Strike the center – a workshop by Russell Coates

Russell Coates designed a new practice session on attacking through the middle. By now you’re too late to join us live to get your questions in and together build that practice session. Lucky for you… we recorded it all 🙂 Enjoy the on demand replay video for our paid subscribers…

Or check out different options to watch our on demand content here

Russell Coates

An experienced coach, trainer and technical director in The Netherlands, Russell Coates 🇳🇱 founded hockeyplatform.nl where he shares his drills and practice sessions with clubs and academies. Russell and thehockeysite.com decided to work together and bring a monthly workshop in which he will build and share a full practice session in XPS together with you. Each session will focus on one particular topic.

On November 27, 2024 we spoke about attacking through the middle, using the channels or half-spaces.

Importance of the Channels/Half Spaces

Coates begins his presentation by explaining why attacking through the channels, or half spaces, is an important area of focus for field hockey teams. He notes that in recent years, penalty corner defenses have improved considerably, which means teams need to find other ways to score field goals.

The channel, or half space, is the area of the field that lies between the center of the pitch and the sidelines. This area, particularly in the final third of the field, is being referred to as the assist zone because research has shown that most assists in hockey come from this part of the field.

Coates argues that attacking through the assist zone, rather than through the center or wide areas of the pitch, provides attacking players with more options. This is because:

• Attacking through the center often leads to congestion and makes it easier for defenders to double team the player with the ball.
• Attacking down the sidelines allows the defense to use the sideline as an extra defender.
• When an attacker receives the ball in the assist zone, they are likely to have an open body position, allowing them to see multiple passing options. Attackers receiving the ball in the center of the field often receive the ball with their back to the goal.

Drills

Coates then presents five drills coaches can use to help their players understand the importance of using the channels in attack.

See it live or on demand

As usual if you join one of our live sessions live it’s free, if you want to watch it afterwards on demand, you need to be a member.

Get XPS here or check out different option to subscribe

Afterwards the on demand video will be available in our XPS app. In case you don’t want to miss out on future masterclasses, make sure you join us as a free or paid member so we can send you our reminders whenever we go live…