On The Move
Moving with the ball Open stick
Playing the ball on open stick helps everybody to participate from beginners to senior players. But critically open stick hockey encourages quick passing hockey.
- Strong, low body position body upright Knees bent.
- Eyes up.
- Hands well apart as close together as you can manage
- Left hand at top so you can see 4 knuckles when you look down
- Stick at an angle (approx 45 degrees) on ground and in contact with the ball
- Ball position well ahead of feet and slightly to the right, carry it where it enables you to see most passes.
Reverse stick
With the changes to the rule of reverse stick hitting a greater emphasis is placed on developing skills on the reverse stick. Certainly the Koreans are exponents of this and as such have been highly successful as a nation due to the development of working this side.
- At this level the reverse stick is used to transfer the ball from left to right and not as a separate technique
- The right hand loosens grip and turns back of the hand upwards so that the stick can pull the ball from left to right.
Receiving skills
Pass and go is a philosophy adopted by most hockey nations. But once you have passed someone has to receive, hopefully on the same side!!!!! Control of the ball is critical, scanning before receipt will enable the player to control and pass the ball before he is engaged by an opponent.
- Receive ball in front of the right foot, with weight on right foot in order to pass ball in either direction.
- Eyes watch ball onto stick.
- ‘Cushion’ the ball with soft hands on receipt (stick moves back a little to ‘give’ as the ball is received).
- As players improve they should have some idea of what they will do next having looked (scanned) (before they control the ball) they may pass left, or right or run with the ball etc
- 1st touch is important because it allows you to put the ball where you want to use it next
- Balanced as ball is received, prepare early to pass ball and move away with ball as mentioned above.
