Tactical Problem - Basic Field Hockey Tactics

Lesson focus: Offense and Defense

Skill objective: To show different tactics involved in offensive and defensive drills.

Introductory task/game

3 man weave

Arrange the class in three line on one end of the field. Start the ball with the middle group. Each of the outside groups will alternate running towards the middle line, receiving a pass from the player in the middle line.  Three players continue down the field to the center line while branching to the outsides after passing the ball from the middle position. When the first group reaches half way to the center line, the next group may go.

This drill can be done with a large ball, making passes through the air to begin.  To increase difficulty the task can be done with a field hockey ball and a stick passing on the ground.

Diagram:

Skill/Concept development tasks/games

Defense:

2 vs. 3

- Two students on offense dribble down the field, where two defenders wait in position near the goal. Once the offense is past the center line a third defender runs from the sideline at the center line, touches the middle of the field and runs in to help the two other defenders, creating a 2 on 3.  When the offense scores or the defenders get possession of the ball two of the three defenders take the ball to the other end of the field where two new defenders are waiting and a third comes in as before.

Offense:

Give and Go

-Students are to form two separate lines facing the same towards the goal about ten feet apart.  One student will stand about ten feet outside of each line towards the goal on a 45 degree angle. The person in the line will pass the ball to the outside student and will run straight towards the goal and receive a pass back from the outside student once they have run further than where they are standing.

-An addition to this drill could be a passive defender between the passer and the outside student

Game and culminating activity: 

After learning about some of the basics in offensive and defensive tactics, game play would allow the students to try the newly learned skills. As a fourth addition to this field hockey unit, this lesson can serve as a summary of everything shown in the previous three lessons and everything can be brought together in a concluding scrimmage.