Hockey Session (Under 14s): passing, shooting, pivot off baseline and def skills ireland

Right hand repetition (15 mins)

Drill 3: Working the right pull and right hand strength, linked in with goalscoring. Key point the players feet stay outside the cones to the right and only the ball moves through the ladder.

Player A has to dribble the ball through the middle of the ladder of cones, but must pull the ball outside the ladder to their right at each set of cones. Ball control is the key.

Coaching focus:

Look at the stick position of player A, when they dribble. Keep the ball to the left and in front of them.

Right hand during the dribbling part should be at about 1/3 of the stick length.

Structure:

Player A starts at the yellow cone, passes the ball to player B, runs to the next orange cone, where he gets a pass back from B, while still in a movement. After that, player A has to dribble through the ladder of cones with the ball but trying to keep their feet outside the ladder. If they touches any of the cones, player A needs to carry the ball to the right, around the blue cone, bringing it back to the initial spot. If he doesn't touch any cone he is allowed to shoot on goal. Player B after passing the ball moves to where A was and the drill continues.

i) Progression: Add a defender , when A is at the last set of cones F can add pressure on the final shot.

ii) Add a high striker and another defender to create a 2 vs 2

Defensive skills (15 mins)

Drill 4: Defensive skills

Coaching focus: Forcing players to our right and being confident to win the ball by jabbing the ball out of play. Defender C must close the inside and step up to help player A to win the ball.

* Player A is the attacker. A needs to get through the box and try dribble into one of the wide goals.

* Player B and C are defenders. B can step up immediately over the strips as A begins to dribble and must focus on forcing the player right.

* C can only join in once player A crosses the dotted red line.

* B and C need to learn to work together to create a 1 vs 2 in their favour.

* A must try link in with player D once over the strips. If C or B win the ball, they must dribble out over the sideline area rather than just hitting it away.