Shooting with Fitness 
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| Planet Field Hockey |
December 20, 1999 
Andrew Griffiths
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Drill Objectives:
Shooter:
- To improve shooting accuracy.
- To maintain shot quality when tired.
- Goalkeeper:
- To work on saving straightforward shots when tired.
- To improve recovery when out of position.
Equipment:
- 1 Field Player, 1 Goalkeeper, 5 balls, 2 cones.
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- Setup:
- The shooter starts on a cone at the top of the circle with 5 balls. There is another cone 5 yards to the shooters right.
The goalkeeper starts in the middle of the goal. There is a cone five yards to the goalkeepers left on the goal-line.
Explanation:
- Shooter
- The shooter dribbles the ball around the cone to the right and back to the top of the circle. There, he carries the ball around the cone turns his body and shoots forehand. If there is a rebound that stays in play, he plays the ball until it is in the goal or out of play.
- He then gathers the next ball and repeats, until the final ball is played.
- Goalkeeper:
- The Goalkeeper runs to the cone at the side, touches it with his stick, and returns to make the save. He plays the rebounds as above.
- When the shooter picks up the next ball, the goalkeeper repeats step one until the balls are finished.
The players then rest and gather the balls to the top of the circle. The drill should be repeated but mirrored on the opposite side of the field. Run through the set of five balls twice on each side.
* For this drill to be effective, the drill should work so that the shot is taken as the goalkeeper is getting back into position. It should challenge the shooter to take advantage of the keeper being unprepared for the shot, and challenge the goalkeeper to make saves when he doesn't have time to get in the correct position.
Keys to Success:
Shooter:
- Keep the ball well out in front of your feet. This will keep your knees bent and your eyes up, so your peripheral vision improves and you can see where the goalkeeper is.
- Take small steps when you turn around the cone so you can change direction quickly. Small steps will also help you turn quickly to shoot when you get to the top of the circle.
- Look up when you're getting ready to shoot - see where the goalkeeper is and where you want to place your shot.
- Start to turn your body for the shot (short, quick steps) as you approach the shooting cone - don't wait until you have passed it. This will help you release the shot more efficiently.
- Concentrate on ball control when you get tired, and hit the ball smoothly. Don't try to kill the ball - your shot will be more effective if you focus on a smooth, quick shot.
OTC tip: If the goalkeeper has not recovered to a ready position when you are shooting, shoot for the opposite post from where the keeper has come from. If the keeper is back in position, shoot for the other side - the post where the goalkeeper has come from; a keeper will often overcompensate to the opposite side when trying to recover quickly.
Goalkeeper:
- Sprint to the initial cone as fast as possible. When you make the turn back to the goal. Focus on the ball immediately and keep you eyes on it. This will force you into the proper position.
- When moving back to the goal, attempt to get between the ball and the goal as soon as possible. Do not chase the ball.
- If you get to the goal before the attacker is ready to shoot, move towards the ball to cut down the angle.
- If you do not get into an optimal position, make sure you are in a set position when the attacker shoots. This will allow you to react to the shot.
Progression: To advance this drill: Shooter: Replace the forehand shot with a reverse stick shot. Goalkeeper: Shorten the distance to the cone and on every shot force the attacker in a one vs one situation.
Permutations: Move the Shooter's cones in closer towards the goal, and replace the hit on goal with a push or flick. *If the drill is too easy for either the shooter or the goalkeeper, adjust the distances that either player has to run to balance the timing.
Evaluation: Shooter: Keep track of number of shots on goal, and number of goals. Compare this from practice to practice. The players should soon be getting every shot on goal, and positioning of the shot should improve.
Goalkeeper: The keeper should improve his lateral movement The keeper should increase his speed and focus when tired


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