|
USA Field Hockey Coaching
Articles
Coaching Field
Hockey:
Receiving the ball
with your back towards the attacking goal
By U.S. Men's
National Team Coach, Shiv Jagday
In this 2000 Sydney Olympic games picture, the
Pakistani R.I. Muhammad Sarwar is receiving the ball with his back
towards, the attacking Dutch goal. Looks like he has received the
pass from his R. H. # 4. He has ample space in front of him waiting
with open arms to make a play making pass or a semi penetrating
dodge. On top this his marker Teun de Nooijer # 14 is being nice and
lenient by not marking him tight the way, mostly the Dutch do. See
how the C.F. is being marked.
When I analyze the options of the R.I. under a
microscopic eye, they are abundant. If and when, the R.I. opens his
left foot anti clock wise the window of opportunities will present
themselves to be explored. Please picture them ... Seeing things
before they actually can happen.
The C.F. should dash towards the left of the
field near the D, making his Dutch tight markers move.
As long ago as 1979
I remember observing that some forwards were receiving the ball with their back towards
the goal they were attacking. I tried to correct this, encouraging the forwards to receive
the ball facing the opponent’s goal with a tilted body on the run. To further
elaborate this point, I gave them the newspaper cutting of the comments made by the 1978
World Cup Champion Argentina's soccer coach, Carl Luis Menotti. He said,
"When I see my forward, in practice,
receiving the ball with his back towards the goal he is attacking, I stop the practice and
tell the player: 'You are wasting your time and that of your fellow teammates. Don't
Do It ....Receive the ball with a tilted body, preferably on the run!' "'
Now, more than 15 years later, with the introduction of the new obstruction rule, the game
has changed. Forwards have the liberty of receiving the ball with their back towards the
goal they are attacking, or spinning with the ball more or less at will, whenever and
wherever they want.
This point has its advantages and disadvantages. Let us analyze receiving from both
angles, concluding when and where to execute this skill, and when and where to avoid it.
ADVANTAGES
Players receiving a pass with their back to the opponent's goal have a big advantage. They
can cover—protect—the ball with their whole body. The chances of keeping
possession are much higher than in the past—even in tight marking situations.
Smart players can receive then spin with the ball, changing direction to either side to
beat an opponent.
Players can receive the ball and lay it off with one touch to either side for a team mate
coming through or overlapping.
In the game phase, when the objective of the team is just to maintain possession. For
example, when there are 5 minutes left to play and the team is leading by one goal.
These are the major advantages, if one knows when, where, why and how to use this
skill and exploit the opponents.
My observations have been that often the Modern Player, even at the highest level of
competition, lacks this understanding. In certain game situations he is hurting his
own team more by slowing down the flow of the attack.
In the early 80's the Chip Shot came into fashion. It was just used the way a kid
plays with his new toy. Later, it was discarded. This may well be the case with this skill
to a certain degree, given time.
Please remember Menotti's quote.
DISADVANTAGES:
When a player is receiving the ball with his back towards the goal he is attacking, for a
few seconds his vision of the field behind him is blurred and he looses contact with the
changing game situation. This deprives the forward of the awareness of the latest changes
which have occurred, especially in a breakaway or counter attack game situation.
When the forward is spinning and curling with the ball it gives the defense a golden
opportunity to Recover and Reorganize. In certain attacking game situations delays are
dangerous and the attacking team doesn't want the defense to settle.
In a breakaway situation, it takes a forward with his back towards the attacking goal
extra seconds to control the ball and take off for scoring. In these extra seconds a good
defense can create a lot of obstacles.
CONCLUSION—Receiving the
ball with the back towards the attacking goal.
This move is a negative one. It is done more out of fear than desire: fear is
bad, desire is positive and powerful.
With the tilted body, the chances for loosing possession while receiving are greater. But,
when one masters the skill—art?—the advantages are far more. The Higher the
Risk, The Higher the Reward.
We should teach our players—especially juniors—to know when, where, why and how
to use this skill to their maximum advantage. More importantly, they should develop the
art of receiving the ball with a tilted body on the run.
When one exposes the ball, while in the process of receiving, this entices the defender to
commit, especially on a common ball. This gives him a false impression that he can get the
ball, but instead he gets beaten. Just like a fish, he has taken the bait.
Examples of receiving the ball
These
action photographs were taken during the 1995 Pan-American Games. The Canadian Women's
team was playing against Paraguay. Canada is attacking near the opponent's 25 line.
The
Canadian forward is receiving the ball with her back towards the attacking goal. Here is a
situation where three other Canadian players are open. But it appears from the body
language of the receiver that it will be a few seconds before she will control and pass
the ball.
In the photos below,
the Canadian
forwards have taken intelligent and timely leads to receive the ball on the run and
eliminate the opponent. The advantage of this attacking pattern is that the flow of the
attack is maintained.
|
