Baljit and Selvaraju to play in German hockey league

By AFTAR SINGH

PETALING JAYA: National hockey defender Baljit Singh Charun and forward S. Selvaraju will be playing in the Germany hockey league for three months.

Baljit, who received an offer to play for the for Zehlendorser Wespen hockey club, will be making his debut in Germany while Selvaraju is making his second appearance.

Good experience: Baljit Singh Charun is looking forward to making his debut for German club Zehlendorser in Germany’s hockey league.

Selvaraju, who played for the Moenchengladbach club in 2006, will feature for Division One side, the Berliner club, this year.

The duo, employees of Tenaga Nasional, will leave for Germany today and return on Oct 2.

Tenaga coach K. Rajan said that they are more than happy to allow them to play in league, which is regarded has one of the best in the world.

S. Selvaraju going to Germany for a second time.

“They definitely will benefit from playing in the league as Germany are the top ranked hockey team in the world.

“The two are very dedicated players and we are confident they would improve their game playing in Germany,” said Rajan, who is also the assistant coach of the national junior team.

Selvaraju said that he was invited by a few clubs to play in Germany because of his form during his debut in 2006.

“I played 12 matches for Moenchengladbach in 2006 and scored five goals. And this time I hope to improve my scoring rate for the Berliner club.

“I benefited a lot from playing in 2006 and I believe I would be able to further improve my gameby playing for the new club who have four German national players,” said Selvaraju, who has scored seven goals in 36 international matches.

The 23-year-old Selvaraju added another club ((Zehlendorser) were looking for a defender so he recommended them Baljit.

Baljit said that he was looking forward to make his debut in the German league.

“This is the first time I have been offered to play in a European league and this definitely will boost my game. I will give my best as I will be playing against the best players from Germany,” said Baljit.

Ancient Field Hockey players in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

How to play game?

Step 1

Set up teams of 11 players each, which will be split into offensive and defensive positions. Game play usually consists of two 30-minute halves.

Step 2

Remember that the point of the game is to put the ball in the opponent's goal. Field hockey is a passing game, where the ball is moved via passing, dribbling and hitting.

Step 3

Set up the field with a goal on either end. There should be a striking circle in front of each goal, like a penalty box. Goals are scored when the ball goes into the goal after touching the stick of a player in the striking circle.

Step 4

Mark a midfield circle at the half line. This is where the ball is put into play after each goal and at the beginning of each half. The game is started by passing the ball back to a teammate.

Step 5

Get to know the different offensive positions. The forwards are the offensive front line and do the majority of the attacking. The midfielders offer attack support for the offense.

Step 6

Learn the defensive positions. The midfielders, in addition to supporting the offense, also serve as the first line of defense. The fullbacks are the primary defenders. The goalkeeper is in charge of keeping the ball out of the goal.

Step 7

Familiarize yourself with the different penalties that you can face for unsafe stick handling (see "eHow to Avoid Penalties in Field Hockey"). The referee can award free hits for intentional or unintentional fouls, so saying you didn't mean to won't save you from losing possession of the ball.

How to play defense in field?

Step 1

Pick the opponent you are going to guard and move to the space where she goes.

Step 2

Stand between your opponent and the goal in a spot that gives the most room for you to tackle, or intercept, the ball. Try to be ballside and goalside, which is between the ball and your opponent as well as between your opponent and the goal. If you miss the ball, you are still between the ball and the goal.

Step 3

Watch the ball, not your attacker. You'll be less susceptible to falling for movement designed to distract you so she can move toward the goal.

Step 4

Keep your weight on the balls of your feet. The more balanced you are, the faster you'll be able to respond to your opponent's changes in direction.

Step 5

Be careful of using fake moves to distract your opponent; you may end up missing the play. Be patient and watch where the ball is going. When you have an opportunity, try to steal the ball or intercept a pass.

Step 6

Use zone defense when you are not marking a specific player. Cover the space to the side and rear of your teammate so, if the attacker beats her, the marker, you become the marker until your teammate recovers. Think of it as a rotation.