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Coaching: PENALTY STROKES - Strategy and Practice  x21
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| Andrew Griffiths |
April 6, 2002 
Andrew Griffiths
> Page Views 20539
There are many effective approaches to taking a penalty stroke. To be successful you should find a technique that focuses on aspects that are in your control ? and will make you a high-percentage stroke-taker.
Here are some keys to success:
- Determine a simple routine for addressing the ball and preparing to take the stroke. Focus on this routine and you will eliminate distractions under pressure.
- Pick a point in the goal that you are going to shoot at ? don?t change your mind after you have started your final preparation for the stroke.
- Shoot for either of the bottom corners. Shooting high means you can shoot over the goal ? you can?t shoot under.
- Aim for the back post (the corner of the sideboard and backboard). This gives you a few inches of room on the outside.
- Shoot a few inches in the air. The shot along the ground (on the GK?s stick side) is easier for the keeper to stop with his stick.
- Practice: Place cones on the goal line, one stick-length from the goalpost on either side. Aim inside the cones on either side to score.
- Simulate game-pressure situations in practice: Rewards for scoring, ?punishments? for missing.
If you follow these principles and shoot low, hard into the corners, you will score most of the time.
Good shooting!
*****
More coaching drills and theories are available in ?Coach Hockey?, a new Drill book written by Olympic field hockey players and available exclusively here.
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Comments on this article
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Larklin Christie
04-11-2002 11:54 am
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This is a good area for one to practise on their own and with this sort of advice, there should be an improvemnt in the percentage of scoring.
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Cassius_TFHC
04-15-2002 9:52 am
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Thanks Griff,
This will help with the junior kids in our club. They lost on strokes in the Indoor Final at CRFHA to Supertykes and all did the opposite to what you mention here....too high, way to the left and right....you know what I mean...Great tips...
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Ben Davis
07-08-2002 4:05 am
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thanks
Thanks for the tips. I always seem to aim at the top left corner with too much power, i will be training hard now to follow your advice!Thanks again.
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Hockey Coach
07-18-2002 6:27 am
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Penalty strokes.
Interesting strategy Mr Griffiths, rather limiting though. Perhaps a better strategy is learn to flick the ball with genuine pace, then learn to place it in the most appropriate area for your aptitude at that pace, and finally, practice will make you considerably more realiable when you perform. Know your opponent also gives you an advantage, and a disadvantage. Confining yourself to one area may give your opponent the advantage. Being able to exploit his weaknesses may give you the ultimate advantage. Perform the skill with confidence and purpose not with blind belief that one action or decision will always gain success.
(Nice comment, the ball can always go over the bar, but never under the goal, however, it is always quicker to lie onthe floor than jump to the ceiling.)
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Lawrence Eaton
10-29-2002 4:14 pm
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Goalkeepers and Penalty strokes
If and when a PS is given, walk off your line casually towards the Umpire who will be running towards the PS spot. Stand one metre back from it and just look at the player. Do not say anything. Listen to the umpire as they read your Miranda Rights of Field Hockey's PS procedure. Then backtrack to your line at all times watching and saying nothing to the player. Make yourself ready and with your training you can expect to save another 33% of all PS's.
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Matt Grumball
01-28-2003 2:28 pm
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Hockey Coach
'Hockey Coach', you can only fall as fast as gravity will let you, however, you can jump as quickly as ayour legs are strong. A low corner shot is much more likely to be scored with rather than a high shot that they can get their (designed for grabbing, etc.) hands to.
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No Legs
03-07-2003 6:35 am
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The best place to shoot - ask a goalie
Ask any good goalie where is the hardest place to make the save in PS and the answer will be low and to the glove side - Just below the knee. The goalie has to make the decision whether to attempt a save with his pads or with his glove within a split second - that fraction of time could be all the striker needs. Also he doesn't have the added reach of the stick to make that reflex top corner stick save. The main problem for the striker is getting the same power that can be obtained from aiming on the stick side. That's where practicing comes into it - you don't even need a goalie. When you have turned up early to training or even if you stay around after training is the best time because you can concertrate on the process - ensuring you do the same thing every time, without anything putting you off (ie teamates laughing at you when the ball dribbles slowly along the ground toward goals). Once you've master the low glove side then try working on other areas to give yourself other options. You could also practice pretending to go stick side and then rolling your wrists at the last second and shooting for the glove side.
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keeper
03-21-2003 6:26 am
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deception.
Do keepers stay on thier line until the ball is flicked? As an international keeper i can tell you if we waited until the ball was flicked and tried to react to its pace and direction we would save only flicks that come in middle 1/3rd of the goal! What many keepers do is pick a side of the goal and aim to cover it.. wither by diving for it or stepping as the player flicks forward and to the side they have chosen to protect. Players can put so much pace on the flicks now that stepping is the only way to make saves of flicks to the corners. does anyone aim to flick th ball right down the middle? nope. and so there is 50/ 50 chance that you're guessing right... but you can make the odds oven better by looking at the feet.. the step especially, but then there is deception... with strong arms you can step to one way and pull the ball back.. but this drags the ball a bit so be careful not to make two movements.. when good keepers take thier step... as they do it they will know if the player is dragging.. and if they are the keeper will dive forwards to narrow angles down.. with the striker dragging ball towards goal and keeper diving towards pen spot the angles are substantially reduced and keepers can make millions and millions of saves.. Its about confidense, affecting the other persons composure and having the upper hand.. and conviction in anything you decide to do. Just make yourself be huge in the goal and loud as pos and they'll be kackin it!
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Stephen Pestana
07-20-2003 9:57 am
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Majority rules
I agree with the major view so far. Low to keepers left. Having just taken two in one game. The first the keeper was well to his left, my favoured spot after teh usual take the gloves off, hit the pads, the posts etc. The goalie rituals. So to restore the psych advantage I asked the umpire after 'Goalie ready" "Shouldnt he be in the middle." "No , no." from the goalie. ( Of course). Took it and put it in the said spot.
Later same game. I alwys look at the keepers right. I want him to see me looking there. Then put it in the low left. He cursed.
It doesnt matter matter how many times the keeper has to make a judgement. As long as you can put in in the right spot it will always get there.
International players like to put it high. It looks great and they usually work. But lesser players who dont train everyday cant expect the same results.
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GK hasbeen
09-16-2003 2:21 pm
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Goalies - 2 Cents...
Hi All,
Just wanted to throw in some feedback...
Okay as far as the routine of staying a meter from the Umpire and staring at the stroker: GKs should probably try a bunch of different setups, however, they will find comfort in one "routine" over others and I would caution against the staring approach as it may award you an unsportsmanlike conduct and card in addition to your stroke problem. Try a number of stances, post smacks, whatever it is that you're into and see what works best for you. Strokes seems to be a very individual thing for a GK.
As far as guessing vs. delaying: Internationally it is a no brainer that you really have to take your chances. Fortunately (or unfortunately really) US collegiate (and mostly high school) level hockey still allows for that hesitation. There are few strokers who are strong/fast/deceptive enough that the GK will not have a chance. Therefore, at this level it is still fairly plausible for the GK to react to the stroke rather than cover 50% of the cage... Good for GKs, not great for our general level of hockey.
Stephen, a good GK shouldn't be looking at your eyes, knowing the deception of a good stroker. Instead, s/he should be focusing on the ball to avoid being duped. Look where you like.. it shouldn't make that much of a difference.
That's all from here.. maybe i'm not being helpful at all, maybe i'm adding insight.. either way, best of luck in finding what works best for you...
...and from personal experience, good call on the lower left (about 1' high) and the top left corner... if you're shooting over the cage, practice more. :-)
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penalty king
01-19-2004 8:13 am
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no no no!!!! having played internationally and always taking are penalty flicks for both team and country have always put the ball fast in to the bottom right facing the keeper. however having been taking them in my league for a good 3 years keepers have began to catch on. therefore i have been practicing at least 4 times a week for about an hour each time, so i can be really cheeky and put it to the keepers stick side. for putting the player of ive seen a lot of keepers stare at me i either stare right at the top of the helmet or i keep a straight face then as he returns to the goal line i wink and blow him a kiss this frustrates them and as long as you make sure you can flick the ball fast this puts them off for the split second you need to bury the ball past him.......
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Stroker boy
12-17-2004 7:39 am
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Hey, just thought I'd add a lil comment about stroking. There's some good comments on this page, some are a little strange though....
I'm 17 now, and I've been taking my teams' strokes since about u/11. I always used to go low and to the keepers glove, which is obviously the best spot to put them, but over the last couple of years, I've been going high and stick side, and haven't missed one yet. But for as long as I can remember, my coaches have told me to look one way, flick the other. And by faking with my foot and wrist movements, it's possible to fake quite effectively.
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hockey fan
01-11-2005 6:58 am
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what about hit outs!!!!? they are practically the same as penalty strokes!!!! i play for my school and when we play a match, i am always circled during hit outs. My team never move. the ball then always go to the opposite team. what can i do to get the bsll to my team?????? help!!!!!!!!!
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namelessderro
01-12-2005 12:04 am
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stroke taking
I agree with the majority in saying that low glove side will score nine times out of ten. a couple of tips to sum points raised by people:
hockey fan, if the other team circles you on free hits then (and i dont mean this in an unsportsman like way) pick a players and drive the ball as hard as u can at them, at knee height works to great advantage, and you will find they wont come as close next time leaving you room to make a short pass.
to the people who say that they go right a lot and are starting to be picked by keepers, i had the same trouble once and i found the perfect solution. practise flicking the ball high into the net, when you have it down, then your next stroke were u think the goalie knows your goin right, slow down your action a bit and as he dives right put the ball down the centre into the roof of the net, it looks great for the crowd and embarrases the keeper for having let in a goal in the middle so much that he wont dive early when you go to the right.
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Ant (18)
01-28-2005 9:33 am
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deception, nerves, psychology.
In my experiance, looking one way then shooting another doesn't work. I find I get so caught up thinking about the decption that my mind wonders. you need to be focused. using deception and psychology works for some people but if your having diffuculties like I did to start then shut these thoughts out of your head. Focus in your mind exactly where you want the ball to go (entirely up to your own personal prefrence). Its fine to take a look at the goal but do this before you start to focus on you stroke, visualise the goal in your mind you'll find this calms you down if your nervous.
Its imperative that YOU know what your rights are when taking a stroke if you know this you will be a lot more confident and finally remember that this is an easy way to get your name on the score sheet. enjoy the oppertunity
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Big T
02-21-2005 2:59 pm
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Top Corners
I don't see anything wrong with top corners if you practice enough.
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Goalie Business
02-25-2005 8:53 am
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I read an article recommending that as a goalie you imagine saving eight flicks: one low and one high down the middle; one low/med/high each side. Then you face up and you're confident.
I've seen goalies abuse stroke takers... the taker has the advantage. He might not abuse you but he's more likely to scroe than you are to save. Dont do it. You'll look stupid.
When a flick has been blatantly the wrong decision i have shouted so every player and umpire can hear: "If you're a true sportsman you'll put this wide." Not always a good option.
Why psyche them out? Shouldn't you have confidence in your ability to save? Doing some splits is good.
I also have a cheeky technique for shoot outs that works a treat, and for indoor pc's... but its my trick so i wont tell... But it involves the arrangement of your kit.
Takers: going past the keeper's right shoulder is good, he cant get the blocking glove over quick enough and cant raise the stcik quick enough. Good place to shoot at an advancing keeper in open play.
Most keepers of a good level will step and step quickly with their arms high. Can they react quickly enough to one that goes past their hip?
Its a lottery. There's no techniques set in stone.
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namelessderro
02-28-2005 3:50 am
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psyche outs
Goalie business, i like your ideas but the one about telling a storker to put it wide for sportsmanship, i wudnt really recommend it, i have found wen goalies yell it at me that i find it easier to score, all the pressure is taken off u, u can aim rite for the corners, and if u miss, then everyone says good sportsmanship. just my 2 cents
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Goalie Business
02-28-2005 4:57 am
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Ok nameless, i see your point.
It all depends on the manner in which its done. Sometimes i give a bit of banter and immediately realise i look stupid, othertimes it makes the required impact on players/umpires. Its all about timing and delivery.
Again, on defending PS - i've never been penalised for taking a massive diagonal step forward and wide, leaving my trailing leg on the line. This does limit how high you can reach though.
beating pads has been outdone, its not cool anymore. Everyone knows foam pads make a loud noise - so what?
Some keepers like to stand like a starfish on thier line to look big. Well done, you have completely changed your natural body position that would help you react best to the shot. Stand how you are comfortable to make the save. Its not how big you look but how big you can make yourself when the flick has been taken.
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Sloth
04-08-2005 2:49 pm
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Minimal arsenal
Strokers perfect one flick first until you can nail it every time with power and then move to the other side as a variation.
Don't even bother to stare or psych the GK. Make your mind up early on where you are going and don't change your mind and do it. No need to engage with the GK treat it as a job step up perform it and you will look confident that will be all the extra edge you need on the GK.
BY all means practice the high shots in the corner but they are lower percentage shots
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StrokerMan
08-10-2005 1:01 am
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I think you should always have 2-3 strokes that you are confident with. For instance, I can go either bottom corner and top stick side very well. This means the goalie has to keep guessing where you are going. If you always do the same thing, it might work for a couple of PSs but think of a final. You might get one in the match, one standard tiebreaker and one sudden death tiebreaker. Keep the goalie guessing. And be very careful with the top corner shots - easy to put either over the top or outside the post when under pressure. Pick one as your number 1 shot (probably bottom glove side) and get it perfect. Practise regularly while you work on your number 2 shot.
I put mine in the bottom corner, about 1/2 way up the backboard. This forces the goalie to make either a freakish kicker save or a glove save. Aim for the back posts, a little bit inside on the stick side - most people tend to swing over a little bit more than they anticipated when going stick side.
Also, practise against the best goalie you know. It's easy to beat inexperienced goalies, so find someone challenging. It also puts you under some pressure which you need in a game.
Look for the goalie that stands off-centre; they probably have a weakness on that side. I knew a goalie who stood about 30cm from the glove side post but could save almost 50% of stick side strokes against good strikers. I used to always aim for the back glove side post and got him 80% of the time because he was so sure everyone would go his (very strong) stick side.
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