Thu 23 May, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
OTC Coaching: Keeping your head up while controlling the ball  x15
 |
| Planet Field Hockey |
May 3, 2001 
Peter D'Cruz
> Page Views 19677
Having good vision while controlling the ball is a very important asset of the top class field hockey player. However, it is a biomechanical movement that can be learnt by anyone. Unfortunately, the vast majority of field hockey players and coaches do not work on developing this ability.
Tasha Vani, Ontario Provincial team player and 2001 York University Athlete of the Year is our model.
 |
| A1 |
A.1 and A.2 show us how the vast majority of players will practice their control skills. The head will be down while looking at the ball. Because we do this every single time we practice, this is exactly how our body will be positioned whenever we are in control of the ball in a game situation. We have tuned our bodies to mechanically be in this position, severely impairing our ability to see beyond five or six metres ahead of us. The other problem with the head being down is that the player doesn?t bend enough at the knees to be in a strong, balanced stance.
THE FOLLOWING three steps will ensure that players will keep their head up while controlling the ball:
 |
| 1A |
In Step 1, the Tasha stands straight up and bends her head back as far as possible, looking up to the sky (or the roof if she was indoors). Tasha notes and remembers the sensation of her neck being extended back to the maximum.
The key to ?Keeping your head up? is for you to remember exactly how the neck feels in this maximum titled back position.
 |
| 2A |
In Step 2, Tasha keeps her head back in the maximum tilted back position and bends at her knees. Her back stays naturally straight.
The majority of players will start to hunch their back towards the ground if the head is bent forward.
The keys in Step 2 to ?Keeping your head up?, is to maintain the head titled back position and bend at the knees.
 |
| 3A |
In Step 3, ?The Final Position?, Tasha continues to bend at the knees, bends forward at the hips, i.e., she does not hunch her back, and very importantly, her head remains in the tilted back position that she undertook in Step 1.
Note that Tasha is in a strong balanced position with the ball well out in front of her and her head is ?propped up?. She looks down with her eyes when she wants to concentrate on the ball.
This is the biomechanical position that players must assume at all times when practicing their control skills.
 |
| A2 |
Comparing A.2 (the wrong method) and 3.B, we see that Tasha has her head up and will have excellent vision controlling the ball.
Whenever a player has his or head up properly, they will naturally be in a lower and stronger balanced stance.
|
| A1 |
Comparing A.1 (the wrong method) and 3.A, we see that Tasha is lower to ground because her knees are bent more, putting her in a very, strong and balanced position. Her back is naturally straight instead of hunched over. Finally, the ball is located well out in front of her and will not get caught up in her feet when she moves with the ball. With the ball well out in front of her, she uses her peripheral vision to see the ball at the end of her stick.
 |
| Tasha keeping her head up in the game |
(This photo courtesy of Norm Betts. All other photos by Peter D'Cruz)
Tasha puts ?Keeping your head up? into practice in this game situation with her club, Toronto Field Hockey Club, during the 2000 summer season. Although Tasha is accelerating away quickly from the opponent to her right, her head is angled up instead of tilted down to the ground. It is rare that players will do this naturally. However, if it is done every time at practice, it becomes natural.
Conclusion
Players should step through this process a number of times to ensure they become used to the feeling of the head back in the tilted position whenever they are practicing their control skills.
Coaches must be vigilant when observing their players practicing their skills, ensuring that their players don?t have their heads bent down towards the ground. Coaches of junior players should start each practice by asking each player
to go through the three steps to ensure they ?Keep their head up while
controlling the ball."
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
Opinions expressed here do not represent the official views of PlanetFieldHockey.com or its staff. Comments will be removed if they are considered offensive or of a personal nature.
Comments on this article
|
Sherylle Calder
05-10-2001 3:08 am
|
Report this post
|
Interesting article - I have done a Phd in Sports Vision with my main study being on Hockey. Articles have been written and displayed on fieldhockey.com. If you would like to display the research on your site to back up this article you are welcome. Regards
[B]Editor:[/B]
Thank-you Sherylle.
|
|
Jeff. Williamson
05-11-2001 5:45 am
|
Report this post
|
|
Great to see someone else believes in the 'head up' theory... I was looked at rather strangely when I encouraged that approach at recent talent camps and coaching clinics.
|
|
Dac Dang
06-01-2001 3:18 pm
|
Report this post
|
Great ideas about keeping the head up. However for the past four years, I have been experimenting with a different approach with my juniors and beginners (U14 group). The approach is quite simple, but might take quite a long time to work. Essentially, when we have practices or especially scrimmages, no team colours, nor binnies, nor similar colour socks are used. The theory: in order to make a pass or to make a tackle, the kids have to look up to see EXACTLY whom they are passing to. This seems to bear fruit now, most of our players (even 10-11-year old) can stickhandle with their head up. The reason: colours are so easy to perceive that they tend to promote laziness in searching for your partners; a glance would be enough, but will give rise to bad habit (all you have to do is to witness the way I play!). Furthermore, we have to remember that colours are only useful for referees (no nasty comment now!) and spectators.
Try this for your kids (I am not sure whether this works well with older players, since I have not experimented on them), and be patient, good habits can only be learnt over time.
|
|
I wonder !
06-08-2001 10:12 am
|
Report this post
|
|
There is much in Peter's article to recommend it. Posture is certainly a critical factor when receiving a pass. Of equal importance is the ability to 'shift attention' from the surrounding play - to the ball - and back to the surrounding play. appropriate and well timed 'shifting of attention' is a habit learned through appropriate practice. In my view it is best to avoid working in pairs, but work in groups of three and four. If the players are in motion and signalling (connecting) the player receiving is forced to keep tabs on the next receiver and avoid becoming ball orientated. I think it is important to emphasise that in the final part of the balls flight (depending on ball pace)and at the moment of control eyes must be fixed on the ball. A rapid shift to the surrounding play is then critical, correct posture will help this process as it will reduce unnecessary movement time.
|
|
Peter D'Cruz
06-14-2001 9:15 pm
|
Report this post
|
TO: I Wonder
Please read the linked article to this one called "Watching off the ball" as it explains the mechanics of how to get players to develop this skill. Also, I always get my athletes to push/hit and trap in groups of three for exactly the reasons you describe. Hitting and trapping in pairs develops the very bad habit of "ball watching".
|
|
Sandy Keith
06-17-2001 6:38 am
|
Report this post
|
I have been working with 12-15 year olds in our development squads and we are trying to embed this principle.
I will try out your ideas and let you know how it goes.
|
|
Peter D'Cruz
06-17-2001 10:07 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Sandy, you can contact me via e-mail at pdcruz@sympatico.ca if you like. I may have a few suggestions with respect to implementing these principles.
|
|
Wiley Sims
10-22-2001 8:39 pm
|
Report this post
|
Not For Complete Novices
I think there is a lot of merit in your 'head up' theory however the problem arises when to introduce head up approach.
I coach u/13 girls (ages from 8-13) who range from complete novices to young elite players.
I can see a lot of merit in the head up approach once the player has mastered hockey basics, trap, push, dribble, etc. I believe the learner player needs to have confidence in their basic skills before advancing to higher order skills.
I would be interested in comments as to when a young player should be 'weaned' into the head up approach?
|
|
Jools
10-24-2001 5:17 am
|
Report this post
|
Heads Up!!!
I believe that you can teach basics such as controlling, pushing, hitting the ball, bith moving or standing still and at the same time teach to look up, to "take information", is something people who start hockey as well as people who have played for a long time should always practise.
I learnt it too late, I have played 13 yrs and I have poblems doing it and I have played a good standard of hockey...
So teach them as soon as they start, you won't and they won't regret it!
Jools:p
|
|
'Head Up'
01-03-2002 6:12 pm
|
Report this post
|
Pitch surface! Beware!
As an extremely experienced coach, from club to International Level, please be aware when adopting the principles related to the type of pitch you use. ie; synthetic / water base / grass!
Many european international teams are now looking at carrying the ball from the front, encouraging 'head up' and the ability to 'feint' on challenge!
Contact me on swood@ossett17.freeserve.co.uk for further info!
|
|
Jai
03-17-2003 8:11 pm
|
Report this post
|
heads up
Sandy can you please include me on the e-mails regarding the heads-up skill....thanks (jsinghota@hotmail.com)
|
|
Kristy Moore
04-11-2003 3:18 pm
|
Report this post
|
Heads up Habit
I see the "heads-up" issue as building a HABIT. I agree that if the player is to be expected to look up while dribbling, passing, shooting, etc., it is more effective to begin this approach as a novice. When it develops as those other skills develop, it becomes natural. To relearn or accomodate a learned behavior requires a lot of time and often detracts from other well devloped skills. As a player, I wish I had learned early on the value of maintaining vision of the field while I handled the ball. I needed to relearn and adapt my skills when I stepped onto the collegiate field. Do your novice players a service and coach them into building this habit early on!
|
|
Ceejay
05-01-2003 3:29 pm
|
Report this post
|
Head up
Don't forget to coach your players to carry the ball in the correct position for the particular situation.
If they are moving straight up the pitch (and need vision directly ahead of them), then the ball needs to be away from the body ahead of and in line with the right foot. Make sure that the left elbow is bent so that the player would be able to see the time on their watch if they were wearing one. They should be able to see the ball at the bottom of their vision as well as what is going on ahead of them.
If they need vision to their right, then they should be carrying the ball outside their right foot with their upper body turned to the right. This is best done by allowing the ball to slow down and by pointing the left elbow in front .
For vision to the left, then try carrying the ball more in line with the left foot.
All of these help you to carry the ball so that you can see the ball, and have vision to gather information for the next move.
You need to practice carrying the ball in different positions around the body.
|
|
mike funge
02-12-2004 4:43 am
|
Report this post
|
hockey
i think this site is whack. and wot if i look like enrique nigga, u ent all that n a bag of chips
|
|
Peter McCallum
05-17-2005 11:43 pm
|
Report this post
|
Back injury
Thanks for this article. I think it will help me with more than just visuals. I'm quite a tall hockey player and also have a permanent lower back injury. Having tried this technique I feel that it relieves some of the pain I feel due to the arched back that is required.
Thanks
Peter
|
|
|
|
|
HOME | FEATURES | CLUBHOUSE | CAMPS | LINKS | ABOUT US | STORE | ADVERTISE
Use of this site is subject to certain Terms & Conditions.
|
|
|
