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

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