Field Hockey: hockey 9

I have tried to buy some left handed hockey sticks for 9 year olds. Iam after some inexpensive ones ideally. Can you recommend anyretailers please as my local shop cannot help.Katie-Jayne-submitted by email

Hello all, I would like to have some reflection on following please%3A As a coach of a 8 team of juniors age 9-10 years old i tend to rotated the positions of players every other game.The reasons for this is that I believe it helps them understand the importance and difficulties from each separate position in the field and so creating a better understanding of the game. Furthermore it gives a positive influence on their learning curve from a technical point of few. Of course I am taking care that everyone stays happy in playing hockey. What are your opinions?

Does anyone have a link to a few GOOD Hockey Specific fitness tests. And I'm not looking for bleep tests which is somewhat out of date. Many thanks

I'm a junior and really wanna play. Is it too late? Also, how do I get started? Thanks!

good dayin having a acadamy for 3 days,a session is 2 hours per day.the ace group is from9 til 12 years old.they more advance group.What drill do you think must i focus onThanxWerner

Which of the sportplan INDOOR plans are now appropriate to the 5v5 format OR do you have any to share?

could someone comment on the 5 yard rule when entering the scoring area? There always seams to be a lot of wrong information regarding this rule.

Hi,I perhaps naively, expected to have most of our team from last year carry over and only have a few new comers to integrate and get up to speed with the rest. However meeting the team at our first practice last night i find I have five players still at school from last year and the rest all new comers, most of whom had not held a hockey stick at all till practice.This being only my second season coaching (year 9 to year 13 boys) has left me feeling a little blindsided, and feeling quite unsure how to prepare practices that target both groups of boys. Do i lump them both groups together, keep them separate? What drills/exercises to best bring the new comers up to speed.I don't want to neglect either group, keep practice worthwhile for the experienced boys, but also bringing the new comers up to a level were they can mix in with the others and learn organically from them while practicing as a team. David

What is the best or appropriate formation to play a 9 a side game?

With pre season looming can you give any advice as to the best training method for ladies hockey team

HI, I'm an inexperienced hockey coach about to coach 9-10 year old kids at school. It's been 20 years since I played myself, so not always familiar with the drills I read here. Anyone has some tips for basic drills for kids to learn the basics? Thanks!

Good day all. I need help on drills. I need to do 3 drills on 9 yard scoring. Can any one help?

Hi,I perhaps naively, expected to have most of our team from last year carry over and only have a few new comers to integrate and get up to speed with the rest. However meeting the team at our first practice last night i find I have five players still at school from last year and the rest all new comers, most of whom had not held a hockey stick at all till practice.This being only my second season coaching (year 9 to year 13 boys) has left me feeling a little blindsided, and feeling quite unsure how to prepare practices that target both groups of boys. Do i lump them both groups together, keep them separate? What drills/exercises to best bring the new comers up to speed.I don't want to neglect either group, keep practice worthwhile for the experienced boys, but also bringing the new comers up to a level were they can mix in with the others and learn organically from them while practicing as a team. David

My girl's team is playing a 9 a side full field tournament. I'm thinking of a 3-4-1-keeper. I think the keeper neesd to stand high on the D and act as a sweeper. What are your thoughts?

What is the best or appropriate formation to play a 9 a side game?

I coach aged 7 children and I don't know how to teach them how to play a proper hockey match without all of them going for the ball and not staying in their positions. Do I put lines where they are not allowed to pass? or what?

What fun warm ups can I use with a group of 7-11 year olds with and without hockey sticks? Many thanks xx

I really have a big problem with my u/15 girls.  They just can't play as a team. Any advice please. There's always a fight between someone. Mariette

I am coaching my first season as head coach. I am confident that my team has improved on alot of skills (mostly due to sportplan.net, thank you!). The only thing that is driving me crazy that my team has not improved on is the over committing block tackle. When an opponent is coming down the field on a breakway, my defense runs up and block tackles, and the opponent shoots right past them. This will happen two or three times in a row, one defender after the other. I've told them to keep their feet moving and to keep off their toes, keeping their momentum with the opponent. I don't know how to practice this with them. We only have 9 players (this is a high school varsity team) so we can't scrimmage full field during practice. Please help! I'm desperate for a solution.

I've got some girls aged 11-14, basically made up from two different clubs. We're playing 7 a side and have a squad of 12. One club dominates in terms of numbers (75% of the squad) and although they are not doing anything 'wrong' at all, the 9 players are accustomed to their own company and there's a bit of a divide that has emerged. I can't understand why the players aren't just getting on with things but I'm getting some reactionary behaviour from some players, because of this 2 camp scenario. Any tips?Thanks.