Hockey: Round the Back

Teach the importance of passing out of defence. Improve your defenders' ability to pick out the best pass to start the attack

Game with 2 teams. Both teams have two goals to score in.

This is to encourage teams to get the ball out of congested areas into the open spaces.

Play 5 vs 5 in a 23m area (width of the full pitch and the length of a 23 metre area).

This is a game where you learn to pass the ball beyond defenders, to players in space. No aerial ball allowed. Two teams positioned either side of the 23m line. One player from each team goes to the end zone behind the opposing team. The team with the ball has to try and pass the ball into the end zone behind the defence. Whoever makes the successful pass can join the player in the end zone. The aim of the game is to be the first team to have all their players in the end zone behind the opposition. The ball can only be won by the opposition intercepting a ball on the way to the end zone or back.

Set-up the pitch as shown. Place one player from each side in the opposite End Zone.

Players have to try and get the ball to the player in the End Zone for them to then score a goal. Only the designated players are allowed in the End Zone.

Players need to get into groups of 3 with one ball in each group.

Number the players 1, 2 and 3.

The area can be either the whole or 1/2 a pitch.

When no.1 has the ball no.2 has to run in a straight line until no.1 passes the ball.

Once no.2 has received the ball player no.3 has to make a run.

Players can run anywhere on the pitch.