CENTRE HALF

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

CENTRE HALF

ThfE KEY POSITION

QUALIFICATIONS. ANY player who decides to play as a centre half must realise that he is choosing perhaps the mo6t important position on the field. It is really the key position and he

must act as a pivot round which the whole team works. He must be physically lit at all times and must prove a tireless worker. His sense of anticipation should be exceptionally strong to enable hiin to intercept cleverly and thus save himself needless running. He must possess and

cultivate that elusive hockey sense so necessary for success, yet so hard to explain, but which results in being able'to visualise in the mind's eye at all times the exact position of all the players without having to look up for verification. He should make a

study (wherever possible) of the centre forwards in the teams he is likely to meet. By doing this he will find that each has some particular weakness, such as selfishness, or a fondness for passing to one flank, and will thus he able to adapt hia play to counteract the failing. Positional Play. The centre half must be oontinu- ! ally following the run of play. ; Always ready to support the forj wards on attack, or ready to drop back quickly to cover up and help the backs on defence. (See Plate No. i 16.) How often do we see a central attack by the forwards fail through lack of support from the centre half.

It will be seen tliat this player must cover a tremendous amount of ground during a match; therefore, hie movements should be made with a purpose. By wandering aimlessly about the field, he is not only tiring himself. needlessly but is also upsetting the play of the other backs and losing his own position. Although the centre half is allowed more latitude in this reepect than the other players, he should quickly curb any

roaming tendencies, for his correct positional play ie of vital importance to the success of liis side. Mark Your Man. The centre half must effectively mark the opposing centre forward, especially on defence, when he must stick to hie man with grim tenacity. Never wander away from him in search of the ball, for then he is not only giving him the opportunity of snapping up a chance and slipping through, but also hampering hie own backs in doing their duty. A golden rule, especially for a junior, is: "When defending, never be more than a couple of yards away from the opposing centre forward." When play is in or near your own circle always remember this rule and do your utmost to carry it out to the letter. On attack the centre half must place himeelf in such a position that lie will be able to sustain the attack in the event of the defendcre gaining possession of the ball and attempting to clear. Occasionally it miprht be advisable for the centre half to go Tight up amongst the forwards' to press home an attack. Such an occasion would be when his team is one goal down and with, say, 10 minutes to play.. With all his forwards closely marked by opposing backs between the 25 yards line and the circle, he might with advantage go through to the circle on his own and attempt to score. Although the surprise attack will inevitably upset the defence, such tactics are danger-

ous, for they must weaken his own defence and probably muddle rather than help his forwards. Before attempting such a move he should warn his wing halves so that they can close in a little to help cover up his vacancy. Initiating Attacks. To the centre half falls the task of initiating most of the attack*, and here is a word of warning. Do not become mechanical in your tactics; continually vary your play so that you have the opposition guessing. Kenienvber that variation of the line of attack means springing a surprise on your opponents and most probably catching the' defence out of

position, thereby allowing your forwards to go through to the circle with greater ease. Repetition, is disastrous, therefore, yaryl Vary I VARY!. In starting an attack the flick stroke can 'be used to advantage, BUT DO NOT OVERDO IT. The three real virtues of this stroke are: (a) Its quickness of execution. (b) Its accuracy. (c) The difficulty of intercepting it. A forward will find it hard to judge exactly when the ball will be delivered, as the stick is in contact with tlie .ball all the time, and the direction of delivery can be concealed right up to the moment of passing. Contrast this with a "hit" pass, where the half has to draw his efTck back to hit and thus disclose the direction of delivery. Of course, there are plenty of occasions when the "hit" pass is necessary and advisable. The distance the ball has to travel to reach your forwards is the deciding factor, for it must he realised that the flick (stroke has its limitations when it comes to distance. In making your pass try to put the ball right on to the stick of one of your unmarked forwards. Make it cleanly and as soon as possible. If it is necessary to draw a man, do not wait for him to come up and tackle you, but pass quickly and do not attempt to beat him and fro through the whole of the opposition. It is unnecessary and usually ends I in failure.