Field Hockey Defensive Drills

Field hockey defensive drills will assist the defense in understanding game flow and working together. It is important to have drills as a team. You can always work defensive drills solo and these drills fit that bill but more importantly these drills are designed for team play. Check out these defensive field hockey drills and incorporate them into your next practice. 

1. The Wedge Drill: This drill is based on defense moving attacking players to the outside of the field. This is done by having the attacking player moving up the middle of the field. The defensive player will meet the attacker and work to move them to the outside of the field. Have the attacker move in from the center line with the defensive player outside of the shooting circle.
2. Forced Backhand Shot: Have the defense line up at the top of the shooting circle. The attacker will be directly in front of them. The attacker will receive a pass and the defensive player will position to guard against the strong position shot. The idea is to give the attacker a time limit to resolve the shot which the defense must force backhanded. Rotate through your defensive squad for three tries per.
3. Physical Play: This drill needs close monitoring and should only be dine in full game pads. Defense needs to know how to be physical and the offense needs to be prepared for the contact. This drill is a full contact and impact drill which will occur between the center line and twenty-five yard line. The goal in this defensive drill is for the defense to keep the attacker from passing the twenty-five yard line. Full defensive mode and full contact is required for this drill.
4. Defensive Footwork Drill: Place speed ladder and speed sticks on the ground. Set them up in forward and side movements. The drill takes your defense over the speed ladder forward and backwards. The use of the speed sticks will have the defense running laterally lifting their feet off the ground. Run this for three minutes with one minute rest periods.
5. Defense Round About: This is a quick and agility drill that will have your defense working triangles. Set up one offensive player in the middle of the triangle. The players will work around the offensive player in quick successions protecting against incoming passes from an external player passing into the offensive player. Use of the field hockey stick is important tool to defend the incoming pass or the use of the cleat.