Field Hockey Drills For Coaches

There are a number of different field hockey drills for coaches that are important for them to run in practice regularly, so that their team can be prepared for the intense competition of field hockey games. These field hockey drills range from speed drills, to accuracy drills to drills that just condition players to play the game more quickly then their opponents. Coaches should keep a list of a variety of these drills in their proverbial back pocket so they can mix up in practice, making their field hockey teams as well-rounded as possible. Some of these field hockey drills for coaches are listed below:

1. Wave Drill. Lines of players should be formed behind the goal, ten to fifteen yards from the goal and off to the side and 25 yards from the goal, pointing at the goal. The drill starts with the line on the side sending the ball across the middle to someone sprinting from the 25 yard line to receive it. The line from behind the goal will send one defender to try and stop the ball. The drill is done when a goal is scored or the ball is knocked away. Players then rotate to another line. This field hockey drill for coaches will school players in defense, passing and shooting.
2. 3 versus 2 in 20. Three offensive players should be pitted against two defensive players and made to shoot and score in 20 seconds or less. This will school the offensive players in passing and shooting effectively when they are on a break and the school the defensive players on how to protect their goal when there is a break. This field hockey drill for coaches works all aspects of the game.
3. Triangles. This is primarily a defensive field hockey drill for coaches, though it also trains players how to pass the ball. A triangle should be formed by offensive players with one defensive player in the middle. They should pass the ball around the triangle or across the triangle, keeping it away from the defender as long as possible.
4. Defensive Recovery. This field hockey drill for coaches teaches players to get back on defense and also makes players faster and gives them more endurance. Teams of three will be made and players will have goals on opposite sides of a set area. However, every time they lose the ball, they must sprint back and touch their end line before they can play defense. This will teach players to immediately get back when there is a turnover.