What happens when one disobeys the first 5 laws of Hockey?

Which are the 7 Laws of the game?

#1 Ball Travels Faster than the Player#2 Play First time. One-Touch Hockey. Give & Go#3 Attack from the Right & Score from the Left#4 Keep Switching the Focus of play from Left to Right, and Vice Versa#5 Play in Triangles, Utilizing the Width & Depth of the Field#6 The Passer is Free 9 out of 10 times#7 Use Centre-Half &Sweeper Back as a Base -Axle -of the Team

For more in-depth analysis of the seven laws, click here.

Space Awareness

Sequence 1:

Event: 2012 London Olympic Games

Match: New Zealand vs Great Britain (Women)

Game situation: Kiwi player has intercepted a pass coming from the opponents right side on her right side, near the 23 meters line, close to thin lots

What does she do: Runs with the ball, at a fast speed

Situational Analysis: There are 2 quick Turnovers, in a span of 10 seconds, by the members of both the Olympic teams. This results in lot of -not so effective -running with & without the ball

Comment: Hard to believe that Olympians make these rookie mistakes … After all, no body is perfect

Kiwi player has intercepted the ball near her 23 meters, coming from her left

She has started running with the ball.Ignoring & disobeying the law # 1

Note RW is wide open, she could pass the ball to her on the stick or in the space, and attack from the right, while following the Law # 3

2 seconds later, she has run about 12 –13 meters with the ball & not passed the ball to RW, who has run off the ball intelligently, while waiting for the pass to come. Not fair to the RW

1

Game sense & decision making is not at its best? RW is still open; Delays are dangerous

The player with the ball ignores the pass to the RW, who is still open & passes it to LI or CH. Breaking the laws, & not making a wise decision

LI or CH has so much time to pass the ball first time to her left or scoop it to the RW. Is she aware of her options -law # 4 -of switching the play or Is simply being indecisive?

While being in the process of making a decision, Kiwi player is tackled from the left, by a GB player

Why do we do the things the hard way?See where the 1stKiwi player who passed the ball has gone. She is working so hard and is it productive? Does the Kiwi player with the ball now have any support around her?

Turnover (TO) has occurred & a counter attack is launched by the GB team. Arrows depict the options the Kiwi Player had

Time to Reflect & Rethink

The Kiwi player who first intercepted the ball;

#1 Did not look towards her right to pass the ball first time, to her leading RW

#2 This would have opened the game, using the width & depth of the field. Law # 5

#3 She ran almost 35 –40 meters, and so did her teammates, to some extent

#4 Was this is a good move & investment?

#5 Did all this hard work, pay rich dividends?

I see these situations frequently. Thoughtless running with the ball, at full speed, resulting in Turnovers. Not a step in the right direction.

This is not the players fault. It is our Education –Coaching –System, especially at the Junior level & the training methods we implement. We need to revisit, rethink, change & improve upon the way, we develop our Elite Juniors. Think about it.

If the ball would have been passed to the RW, first time, these powerful patterns of play would have unfolded

Sequence 2:

Now let’s see what the GB players do, with the ball? What is their thought process & plan of action?

Even the GB players have forgotten that the ball travels fasterthan the player. Law # 1. Modern players are so rich in speed, strength & stamina. And work very hard. Now, they – we - need to improve upon; Reading the Play & Decision-making Ability. See the RW is wide open.

Still, there is time to pass the ball to the RW. Or to RH. All 3 GB players are running in a straight line. Is it a 100 meters sprint? Where have the concepts of width & depth gone? Law # 5

GB forward does not make the best of thegolden opportunity to generate a counterattack. She has been tackled in the Play makingspace of the ROQ

1

Time to Reflect and Rethink

GB player employed the same tactic as the Kiwi player had done a few seconds earlier … Run with the ball hard & fast

• In this situation, the GB player had a lot of support to implement a give & go. Law # 2

• The best move was to pass the ball to the R.W. first time or the 2nd player on the right could have slowed down & drop back, to form a triangle

We need to refine our skills of “reading the play” to the highest degree. Reading the play or game sense can be defined as a skill of identifying & understanding patterns of play.

Sequence 3:

It is again a counter attack situation for the Kiwis. This time, they play smart. The player THINKS …& lets the ball do the running

A counter attack is launched. The Kiwi player does the right thing … Passes the ball first time, on her wrong foot

9 GB players are beaten by this pass. My school days coach used to say, with a dodge you can –may –beat 1 or 2 players, but with a pass you can beat 9 or 10 players. So true. Yes, the ball travels faster than a hockey player & Usain Bolt.

2 on 1 on GB’s Full Back, one of the most experienced& decorated player’s of the world. A winner

Does the GB defender delay and contain the Kiwi LW? Or she commits too soon & shows her cards. This tackling topic is to be addressed separately

LW has passed the ball to her CF successfully, who is in a ready –Close to Perfect -stance

The Kiwi CF takes a try on the goal first time, while the GB FB is looking over her shoulders while being on her heels

Ball is heading slowly towards the left post.While the GB players are waiting for the verdict

The goal post helped GB but not the Kiwis. Some guys –teams -have all the luck. Rod Steward’s classic song from the 80’s. You will enjoy his video & learn a lot from Rod’s footwork, which is probably better than most hockey players.

Sequence 4:

Let’s fast forward 4 years from London 2012 Olympics to the 2016 Hero London Champions Trophy .

Event: 2016 Hero London Champions Trophy

Match: Germany vs Korea (Men)

Game situation: German player has intercepted a pass in the midfield. He releases it the first time to his teammate (RI) or (RW) in the ROQ, near the center line. One can see the German CF leading intelligently to receive a pass. He is completely ignored. Quite similar to the RW situations we saw in sequence 1 & 2.

Analysis: Do observe the photo sequences, and You be the judge; Is German player’s (RI) mindset and thought process,any different than the Kiwi & GB players (RI), mentioned in the first 2 sequences?

Photo sequence 1-4

Photo sequence (PS) 1-4:

PS 1 - RI is in the process of receiving a pass, near the center line.

Look at PS 3 & 4. RI can pass the ball to his CF, who can take a try from the D top.

PS 4 – The optimum time to pass the ball is now, as the Korean defender has his back towards the German CF. He is approaching to challenge the RI with the ball. Looks like the German forward RI wants to do it all on his own. And not take advantage of the situation by passing the ball to his open CF. Game sense & Decision making quality is not of the highest order?

Photo Sequence 5 – 8

Photo Sequence 5 – 8

The German RI has crossed the 23 meters line and is approaching the Circle.

PS 7 – Now he has passed the ball to CF. after running with the ball 30 meters. A bit too late.

PS 8 – See the number of red shirts, who have recovered to defend. Yes, the Korean team intercepted the ball and launched a counter.

Usually, this is not like the Germans. They are very methodic, systematic & extremely efficient in their play. Maybe lately they too are picking up, the not so good habits.

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Comparative analysis:

Consequences of unnecessary running with the ball for more than 30 meters. In PS 4 it was a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 situations, which ever way you like to see. In PS 8, we can see an army of red shirts. Which is a better situation to score? You be the judge.

Research has indicated …

Players who have a high quality of decision-making ability, engaged in an extensive team-based gameplay – Mini Hockey –as children, be it in their back yards or with others at the local park. For Example 2 on 2 mini hockey

Why is Maradona, arguably world’s all-time best football player? Because, he knew when to hold the ball, when to pass it & when to run with it. Here is an example of how he passes the ball, to his leading CF Cannagia, while being gang-tackled by Brazilian defenders, in the ROQ & play making space.

This was during the 1990 world cup, and this single goal assisted by Maradona forced the Brazilians to pack their bags and go home early.

See how Maradona, sees the openings, even before they have opened. He plays in the future. Scientists call this Intelligent Pattern Recognition. A key quality which separates the great players from the good ones.

“Coaches who provide their players with game-based training opportunities, rather than stereotyped drills with minimal decision-making requirements are likely to develop more complete decision makers.”

Conclusion: Lessons Learnt

#1 Follow the 7 laws of the game. They are universal & will never change.

#2 Work hard & smart. Keep an optimum balance.

• #3 Know when to hold the ball, when to pass it & when to run with it.
• #4 The moment the turnover (TO) occurs, especially in a situation when the opponents are attacking with numbers & speed. They are highly vulnerable.
• #5 Exploit the TO situation, by taking maximum advantage of the opportunity. Think and Act Fast, the way Kiwi’s did in the 3rdsequence, while applying Law # 1.
• #6 Be aware of the importance of the play making space. It is a real goldmine. More examples and strategies to be presented in the coming articles / publications.

• Cause & Effect: Who is responsible for not developing modern players, game sense & IQ to the highest degree?

• We can’t blame the Olympians we covered in these examples. This is the way their minds have been trained &game sense developed. It is neither the fault of their National coaches, as there is not much they can change, when the players in their early to mid 20’s, come under their tutelage.
• Whom to blame? Our Coach Education system and player development model at the Junior level Isn’t this becoming a “ERA” of Robotic, Brute force &Power Play hockey, rather than being a blend of Beauty, Grace & Power?
• I am sure, we will see these trends of Power based play in 2016 Rio Olympics. A good guess is that this trend will carry on to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, also it is time we change the mindset, skillset and toolset, of the young players in their early teens, to make our game more beautiful … with a blend of soft and hard skills.
• A effective strategy is to invest heavily in Coach Education for the coaches, involved in the Elite Youth player development programs; Coach education of both hard & soft skills is a must, and developing Game Sense via Mini Hockey Games.