Coaching E-Newsletter # 2
DEVELOPING Coaches and their Players
Core Themes covered in this issue are:
Tactical: Thinking Strategies to play in the Right Offensive Quadrant
(ROQ), with specific emphasis on the play making space – Gold Mine - and
the player who plays in this position, Right Inner
Technical: Role of the Reverse Stick, in passing, receiving, play making
moves and goal scoring
Power point presentations and video clips to support the core themes of
this issue
Training Method Tips:
Motivational Quotes:
___________
Tactical Component:
In the CNL # 1 we covered the topic of “Thinking Strategies to play in the
Four Quadrants of the field”, in this section, we will zoom the focus upon a
specific pocket of the Right Offensive Quadrant, named “Play making
space” (PMS). Its role and the strategies to maximize the advantages from
the offensive point of view.
Background:
Coaches have divided the field into various zones to achieve team
objectives. There are certain zones which are more valuable than the
others. It is vital, to be aware and understand the varying importance of
each specific zone - Concept of Location and Player Position – to
optimize its advantage.
Where is PMS Located? PMS is located in front of the opponent's circle,
towards the right side. The player playing in this position is named Right
Inner – Inside Right or Right Link - and plays a key role of a play maker.
The passes generated from this space to the leading forwards result in
classy field goals.
Please see the diagrams below.
Diagram 1. Please note the highlighted yellow area
Diagram 2. Positions of the various players on the field and the passing
options of the Right Inner
WHY IS THE PLAY MAKING SPACE SO VALUABLE?
1. It presents a clear view to the right inner, with regards to the position of
the opposing defenders and his/her leading forwards
2. The leading forwards receiving the ball from the right inner will have
multiple options - they can receive it on their open stick or reverse stick
3. Further they will also have multiple options to finish the move with a
sweep, push or hit it first time
4. It is vital that the passes coming from the right inner be at an optimum
speed and position to optimize its execution
Example from the 2016 Rio Olympics:
During the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Final match, the defending Olympic
Champions Netherlands, had the ball in the play making space, and GB
was defending. Please study the picture below.
I see this situation as a highly favorable one with a golden opportunity, for
the Dutch to exploit the GB defense. For more details of what happened
and what should have happened. Please click on this Power Point
Presentation.
Rocky veer add the PP link Recognizing the patterns of play
Please read the following part of the article after viewing the above PP
presentation
Why were the Dutch not successful? Cause and Effect;
Most probably, this may be due to the fact that their game reading skills /
game intelligence, were not fully developed during their early to mid-teens.
This has affected their decision making ability. It may also be due to
overload of information and not knowing how to analyze the game situation
to select the best option.
As we dissect the game situation from the point:- How the Dutch Right
Inner saw the game situation Pattern, and how she and her teammates
read it collectively to create a goal scoring opportunity. Their strategic
actions and decision were not the wisest, while disobeying the basic
concepts of attack, Width, Depth, Support and Penetration.
What can we learn from the past?
By reconnecting with the past we can solve our current day challenges.
You will be surprised to know how valuable treasures are hidden in the
past. Please click on these 2 video links from the early 80’s and 90’s. They
depict how Pakistan Players intelligently exploited the play making
space to win the 1984 LA Olympics and 1994 Sydney World Cup, Gold
medals.
BTW, these were their last world level tournament wins. One can also say
that the one of the reasons, for their down fall, was their sharp diversion
from their core strengths which gave them the winning edge.
Video Links.
1984 Olympic Games clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RT2yrLXWBE
1994 World Cup Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNIf62RvuAs
Develop game sense at an early age:
In the previous issue we suggested, “While developing a young player’s
technical skills, we also need to develop their tactical thinking and
game sense to make wise decisions, during the run of play”. IOW teach
the technical and tactical skills in the context of the game. So the players
may learn to combine their technical skills with tactical decision making
under realistic pressurized game situations.
We cannot solve our problems with the same THINKING we
used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Quiz: Please show these 2 game situation slides to your players, in the U
14 – 16 age group. Question them if they can correlate them from the
conceptual point of view.
They were taken 28 years apart and the basic concepts of the game has
not changed.
Steps to optimize the effective use of play making space?
 Be aware of this space and its importance
 Identify players who can play at this position Right Inner
 Develop the player’s necessary technical and tactical skills, to play
this position effectively
 Right inner has to be intelligent, with a good vision of the goal area
and the leading forwards
 Right inner should possess excellent technical skills - stick work, ball
control and deceptive passing
 Ability to attract the opposing defenders like a magnet and then pass
the ball effortlessly to the leading forwards in the created gaps
 The right inner's style of play is very unique, and require special
receiving skills, moves, and semi-penetrating dodges to fulfill the play
maker role
Since the beginning of this millennium, the role of the Right Inner as
the play maker, to the leading forwards has been fading in modern
hockey. This is a point to think over, both for the coaches and the
players, on how to best utilize the play making space to the team's
advantage. There is no question that the No Offside Rule also
encouraged the coaches to design game plans, which bypassed midfield
play and the role of the midfield players to a high degree.
Technical component:
In CNL # 1 we covered the role of open stick near the left foot of the
body. In this issue we will focus upon the role of reverse stick and how
its implementation can be maximized, during the run of play, in various
game situations.
Introduction: As we know, we cannot use the back side of the hockey
stick, as is allowed in ice hockey. So the stick is rotated back and forth
in a semi-circle to control the ball. The players do it well. Following are
the game situations, where when applied it can harvest rich dividends.
1. Receiving a pass on the reverse stick:
I understand, the players these days do not use it as much as they
should or can, due to the fear of losing the possession of the ball,
while receiving it under pressure. They are hesitant exposing the ball,
and over protect it. There is a time and place during the run of play,
when one has to take calculated risk and expose the ball to entice the
opponent. Another big advantage is when one uses it to receive a
pass coming from the right shoulder – R.H. pass to R.I. - one can
move either way to the right or left, with the ball. This puts an
opponent in a dilemma.
Here is an example of a timely lead by the C.F. to receive the ball on
the run on the reverse stick. Please note how she has left her markers
in white, steps behind.
2. Passing the ball with the Reverse stick:
To draw the defender to one’s left side and pass it with the reverse
stick, to the overlapping RH.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Using reverse sticks feints to eliminate the opponent:
Using Reverse stick to flip the ball over the stick:
Using Reverse stick to score Goals:
How to – Technique – develop reverse stick skills
Please click on this link to see the demonstrations.
Rocky Veer, I will send the video clicks soon.
_________
Training Methods Tips:
To develop game understanding and specific situational tactical
awareness?
Step 1.
When the players are in their early to mid-teens, practice sessions should
be designed as such which expose them to the various game situations
they will encounter at the higher level of competition. The best way to
achieve this is via Mini Hockey Games, 3 on 2, 3 on 3, 4 on 3 and 4 on 4.
IOW train in a game simulated environment and not in isolation. Avoid
player’s dribbling and running through the cones. This is counterproductive.
Step 2.
Teach and expose the players to the various basic concepts which govern
the game during the classroom video sessions and on the field.
Step 3.
During the Mini hockey games, Freeze the Game and ask the players
open ended questions. Covering 5 W’s and H regarding the given game
situations using guided discovery method. As this will help the coach
understand the player’s perspective, level of thinking and how they see and
read the situation.
How will these 3 steps help?
 Help the players to instantly recognize the fast changing patterns of
play
 Develop a deeper insight to differentiate between the moves, which
are highly effective than the ones which are less or not effective at all
 Develop awareness of most effective patterns of play, from the
various quadrants and their specific pockets, which may be gold
mines or mines waiting to be blasted, from the offensive and
defensive point of view
 Develop Creativity to solve problems. ie: When the ideal play making
game situations don’t prevail, how to create them. What strategies to
implement and which ones to ignore
 Recognize the openings / opportunities as soon as they occur or
even before they occur. Playing in the future.
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.
Wayne Gretzky
Motivational Quotes regarding Failure:
Failure is success in progress.
Albert Einstein
I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
Thomas A. Edison
Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the
surest stepping – stones to success.
Dale Carnegie
Failures are part of life. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. If you don’t learn
you will never change.
Author unknown
Success is not final, Failure is not fatal: It is courage to continue that
counts.
Winston Churchill
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of
enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly. John F. Kennedy
Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do
it. But it’s not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with
plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this
failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into
inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Barack Obama