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Hockey Australia
making the receiver’s job easier the swing. As I have emphasised
* Hit the ball at a target, goal, – players make compensations
teammate, or gap between during the swing due to bad
defenders fundamentals.
* Hit the ball so that it arrives at The orientation will be changed if
a point on the field at the right any of the following occurs:
time. * Rolling the hands
* Swaying the body
EVALUATING A HIT * Lifting the head up.
Coaches need to look at the path
of the ball from behind the player to Remember that corrections are
the target to assess the results of the easier to make when there is no
player’s hit (Note: specialised hits pressure on the player.
like a slightly lifted hit or a shot on
goal will have different results). The
following is a list of characteristics of
biomechanics
a conventional hit:
Good results
* The ball is rolling on the ground
* The ball rolling with over spin A set of hitting fundamentals
* The ball is travelling on target is outlined below. Some of the
* The ball is not bouncing fundamentals are counter intuitive.
* The ball is travelling at the
intended speed ADDRESS
Bad results * Put the ball away from the body
* The ball is bouncing Australia’s Kobe McGurk and on a line between the feet.
* The ball has side spin Many players incorrectly position the
* The ball is not on target correctly in all countries. ball outside (ahead of) their left foot.
* The ball is travelling at a low/wrong Even then, many skills, such as hitting on * Bend the right elbow and wrist,
speed. the run, cannot be performed correctly waist, knees, right elbow, and ankles
at the highest level. Just watch the teams (stationary/motion). Many players
OUTCOMES UNDER PRESSURE warm up before an international – just stand too upright and their legs are
There are a set of principles that govern how many are hit at the side boards/ straight.
outcomes in games: corners of the goal? * Flat/not bent back. Many players have
* Good fundamentals hold up under a curved back.
pressure
* Bad fundamentals cause bad hits POSITION OF STICK ON THE BALL
coaching the hit
under pressure * The ball should be positioned in the
* If you have good fundamentals then middle of the flat part of the stick, not
under pressure, when the adrenalin is towards the toe of the stick. Hockey
flowing, you will hit the ball better COACHING OBJECTIVE sticks have a sweet spot and lining
* Under pressure, bad fundamentals Coaches needs to work one-on-one the ball ball up on the sweet spot is
result in hits which are bouncing, miss with the players guiding them through important.
the target, have side spin, are the simple movements designed to eliminate * The face of the stick is vertical.
incorrect speed. the excessive movements that lead to
compensations during the downswing GRIP
COMPENSATIONS CAUSE ERRORS and result in inconsistent hits. (Coaches this is an unnatural position
A player with bad fundamentals cannot and the player will resist this change)
hit the back of the ball without going OVER-COACHING The grip is the basis for the hit.
through contortions on the downswing. Coaches should keep in mind that players * Point the v’s between the thumb and
Compensations due to a bad grip, bad can only manage one thought during forefinger to the right chin
ball position and bad pickup all result in a the swing. Do not ask the players to think * The top of the left hand and the left
hit that has a higher probability of failure about more than one correction. Remind thumb should touch the bottom of
under pressure and when the player is the players to clear their mind of all other the right hand.
fatigued. Watch the best players in the thoughts other than the one swing
world in the last ten minutes of a game – correction. ARMS/HANDS
that is how to tell who has a good hit. The coaching points are:
Players with good fundamentals can VARIATIONS IN PLAYER’S SWINGS * Arms hang down
deliver a proper hit under extreme The following fundamentals must take * Hands face each other on the stick
pressure in match situations – that means into account the age, height and build * When viewed from behind the right
on the ground, at the target, with no top of the player. Players will have different elbow is slightly below the left elbow
spin, and at the correct speed. “Gluing” angles to the ball and distances to the ball because the left shoulder should
the ball to the turf when hitting under depending on their height. be slightly above the right shoulder
pressure requires good fundamentals. and the left hand is above the right
If you look at the hits of the good players RELATIVE ORIENTATION hand. So it is natural for the slightly
you will notice that they do many of the The relative orientation of the stick should bent right elbow to be slightly below
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things mentioned in this article correctly – be maintained throughout the swing. the left elbow. Coaches – this is an
I ran this by two former Olympic coaches If the relative position of the stick is unnatural position and the player will
and they agree – moreover they agree changed during the swing then the player resist this change.
that the basics are not being taught will have to make a correction during * The angle between the arms and
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the stick will vary, depending on the
height of the player, when viewed
from the back of the intended path of
the ball.
* Note the position of the ball. It is in
a spot directly in the middle of the
straight part of the stick.
THE BACKSWING
Right elbow The ball is lined up with
Up to this point the player has not been
is below the the straight part of the
asked to think about anything during the
elbow at address stick and not the toe
swing. Key points on the backswing are:
head
* The eyes stay on the spot where ball is The arms at the address position
during the backswing
* Keep the head down during the hit * The player should not shift their position, the end of the stick will be
through the ball weight so that they lean sideways, pushed below the horizontal line. This
* The head moves down during the forwards or backwards is a difficult point to understand and
downswing and stays down during * Keep the weight centered over the coach – see another illustration over
and after impact arches of the feet at address the page.
* Watch the spot where the ball is until * Do not drift the weight out over the * Ask the player to relax their arm and
the stick is at least two feet past the toes. hand so that the right hand remains
ball in the correct position on the stick
* Do not lift the head up above the swing and the right elbow starts to bend
starting point until well after impact. * Do not rotate the stick around the gradually on the backswing.
stick-handle axis at any point during * An incorrect pivot point leads
right wrist the swing with the hands unless it is to all sorts of weird motions in
* Keep the right wrist bent backwards just prior to impact and the intent is to the backswing which cause
during the swing (cup the wrist-do disguise the hit compensations in the downswing –
not bend it up or down). This is a * Do not push the hands away from leading to hitting faults, especially
difficult point to make. But once the the body or raise them up out of the under pressure.
right wrist straightens the hitter has swing path
lost control of the stick and released * The toe of the stick should point up backswing
through the ball. Keeping the right at waist high on the backswing and * Maintain a triangle between the two
wrist bent backwards is the key to follow through shoulders and the hands as seen from
controlling the direction of the hit * Rotate the shoulders around the spine. the front during the take away
* A bent right wrist is one of the keys to * Maintain the angle between the arms
generating power and retaining the pivot point and the stick as seen from the back
angle between the stick and the arms The pivot point should be end of the during the backswing
until the last moment prior to impact. stick next to the left little finger (not the * Arms are both straight until just below
At this point things get a little complicated right forefinger which is the case of most waist high on the back swing
but if the player has executed the above players) * Elbow folds into the side at this point
points correctly then they have a high * To picture the pivot point imagine a and may leave the side on a longer
probability of executing the hit correctly, if horizontal line through the end of the backswing (and the elbow should
they get the following points right: stick next to the left little finger – see return to the side on the downswing).
below. As the stick is drawn back the This is the critical point in the swing
centre of gravity pivot point should remain on the line. and where most players go astray:
* The centre of gravity stays between If the player incorrectly pivots off their * They rotate the stick around the axis of
the feet right hand, which is in a dominant the stick handle so that the toe of the
>>
pivot
point
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Correct pivot point
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right little Þnger is
the pivot point
right fore Þnger is
the pivot point
Problem: picking up the Problem: pushing the left
stick with the right hand hand down instead of
instead of sweeping the sweeping the hands back
hands back away from away from the ball.
the ball.
Common pivot point faults
stick points not up at waist high but
away from or towards the ball
* They push the end of the stick away
from its pivot position
* At waist high they pull their hands
back away from the ball behind their
right hip so that the back of the left
hand is facing away from the target
line
* Instead of the upper right arm
pointing directly down the upper arm
faces backwards (the flying elbow)
which results in looping or helicopter
swing or the right elbow faces
towards the ball and the player chops
Right elbow Right elbow down on the ball instead of swinging
through it
is below the is near right * The stick should be parallel to the
elbow at address hip bone, stick target line and the toe should point
is between straight up at waist high on the
backswing and point at the target
the shoulders with the toe up on the follow through.
View from behind the target line at address (left) and at the top of the swing. The red line is an If the pivot point is the right forefinger
imaginary plane running from the ball, through the shoulders – the player should stay aligned with then the stick will be out of plane at
the plane through the swing
the top of the swing resulting in a
“helicopter” hit”.
TOP OF THE SWING
* The player has “set” the angle
between the arm and the stick
* The angle is less than 90 degrees
* The player will retain the “set” angle
well into the down swing
* The left arm is straight
* For a normal hit the weight is on the
right foot
* The stick is between the shoulders
* The toe points down the target line
and not left or right of the target.
DOWNSWING
* Right elbow touching the player’s
side – easy for the player check
because they know whether the arm
is touching their side
* The hips lead the downswing
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* The left knee is bent (for running hits
straightening the left knee at impact is
going to cause long-term injuries for
some players. The left knee was not
Right elbow Right elbow The hands have
Incorrect pivot point (bottom) causes helicopter swing. Top shows correct position at top of swing
is far away is below the been swung
from the right left arm behind the right hip
hip bone
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Right elbow Right elbow The hands have
is far away is below the been swung
from the right left arm behind the right hip
hip bone
middle of the left foot
* As the stick approaches the ball the
player is releasing the right wrist and
the right arm through the ball without
rolling the wrists and the left arm is
straight
* Maintain the flat plane between the
left arm and the stick. Think about
hitting the ball with the left arm
through the stick to form a wall
* Hit the back of the ball at impact (if
the player hits the top of the ball and
raises the ball they probably used a
baseball grip or rotated the stick on
the backswing)
* The player must not roll their wrists
Shoulders through the impact area
* The left arm/wrist does not collapse
and/or hips Or the player * The player stays bent at the waist.
have not rotated has pivoted off of the
a sufÞcient amount right hand instead
FOLLOW THROUGH
* Point the right arm at the target and at
and the hands are of the left hand the ground during the release
in front of the plane * At waist high the toe of the stick
should point up and the stick should
point at the target (unless a special
side spin hit has been executed or the
player has run around the ball to the
Problems at the top of the swing when viewed from the back (both diagrams above)
left-then they need to use a blocking
follow through like a forehand cricket
designed for that kind of impact on IMPACT shot and not release the wrists).
Astroturf) * The stick has been returned to its * Note that on the follow through the
* The player is pushing off of their right original position at address player must not allow the left wrist to
foot * The triangle between the shoulders collapse or bend backwards.
* The right knee is driving into the and the hands has been restored * After impact the triangle is maintained
ground * The right elbow is slightly bent to ensure that the face of the stick
* Get the right elbow bent and tucked * The back is flat still points at the target to avoid
into the side on the back swing and * The hips, knees, and ankles are bent changing the direction of ball due to
downswing * The hips have turned slightly around prematurely rolling the wrists.
* The right elbow can release during the spinal column while the shoulders * After about 18 inches to two feet past
longer swings towards the top but are square to the ball the ball, the stick rotates around the
needs to return to the side on the * The right lower leg is close to parallel pivot point and not the right hand
downswing to the ground * The two forearms should touch each
* The angle set between the arm and * The ball is between the feet other at waist high on the follow
stick is retained until the hands are * The player is not leaning to the right. through
waist high * The shoulders are parallel to the * Do not push the left hand/the end of
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* Straighten the right arm prior to the target line (unless a deceptive the stick down on the follow through.
impact to release the right arm hit is being used in an advanced The end of the stick is still a pivot point
through the ball towards the target. technique) and should not be manipulated in
* The left knee is bent and the over the any way
>>
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Correct swing and follow through
* The right arm straightens after impact, * Weight is not on the heels or the balls Impact
points at the ground, and towards the of the feet * Left foot is turned out toward the
target. * Feet can be together or apart target
depending on the type of hit being * As a result of the right foot driving
Important: Have the player stop their executed. towards the ball the body is in a
follow through of the stick when it lunge position with the right heel off
is parallel to the ground. If the arms Back swing of the ground, the right knee is six
are not straight and the player’s stick * The left foot lifts up during the inches off of the ground, the left knee
is not pointing at the target and the backswing and moves to the left is bent. This is result of the footwork
two forearms are not touching then * Alternatively both feet remain on the and lowering the body during the
something has gone wrong. ground during the hit and the weight downswing.
is more on the right foot to start
FOOTWORK DURING THE SWING with and shifts to the left during the
The player must understand the footwork
for a stationary hit more so that for a
running hit. During a stationary hit the
downswing
* The right foot does not roll to the right
* The right foot provides a brace against
next time
footwork and the hips are the primary the hip wind up. Putting it all into practice. Drills to
initiators. coach and test hitting and an analysis of
Address Downswing common faults.
* Feet are flat on the ground * The right heel lifts off of the ground p
* Weight is distributed evenly between and drives towards the ball along with
the two feet the right knee.
players to watch Andy Smith
These players all have world
class hits under pressure:
* Billy Bakker
about Derek
*
(Netherlands)
Luciana Aymar
(Argentina)
Pappas
* Moritz Furste (Germany Derek has played hockey on
– right) three continents and in 10
* Teun de Nooijer different countries. He was on
(Netherlands) the US international training
* Jamie Dwyer (Australia) squad in the 1980s and now
coaches skills, patterns of play,
Their techniques should game tactics, and various teams.
be studied carefully and He is CEO of GroupAngle
communicated to the new http://groupangle.com
generation of players.
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