Men’s 3rd XI
Matches
Sat 02 Dec 2017
Telford & Wrekin
1
0
Old Silhillians Hockey Club
Men’s 3rd XI

Match Preview

Nick Oppenheimer29 Nov 2017 - 12:11
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Lunchtime midweek reading, looking quite a long way forward to the weekend ...

It’s been hard last two weeks playing strong sides who are leading in our League. Our performances have been improving lots, so that we were not only competitive but have created enough chances to maybe win both these games. On another day, eh.

Still, if we keep thinking about and improving our play, I’m sure we will start to win!

So I’ve been reporting mainly about stuff we need to improve and if we care to look again at past previews I think all the key points have been made: focus & concentration, composure on the ball & short passing, thinking about where to be and what to do in transition to attack or defense. All these have been getting so much better that we are starting to look like an ‘OK’ team.

Only ‘OK’?

Well, there’s only been one goal between the sides in any game we’ve lost recently, we’ve not been easily beaten, but it’s the close games where I see a difference between ‘OK’ and ‘Good’ teams. The ‘Good’ team is organized, well-drilled and purposeful in possession and in defense; consequently, the ‘Good’ team comes out on top in the very close games. We’ve been the ‘OK’ team on the pitch the last two weeks!

Two things that contribute to this I think are practice and belief.

Since self included we don’t all get to training [Tuesday nights 7:30pm - 9pm, with excellent coaching by the way, maybe try it!] it’s important to use the 30 minutes before our games to organize ourselves, do drills and build our sense of purpose. That’s our only practice time, simple as. It’s not really enough, of course, when we only have 30 minutes as a team to get into the zone, get our game heads on, establish the connection with one another that makes for team play, calling by name, talking to one another, boosting ourselves to start games with intensity and accuracy. But if it’s all we have, make sure we use it. That means prompt, even early arrival, all kit on in changing room, then staying together, less faffing around with shinpads, hoodies, water bottles, whatever at side of pitch, ready to warm up together and use the limited pitch time before a game together with purpose and intensity.

That building of intensity and readiness, as a team, is massively important to start a game with belief. Belief that our first touch is going to be solid, that our team mates will be in position to support us, that we have a plan and shape to our play that will be effective from the start.

This has been the most pleasing aspect of the season to date when we have kept ourselves in games by working hard for one another and showing determination that we will get something out of the game. The ‘Good’ team support one another and encourage with belief that we can and will each fulfil our roles. Equally in any game the opposition will have their passages of play and pressure, when our organization, shape and belief will ensure that we won’t concede goals. When we dig in and do the hard work, it’s belief that we are solid and that we will turnaround the pressure to have our own passage of play.

Belief is confidence in one another who all have good hockey skills to win the ball and keep the ball under pressure. Not just possess the ball, but move it around the pitch, dictate the play and use it with purpose to create goal scoring opportunities from open play and especially to win more short corners, our most effective yet unpracticed tactic!

I sense we are all enjoying our hockey, and with only 3 games [nine points] left before the winter break, let’s aim for no less than 7 points to boost our position in the League. Let's step up from the ‘OK’ to the ‘Good’. And let's believe.

St.George's Recreation Ground

St.George's Recreation Ground

Church Street
St.George's
Telford
Telford and Wrekin
TF2 9LU

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Match details

Match date

Sat 02 Dec 2017

Kickoff

13:00

Meet time

11:00

Instructions

11:00 @ Sils or 11:15 @ Aston Triangle/Sack of Potatoes or 12:15 @ St Georges TF2 9LU. Please confirm/advise by txt or whatsapp.
Team overview
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