Hockey Session (Under 16s): Defensive positioning and tackling

Screen 1

Essence:

- Work on ball/gail line using pressure and patience principles.

Structure:

- Set up zone as pictured, make sure you have an angled zone in order to work on footwork and ball/gain line.

- 3 attackers one in each cone goal, coach feeds ball to one of them, defender steps out and tries to win the goal applying the defending points. All 3 attackers go before we swap the defender out.

- The attackers need to try and score in the mini goal the defender has to win the ball and clear it.

Technical pointers:

- Ball to goal line, always stand on this line

- Footwork, body should be on an angle to get them to channel into the sideline and therefore away from goal. Footwork should be quick and pivoting to move if they move.

- Pressure; the pressure should be applied but not in diving in, instead be around 1.5-2.5 metres away dependent on their speed. Apply patience and wait for them to make a mistake before you go and create the tackle. Maybe they will make a mistake and lose the ball or you will tackle them.

- Timing in making the tackle is key.

Variation:

- Add an extra defender and work on holding the player up for a teammate to come back and create a 2v1

- After the first one the player who ran in, stays in to hold up whilst the other player has to run to the opposite cone before being active > make it continuous.