available continue

Rounds of 20-30 seconds

Critical Moment Marking:

• Using a tennis ball, 4 players pass the ball around the outside randomly (not into the middle)
• 1v1 in the middle, aim is to use their body and stick fairly to gain an advantage and get in front of the other player

Looking for:

• Getting more comfortable making contact with player
• Getting used to making body larger fairly

CMM in front of goal (10 mins)

• Lots of balls in the middle of the 23
• Players queue where player X is
• Player 1 and 2 start on the throwdown/P spot
• Player X passes into grey area (not to a specific player)
• Once ball is played in by player X, whoever has/gets the first touch of the ball is trying to score and the other is defending
  • No set attacker and defender before you start
  • Players can't receive outside the grey area
• Defender stays in until they get to the ball first

CHANGE IT:

H - 1 defender and 1 attacker each time if not working with contested option

A - If players leading away from goal too much rather than looking to receive in Zone 5, make a smaller D

N - 1v1 becomes a 2v1 when the feeder joins once ball has been played in 

Looking for:

• Winning the physical battle, win the ball before the receive by being in a better position than the other player
• Stick low, not at waist height, lowers centre of gravity, makes change of direction easier
• Use legs to widen stance on receive and make it harder for other player to get in front

NB:

All 3 D's (A, B and C) can all go at once, same thing in each D.

If less than 3 GKs, still use 3 goals, reps of receiving under pressure is the focus, shooting is added bonus

Win with comms (20 mins)

How it works:

• Orange player passes the ball into grey zone then ball is live 
• 4v2 until the ball crosses the 23, then 2 more defenders can join to make 4v4
• Defenders are looking to score in goals out wide (can score from anywhere in the 23 but outside the circle
• No sidelines or long corners, new ball

• ATT: Can we eliminate without engaging
  
• ATT: Ballside direct height, helpside to zone 5
• ATT: Can we get 2 players to zone 5
• DEF: Point, name, action in defence
• DEF: Can we slow it down to allow us to return to even numbers?
• DEF: CMM in circle, physical defending

• H: Defenders score/finish the rep by completing a pass to a player outside the 23 
  
• N: 6v3 if too many stationary (and 3 join)
  
• G: 3rd and 4th defender can enter the game once they've completed a point, name, action each (coach's discretion)
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