Defending in Pairs
Defending in Pairs: Building Trust, Timing and Control If you spend any time around a hockey pitch, you will hear the same phrase repeated again and again. Talk. Communicate. Work together. Nowhere is that more important than when defending in pairs. Too often, we coach defending as an individual skill. Tackle technique, body position, jab, channel. All vital. But the reality of the game is that very little defending happens in isolation. It happens in relationships. Two players connected by distance, trust and shared intent. Here is a simple but very effective practice that I have used across performance pathways and university environments. It is adaptable, realistic and exposes defensive decision making very quickly. Area: 23 metres long by 10 metres wide The 10 metre width is adjustable depending on age, standard and physical capacity. Narrower for younger or developing players. Wider for stronger, faster athletes who need greater challenge and more space to manage. Equi...