What are some good training drills for a field hockey team?

Answer 1

Getting fitness levels up should be about half your total practise as a team, depending on whether you did any preseason fitness training; at least a 10 minute run and stetching. After this, begin with simple passing and hitting, perhaps getting some of those who can do them well to practise aerials, then increasing the complexity of the passing manoevres. Setplays like sideline hits in each half on both sides, long corners, centre and free hits might follow, before moving on to penalty corner tactics. While field players are doing this, the goalie can be warmed by throwing some balls from a distance alternately at each post, high and low, then logging, diving and sliding practise. Then join them in with the long/penalty corners. Afterwards the few involved can continue with penalty strokes if necessary.

Answer 2

Depending on the age and playing ability of the team, there are many different drills that can be used, ranging from simple passing and shooting drills to complex manoeuvres and setpiece plays. There are a range of DVDs and CDs available from various hockey outlets, from the FIH and the national hockey associations around the world; alternatively you can visit forums devoted to the sport, especially those set up for coaches to share their knowledge. To get you started, here is a basic training schedule: # Begin the players on a pssing drill, for example standing five metres apart in pairs and passing as quickly as possible between them or send them on a ten minute warmup run. While this is happening, have a player (or yourself) do the same with the keeper (if you have two, they can do this themselves). Just push the ball at their feet and have them kick it back. # When players are warmed up, have them practise setplays: from the sideline, the centrepass, etc. They should be focusing on where they need to be and where they need to be going, as well as how they will safely move the ball forward. It helps to have some team members trying to defend and apply pressure at the same time. Continue with the keeper(s); stand about eight to ten metres with an armfull of balls and throw them at the corners alternately left and right, in sets between high and low, with the keeper saving as many as possible. Throw the balls as soon as they have saved the previous one. # Bring the whole team together. Do some shooting drills for 20 to 30 minutes, then practise long and penalty corners (with and without runners) to finish the practise, and then have a warmdown jog.

Answer 3

Go for a half-hour long run every day, until you can easily keep up the pace for the entire time. After that, go for an hour-long run on two days of every three (one being for a rest), except for days on which you play or have a team practise.

Answer 4

I myself do a lot of running because you need to be incredibly fit to play hockey. but on top of that goal shooting, dribbling but this is all stuff that you will get better at over time. Keep practising the same things over and over again. May sound boring but it does the trick.