field hockey playbook tackling

Field Hockey PlaybookField Hockey PlaybookDerek E. PappasDerek E. Pappas

Derek E. Pappas Copyright © 2009Derek E. Pappas Copyright © 2009

Defending

GripsFootwork


DefenseDefense1 on 11 on 1

Defensive footworkDefensive footwork

Center of gravityCenter of gravity

Deliberate foulsDeliberate fouls

Slowing down players/channelingSlowing down players/channeling

MarkingMarking

TacklingTackling

Pressing<int, 256><int, 256>Pressing<int, 256><int, 256>


1 vs 1 defense1 vs 1 defense

FootworkFootwork

GripsGrips


PosturePosture

VisionVision


1 vs 1 defense-cont.1 vs 1 defense-cont.

Faking the commitFaking the commit

Types of tacklesTypes of tackles

When/where to make different types of tacklesWhen/where to make different types of tackles

Slowing down the player (delay) so that Slowing down the player (delay) so that someone else can tackle themsomeone else can tackle them

FoulingFouling


Defensive Foot workDefensive Foot work

No cross overNo cross over

Slide stepSlide step

neutral position (tennis volley)neutral position (tennis volley)

Drag step (fencing)Drag step (fencing)



Your center of gravity is the body position Your center of gravity is the body position which allows you to move in any direction.which allows you to move in any direction.

If you are not in balance then you can only If you are not in balance then you can only move in one direction. The players on the other move in one direction. The players on the other team know this and can use this to their team know this and can use this to their advantage.advantage.



Center of gravity is important for offensive and Center of gravity is important for offensive and defensive players.defensive players.

Offensive players who are not in balance are Offensive players who are not in balance are more easily tackled.more easily tackled.

Defensive players who are not in balance can Defensive players who are not in balance can be beaten with a change of directionbe beaten with a change of direction


PosturePosture

Weight on balls of feet (don’t get caught (flat Weight on balls of feet (don’t get caught (flat footed”)footed”)

Bend ankles/knees/waistBend ankles/knees/waist

Flat backFlat back


Faking the commitFaking the commit


Types of tacklesTypes of tackles

Marking tackleMarking tackle

Open field tackleOpen field tackle

Tackle from behindTackle from behind

Tackle from side Tackle from side

Sliding tackleSliding tackle


When/where to make When/where to make different types of different types of tacklestackles


ChannelingChanneling

Forcing the offensive player to go where you Forcing the offensive player to go where you want them to gowant them to go

To the corners To the corners

Into another defenderInto another defender

Away from their attackersAway from their attackers


Slowing down the player Slowing down the player for othersfor others

If you can cut a players angle to the goal off If you can cut a players angle to the goal off and force them to run side ways the defenders and force them to run side ways the defenders behind you can recover.behind you can recover.

Every step that the offensive player takes side Every step that the offensive player takes side ways across the field is one step that a ways across the field is one step that a defender can recover toward the goal.defender can recover toward the goal.

Delay the offensive player so your defenders Delay the offensive player so your defenders can get back into positioncan get back into position


Jab TackleJab TackleDo not show the player your reach.Do not show the player your reach.

Hold the stick in the left hand with the thumb down Hold the stick in the left hand with the thumb down the toe side of the stickthe toe side of the stick

Right hand should be half way down.Right hand should be half way down.

Left hand goes down towards the ground first and Left hand goes down towards the ground first and then out-keep your center of gravity between your then out-keep your center of gravity between your feetfeet

Jab when the player turns their stick over the top of Jab when the player turns their stick over the top of the ball by sliding the stick out through the right handthe ball by sliding the stick out through the right hand

Fake the jab with the body, stick and foot work. Think Fake the jab with the body, stick and foot work. Think Bruce Lee fake.Bruce Lee fake.

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Derek E. Pappas Copyright © 2009 Derek E. Pappas Copyright © 2009

Closing Closing players players downdown

Shoulder to shoulderShoulder to shoulder

Match their foot workMatch their foot work

Eye on ballEye on ball

Wait to make tackleWait to make tackle

Watch for pull back Watch for pull back into your feetinto your feet


Front stock Front stock tackling-tackling-rightrightLeft hand pushed outLeft hand pushed out

Thumb down the Thumb down the back of stickback of stick

Ball 6” up stick..not Ball 6” up stick..not at the end of stickat the end of stick


Correct Correct front stick front stick tackletackleThumb down back of Thumb down back of stickstick

Eyes on ballEyes on ball

Left hand pushed out Left hand pushed out from sidefrom side

Footwork-defender Footwork-defender matching offensive matching offensive stridestride


Front Stick Front Stick flat tackleflat tackle

Grip: hand on top of stickGrip: hand on top of stick

Hand pushed out from side Hand pushed out from side of body next to groundof body next to ground

Slide stick out to meet the Slide stick out to meet the ball 6 inches up the stickball 6 inches up the stick

Keep your eye on the ballKeep your eye on the ball

Force the defender to one Force the defender to one sideside


Front stick Front stick tacklingtacklingClose player downClose player down

Force them onto your Force them onto your front sticksfront sticks

Left hand in strong grip Left hand in strong grip and away from body; and away from body; pushed out to left of pushed out to left of body and feetbody and feet

Maintain center of Maintain center of gravitygravity


Correct Correct reverse reverse stick stick running running tackletackleShoulder to shoulderShoulder to shoulder

stick at 45 degreesstick at 45 degrees


Shoulder to Shoulder to shoulder shoulder tacklingtacklingDon’t push them in Don’t push them in their back with your their back with your hand.hand.


Tackling Tackling from from behind-right behind-right sidesideIf a player on your If a player on your right is protecting the right is protecting the ball with their front ball with their front sticks then go under sticks then go under their stick to get the their stick to get the ball.ball.


Slide stick Slide stick underunder


Chasing the Chasing the ballballKeep your eye on Keep your eye on the ballthe ball

Run hard...the other Run hard...the other person is alsoperson is also

hands in fronthands in front


Stopping forward Stopping forward passespassesThe blue player makes a The blue player makes a forward pass and the red forward pass and the red player can’t stop it player can’t stop it because they went across because they went across the path of the ball the path of the ball instead of following the instead of following the path of the ball with the path of the ball with the reverse stick. The reverse stick. The defender’s eyes must defender’s eyes must follow the path of the ball follow the path of the ball and the stick will as welland the stick will as well


Tackle in Tackle in groupsgroups


Triangle Triangle DefenseDefenseOne man deepOne man deep

Two to the sideTwo to the side

The men on the side The men on the side step in to close the step in to close the gapgap


Triangle Triangle DefenseDefenseTwo men on the Two men on the sides have moved sides have moved together to reduce together to reduce the space for the the space for the offensive player.offensive player.


If you diveIf you diveYou better make the You better make the tackletackle

There is no recoveryThere is no recovery


Dive Dive tacklingtacklingIf you dive tackle you If you dive tackle you must get the ballmust get the ball

else you are else you are completely eliminatedcompletely eliminated

Here red dove along Here red dove along the path of the ball the path of the ball instead of instead of perpendicular to the perpendicular to the path and missed the path and missed the ball.ball.


Tackling Tackling mistakesmistakesBehind player with ballBehind player with ball

Stick too verticalStick too vertical

Swinging down to tackleSwinging down to tackle

Hitting player’s stick Hitting player’s stick (not the ball)(not the ball)


Tackling Tackling mistakesmistakesWrong gripWrong grip

Stick in airStick in air

Stick angled upStick angled up


Don’t jumpDon’t jump


The danger The danger zonezoneThe hit follow The hit follow through will hurt through will hurt you. Do not stand in you. Do not stand in the danger zone. the danger zone. Either shoulder to Either shoulder to shoulder or get out shoulder or get out of the way.of the way.


The danger zoneThe danger zoneClosing your eyes will not Closing your eyes will not protect you.protect you.

Do not get caught in the Do not get caught in the follow through of a hit.follow through of a hit.

Shoulder to shoulder or Shoulder to shoulder or front sticks tackle.front sticks tackle.

Poke the ball away on Poke the ball away on back swing not the follow back swing not the follow through.through.

Stop shot on with front Stop shot on with front stick not reverse.stick not reverse.


Getting bodies into Getting bodies into positionposition

The goalie/sweeper must organize the defenseThe goalie/sweeper must organize the defense

The defense needs to communicate to channel The defense needs to communicate to channel players into the corners/sidelines or the middleplayers into the corners/sidelines or the middle

One player runs with the offensive ball carrier One player runs with the offensive ball carrier while another player makes the tacklewhile another player makes the tackle

Trapping the ball carrier with “gang” tacklingTrapping the ball carrier with “gang” tackling

Chasing the defensive passing with two Chasing the defensive passing with two players-one is not enoughplayers-one is not enough


FlowFlow

Moving the other team around on the fieldMoving the other team around on the field

Forcing the other team left/rightForcing the other team left/right

Forcing the other team into the middle Forcing the other team into the middle (funnel)(funnel)


MarkingMarking

PositionPosition

VisibilityVisibility

FootworkFootwork

Staying with the offensive playerStaying with the offensive player


Marking-positionMarking-position

Ball side/goal sideBall side/goal side

One yard from the playerOne yard from the player


Marking-footworkMarking-footwork

Do not get caught crossing over your stepDo not get caught crossing over your step

Slide stepSlide step

Tennis volley positionTennis volley position

feet in neutral position feet in neutral position


Staying with the playerStaying with the player

Man to manMan to man

Do not get screenedDo not get screened

Do not let the offense run a “pick and roll”Do not let the offense run a “pick and roll”

ZoneZone

Switch players if necessarySwitch players if necessary

Watch for stick/hand signalsWatch for stick/hand signals


Using the flow against Using the flow against the defensethe defense


Recognizing when the Recognizing when the offense is creating a offense is creating a flow changeflow change


Defending in triangles Defending in triangles against a running build against a running build upup

Close down the gapsClose down the gaps

Give them the flat pass/run not the through Give them the flat pass/run not the through pass/runpass/run


Closing Closing down from down from behindbehindThe blue player is The blue player is preparing to jab preparing to jab tackle or slide stick tackle or slide stick under the red under the red player’s stick to get player’s stick to get the ball.the ball.



The red player has shown The red player has shown the blue player his the blue player his “reach”. Reach is the “reach”. Reach is the distance from your feet to distance from your feet to the end of the stick. Don’t the end of the stick. Don’t show the offensive players show the offensive players your “reach” when you your “reach” when you close them down. Two close them down. Two hands on the stick when hands on the stick when closing downclosing down


Closing Closing DownDownThe defender’s stride The defender’s stride pattern has to match the pattern has to match the offensive player’s stride offensive player’s stride pattern. Here red is in pattern. Here red is in trouble-red is taking trouble-red is taking bigger steps than blue.bigger steps than blue.

The defender should not The defender should not “throw” the stick when “throw” the stick when there is no chance of there is no chance of making a tackle as in making a tackle as in this picture.this picture.


Closing Closing down down playersplayersFootwork short stepsFootwork short steps

Control change of Control change of directiondirection

Maintain your center Maintain your center of gravityof gravity

Jab and feint to move Jab and feint to move offensive playeroffensive player



Two hands on stick.Two hands on stick.

Wait for opportunity to Wait for opportunity to tackle.tackle.

Cut the forwards angle to Cut the forwards angle to goal off.goal off.

Slow them down.Slow them down.

Make them look at ball so Make them look at ball so they do not have passing they do not have passing options.options.


Channeling attackersChanneling attackers

Channel (direct) the attacker into another Channel (direct) the attacker into another defender who either makes the tackle or defender who either makes the tackle or causes the ball runner to change direction, causes the ball runner to change direction, hence slowing them down and allowing hence slowing them down and allowing defensive players from behind to catch updefensive players from behind to catch up


Defending Defending in the Din the Dbacks bentbacks bent

knees bentknees bent

ankles bentankles bent

sticks on groundsticks on ground

active positionactive position


Fouling Fouling

MidfieldMidfield

Inside the defensive 25Inside the defensive 25

Inside the circle/DInside the circle/D


Professional Professional foulfoulFirst you stop the ballFirst you stop the ball

Then you stop the Then you stop the stickstick

Then you stop the Then you stop the playerplayer


Fouls-Mid fieldFouls-Mid field

Slow down counter attacksSlow down counter attacks

Don’t let the other team build-no flowDon’t let the other team build-no flow

Professional fouls on counter attacks/break Professional fouls on counter attacks/break awaysaways


Fouls-Inside the Fouls-Inside the defensive 25defensive 25

Harsh fouls result in a short cornerHarsh fouls result in a short corner

Watch for quick restarts (self start rule)Watch for quick restarts (self start rule)


Fouls-inside the circleFouls-inside the circle

Footwork and clean stops are the keyFootwork and clean stops are the key

Don’t foul inside of the circleDon’t foul inside of the circle

Short cornerShort corner

Penalty flickPenalty flick

field hockey playbook tackling

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defensive

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slide stick

offensive

left hand

jab tackle

side