field hockey passing

PassingDerek Pappas

Derek E. Pappas Copyright © 2016

Passing connections

• Players must create connections in order to make a successful pass


Passing lanes

• A passing lane is a path between the ball carrier and receiver

• The defenders cannot stop a pass in a passing lane


Dead ends• A dead end is an area on the field where the ball

carrier has no passing options

• There are several types of dead ends that players should avoid running into

• The left corner

• The right corner

• A group of defenders


Technique• Ball carriers must carry the ball close to their feet

on fast turf surfaces

• Ball carriers must use their bent wrists and elbows to pass the ball

• Spin should only be used when the receiver has time and space to receive the ball before the next action (e.g. defender to defender pass) or to a forward running into open space


No tactics without technique• Passing accuracy is totally dependent on technique

• Inaccurate passes are a result of a lack of attention to detail

• Where is the ball relative to the feet?

• Close or far?

• Did the ball spin get killed?

• Was the ball controlled with a small reverse stick action prior to passing?


Deception• Do not “telegraph” your passes

• Use deception to move the defender one way and pass the other way

• Use deception to create doubt in the defender’s minds about where the next pass is going

• Set up defenders with previous passes one way and then pass the other way the next time


Rolling the ball• If the passing lane is open roll the ball with top

spin to the receiver so that they can stop the ball quickly and do not have to kill the sidespin

• Rolling the ball correctly requires that the passer push the ball with the end of the stick along the path of the ball and not across the path of the ball

• It may not be possible to use overspin on the pass because of deception


Lifting the ball

• To bypass defenders use small lifts over their stick before they can tackle the ball


Hitting the ball

• Hit the ball on the ground

• Without any spin

• At the target

• Choke up on the stick for a quick hit


Control the ball with the reverse stick before passing the ball

• Take the spin off of the ball

• Position the ball correctly in relation to the passer’s feet and the next passing line/target


Pass the ball to the correct position

• The pass should end up on the receiver’s stick

• The receiver should not have to make adjustments to receive the ball


No suicide passes

• Do not make passes which result in a defender running through/into/over the ball receiver


The next pass

• The receiver of the pass must have a next pass option(s)

• The passer (player 1) must know that the receiver (player 2) has at least one passing option (player 3) that is not a dead end


Next pass (cont.)• The next pass should serve a purpose

• The next pass should either be:

• A pass designed to control the game

• Maintain the passing tempo

• Attack the goal on a route that the team understands


The exit man• The “exit” man is the player that the defenders pass to

when the defenders gain control of the ball

• The pass to the exit man must be made so that the exit man can control the ball and then make the next pass

• Exit men can start counter attacks or mid field build ups

• Exit men should move the ball out of the defense where most of the other team will currently be


Pass the ball over the defender’s stick

• Do not roll the ball on the ground if the defender can cover the passing lane

• Get close enough to the defender that when you lift the ball and send it through the passing lane the defender cannot stop the pass


Playing for safety

• Pass to the sidelines or corners when to relieve the pressure or through upfield channels to a receiver


Do not slow the runner down

• The receiver should not have to slow down to receive a pass

• Pass the ball so that the receiver does not have to change stride

• The receiver should not have to reach for the ball and should be able to quickly control the pass and make the next move in one motion


Changing play

• When the defense is flowing one direction a successful pass in the other direction can break the defensive line


Passing to a shooter

• A pass to a shooter should allow the shooter time and space to take the shot


1 2 passing

• Give and go

• 1-2 passing


Wall passing• A wall pass is a pass made by a receiver without

stopping the ball

• The ball is immediately redirected

• The wall pass can be used for a 1/2 passing situation

• The wall pass can be used to break presses by redirecting a hard hit from a defender to the side of the field


Turn the defender

• The passer must make the defender commit their stick and body weight to the wrong direction so that the pass will not be intercepted by the defender


Move the defender’s stick to the opposite side

• Get the defender to move their stick to the side opposite of the intended passing side

• Move the stick by running the ball to the non passing lane side

• Move the stick through feints

• Move the stick with stick work


Pass the ball along the defender’s stick

• A defender who has to extend the stick, their arm, and their legs cannot easily change direction

• Pass the ball parallel to the defenders stick and feet to a receiver


Do not pass to a player being closed down

• Unless the receiver can shield the ball after the reception with their body and move away from the defender


Fast break passing

• Requires total concentration

• Can change the game

• A good pass results in a goal

• A bad pass results in a turn over


Turn 2 vs into 2 v 1

• Run the ball at the defender marking the receiver and take the other defender out of the play


Receiver’s should not hide behind defenders

• Too often when there are two players running down the field the receiver will run on the side of the defender farther away from the ball carrier.


Receivers should not run behind defenders


Create a numerical advantage

• Turn passing opportunities into 2 v1 and 3 v2 situations instead of 2 v2 and 3v 3

• Run the ball diagonally away from your marker at another defender to create 2 v1’s and 3 v 2’s


Receivers need to move into the passing lane at the right time


Delaying

• Some times the passer must delay making the pass to allow the receiver to move into the passing lane


Decision making

• The passer must understand which passing lanes are open

• If the defender has moved their stick to their front stick side then the reverse stick area of the defender may be open for a pass

• And visa versa


The route to the goal

• What is the route to the goal from the current point on the field?

• What are the obstacles to overcome in order to move the ball from the current point into the goal?

• A route is a path through a maze (the defenders/defensive organization)


The route changes

• The route to the goal can change given the movement of the ball and the changes in the positions of the offensive and defensive players


Viewing the field

• Field level

• horizontal view

• 50 foot view point

• above the field


Field view

• The field view contains the local passing opportunities

• The field view does not show the route to the goal


The defensive model

• The defense must predict where the ball is going and must stop the ball

• The defense must force the offensive team to move the ball to a place on the field which the defense can control and the offense cannot do anything threatening


Offensive player’s model

• The offensive players must have a mental model of the field which includes tactical and strategic considerations based on the score, the time, and the current situation, which includes, fatigue, attitude, aptitude, ability, …


Mental models of the field

• The field includes the position of the ball, the position of the defensive team, and the position of the offensive team


Local/individual offensive mental model

• The offensive model must include a view of the immediate proximity and an overview from the top

• Can the player see the immediate thing to do

• Pass, dribble the ball

• Run to a new position to receive the ball

• Run to a new position to move the defense


Global/overview offensive mental model

• The global view is map of the field with the location of the offensive and defensive players, the goals, the lines, and the ball

• The global view includes the current offensive objective for the team

• score

• delay

• control

• counter attack


Finding the route through the global map

• The route through the global map can only be traversed if the entire group of players involved in moving the ball through the route understand where the spaces are and where the ball must move and where they must move.


Passing on the run• Running with the ball changes the passing angles and

passing lanes around the ball carrier

• Faking a pass, using body feints, and stick work while running with the ball can also change the passing lanes

• Moreover, defenders become confused about the passer’s intent

• Defenders commit their stick and body weight to the wrong side, opening up passing lanes


Passing on the run (cont.)

• Ball carriers apply maximum pressure to the defense when they carry the ball at a maximum speed through the defense

• Ball carriers must have an intended route to the goal which involves passing to at least one other attacker


Don’t dribble the ball

• Ball carriers who solo dribble through a packed defense into the circle,instead of making 1/2 passes against fast, mobile defenders will be channeled and will at best generate a shot from a bad angle most of the time

• Dribblers will be tackled by well organized defenses which have defenders which tackle in pairs


Breaking down triangular defenses

• put a man in the middle of the triangle and pass to the man, who releases the ball out to a runner though a different edge of the triangle


Through passing

• A through pass is a pass down the field between defenders

• Through passes require timing on the part of the passer and the receiver


Proximity to the ball carrier

• If a ball carrier is running through the defense then the supporting players should be 5-7 yards if the intent is to make 1/2 passes

• One of the supporting players should run 90 degrees to the path of the ball lined up with the shoulder of the ball carrier to give the ball carrier the option to pass to the supporting player


Proximity to the ball carrier

• A common problem is the the supporting player gets to far ahead of the ball carrier and ends up hiding behind defenders instead of moving into a passing lane


Control the ball prior to passing it

• Players must control the ball prior to passing it

• Get rid of the spin on the ball

• Receive the ball and move it into a position to make an accurate pass


Pattern match the position of the defender

• Which direction are the defender’s feet pointing?

• Which foot is in front of the other?

• Can the defender move their stick to the opposite side of the current stick position easily given the position of their feet?

• Is the defender standing up or in a squatting position?

• Can the defender react to a direction change?


What is the defender blocking?

• Is the defender blocking the ball carriers run with the ball or the pass?

• Is the defender faking the pass block to get the ball carrier to commit to the dribble and then switch to make the tackle on the ball carrier or visa versa?


When not to pass

• Don’t pass if the defender is blocking the passing lane and has given the ball carrier the green light to run down the running lane.

field hockey passing

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