Assistant.Hockey The Best AI for Field Hockey in the World is Powered by AI but Driven by HI - Human Interaction
I host and facilitate masterclasses, workshops and panel talks with some of the best minds in coaching hockey, field hockey that is. I’m hoping to share with you what I have learned from my talks to some of the best coaches in the world.
Here ↑ or at https://assistant.hockey you get to ask me a few questions for free every month if you share your email, so we know who we’re talking with… Want to test me with some more questions, click here to get more answers from our AI assistant coach for field hockey.
The answers you get here come from all of these talks with top coaches and experts. To be clear, it’s not me, Ernst Baart, providing the answers to your questions. These come direct from the best coaches in the world and we add the sources from where these answers came, so you can check where they came from… and from who.
By the way, thanks to AI you can ask your questions in your own language should it not be English. And you’ll get your answers in your own language 😉
So ask our AI assistant coach for field hockey about coaching principles, tactical choices, technical skills, mental coaching, strength & conditioning, injury prevention and how to set up or organize your practice sessions. You can even upload me your images (of drills) and your draft for a coaching philosophy or your next team briefing for some feedback.
But just in case… if these answers do not meet your needs or do not go deep enough for you, consider these suggestions:
1. Subscribe to The Hockey Site to get on demand access to all of our masterclasses, panel talks and workshops at → https://join.thehockeysite.com
2. Get yourself some 1 on 1 time with some of the best coaches out there for either a one time game review together or some mentoring and coaching on a regular schedule. You can book these sessions (in person video calls) at → https://gotyourback.app
3. Email me at ernst@gotyourback.app
Have a nice day 🙂 and let’s talk some hockey 🏑
PS: Please understand you will be talking to a very capable AI bot. However all answers originate from real human interaction between me and expert coaches. The solutions and answers we provide here, come from real humans. Even better, from some of the very best coaches in the world. So this might be AI powered, it is always driven by human interaction!
How to talk to AI
Looking for a full online course on how to get the most out of Assistant.Hockey or other AI platforms as a field hockey coach.
Our dedicated course on how to use AI as a field hockey coach will be online here soon.
For now, just use these tips:
- Talk to AI like it’s a human, not like it’s a search engine! So use full sentences. And yes,I mean more than one…
- Give AI context ! It doesn’t know you. It doesn’t know your team. Ask a generic question, get a generic answer.
- It’s a conversation. So ask AI follow up questions to dive deep into specific parts of its answers. Just like you would with a human. Again, it’s not Google or any other search engine.
Example of our AI coach for field hockey in action
We asked our AI coach the question: “Can you give me some examples of how to train the press?” It responded with a lot of insight from Raoul Ehren, the coach for the Dutch women:
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Training the press effectively requires a combination of technical drills, tactical understanding, and game-like scenarios. Here are some examples drawn from sessions shared by top coaches like Russell Coates and Raoul Ehren, who have contributed their expertise on pressing strategies:
1. **Recognizing Pressing Triggers**
Focus on teaching players to identify key moments to press, such as when an opponent has negative body positioning, makes a wide horizontal pass, or has a poor first touch. Use small-sided games to emphasize these triggers. For example, play a 5v6 game where the defending team (5 players) must press aggressively, and the attacking team (6 players) is limited to three touches per player. This forces quick decision-making and sharpens the defenders’ ability to recognize pressing opportunities [5][6].
2. **Compact Shape and Intensity**
Train players to maintain a compact defensive shape while pressing. A drill could involve a 7v7 game where one team has a free player and scores in mini-goals from the 23-yard line, while the other team scores in a full-sized goal. This setup encourages the pressing team to stay compact and work together to regain possession [7].
3. **Setting Pressing Traps**
Create scenarios where players learn to guide opponents into specific areas of the field, such as the sidelines or “pockets,” where they can be trapped. For instance, play a 4v4 game in a confined box with four neutral players outside. The pressing team must win the ball and complete two passes before transitioning to attack. This drill emphasizes proactive pressing and counter-pressing when possession is lost [9].
4. **High Press with Scoring Incentives**
Use scoring rules to motivate players to press high. For example, in a game-like situation, award double points for goals scored after winning possession in the opponent’s half. This encourages players to press aggressively and capitalize on turnovers [5][6].
5. **Pressing with Four Strikers**
As Raoul Ehren described, a “four press” involves pressing with four forwards, including a midfielder stepping up. This press aims to create fake spaces to lure opponents into making predictable passes, which can then be intercepted. Train this by setting up drills where players practice pressing sidebacks early and forcing passes into central zones, where the ball can be won more effectively [11][12].
6. **Proactive Pressing and Interception**
Teach players to read body language and anticipate passes. A 3v3 drill in a small box can be effective, where defenders must intercept passes and transition quickly to attack. Add variations like allowing one defender to leave the box to challenge attackers, simulating real-game scenarios [8].
These examples combine technical skills, tactical awareness, and game-like intensity to develop a cohesive and effective pressing strategy. If you’d like to dive deeper into these methods or explore tailored drills for your team, consider reaching out for a 1-on-1 session with a top coach at https://gotyourback.app.
Sources:
- https://my.thehockeysite.com/p/high-press – a workshop by Russell Coates
- https://my.thehockeysite.com/p/ask-me-anything-session-with-raoul – an AMA session wit Raoul Ehren
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Now follow it up with more context. For example tell AI your team are U16 girls, playing in a competitive league and you next opponent is know for sitting low most of the time. And take it form there… Remember, it’s supposed to be a conversation
What is a better way to talk to AI for a field hockey coach?
- WHO (Define the AI’s role and your context):
Instead of a generic AI, assign it a specific expert persona. For example, you could instruct: “You are a World-Cup winning defensive field hockey coach known for high-pressing strategies, working with a semi-pro women’s team“.
Also, provide context about your team: “Our team struggles with maintaining defensive intensity for full periods and converting turnovers into attacking opportunities quickly.” - WHAT (Specify the challenge, goal, or question):
Clearly state your objective. Rather than just “how to use,” specify what you want to achieve with the full press. For instance: “Propose strategies and drills to implement an effective, high-intensity full press that forces turnovers in the opponent’s half and quickly transitions into goal-scoring chances.” - HOW (Instruct the AI on the desired format, tone, or level of detail):
Tell the AI how you want the information presented. Do you need drills? Tactical principles? Coaching cues? “Include three innovative drills that focus on coordinated pressing and immediate counter-attacking. Outline the key player responsibilities for each position during the press. Suggest specific coaching cues for live intervention during practice.”
You can also specify tone: “Maintain a concise and actionable tone.” - OUTPUT (Clearly state what you want to receive):
Ensure the AI understands the final deliverable. “Provide a structured plan with drill descriptions, tactical principles, and coaching points, all designed to be coach-ready for our next training block.”