Men’s 3rd XI
Matches
Sat 17 Feb 2018
Stafford
1
6
Old Silhillians Hockey Club
Men’s 3rd XI
O Peel (0'), (0'), S Russell (0'), N Oppenheimer (0')

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Nick Oppenheimer14 Feb 2018 - 17:49
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Back to winning ways last week with a comfortable 7-2 win against opposition North Stafford who really didn't look or play like a side in the relegation zone! Lessons to be learnt that when we play with good structure and shape we can create many opportunities. Short corners can be converted, open play chances created and goalmouth action result from keeping the ball moving quickly, with passing that is slick because we have pre-scanned and know where we want the ball to go when or before we receive it. More of this this weekend when we have two games to look forward to, and 6 points to win.

In respect of defence, good job, but shouldn't have conceded at all! Working hard to be co-ordinated and keeping talking to one another to mark the man and not the space is key. Communication starts from the back and its important that we let one another know where we are, who we are marking and wherever possible take opportunity to mark a man and push our team-mates forward - this is how it works: if your not marking a man, you should be! No-one marks space when opposition are into our half [except GK], so from the back we push players forward to engage with the next payer up the pitch, each of us in turn pushing our team mates up the pitch to engage the ball carrier. I'll show this on Saturday on a pad for good measure!!! OK, we may concede goals but we're not a team who are always going to score many goals so being tight in defence is the foundation of good results.

We were helped by returning Bantons - Colin and Jacques - fresh from duties on New Zealand cricket tour [but without hockey match fitness it has to be said [Ed] ] whose skills and possession provided the midfield glue that we need as a team to keep moving through phases of play. When we pass quickly and accurately we are a very difficult team to contain, so looking up before we receive the ball, making eye contact and anticipating where and to whom we are going to pass next is a skill in itself - that's how a good team starts to look great because players start to work with and anticipate each others movement.

And there is the word that needs focus this weekend: movement. Off-the ball, to create space, to find space or to help the ball carrier by providing an option. Remember that not every run you make is necessarily to receive the ball, it may be to create the space for someone else to move into, or to create a channel for the ball to be played - that's team work, team play, a team, where working for each other creates space and makes the dream work. Think about this when you find yourself static, standing in a position on the pitch, thinking your going to get the ball. What if? what if I move now, will it help a team mate? What if I am actually blocking a ball to a team mate? What if I kept moving, rotating in and out of the position I am standing in, might it disrupt the opposition? At the very least movement makes it more difficult for the opposition to mark us!! So let's keep moving.

Thomas Alleyne's High School

Thomas Alleyne's High School

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Match details

Match date

Sat 17 Feb 2018

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

13:30
Team overview
Further reading