HOW TO PLAY HOCKEY

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 23

HOW TO PLAY HOCKEY

: in Attack.—Justus a clever bowler makes variation in his deliveries by changing speed; length/ an Ld break, according to the play of a batsman; similarly a good set of forwards should' change its. attack; by utilising several kinds of passes, according to the weak points in the opposing defence. Long passes,'short passes, cross passes, through passes, back1* passes, dribbling too in some cases, .are, different forms of attack "and can be applied to their full advantage if played correctly andi at. the- right moments.. Anticipation and full understanding between, all members of-the-team are essential in ; making '' these-, tactical moves. . Speed and accuracy -. and ttlie time taken in their execution are:' the other: necessary factors,. and s i^ these be absent there will not be any marked improvement. .To decide when! a certain pass, is to.be used under certain circumstances- depends entirely ■ upon the individual • concerned, ■ with. • his hockey sense to help and guide him.?

How,to Run.-VThis sounds:simple .as everybody with sturdy legs can run. as "fast as a hare,', but a hockey run>is different from other runs. In it, while running, you must .have full control of the ball, and the poise of the head must be such that will allow you to see the ball at your feet; the players in the field, and the whole field itself.

The weight of your body should be balanced on your toes,' heels above the ground. This balance will give you a forward movement without putting your' weight on the stick, which will yield to your wrist only when it is hot hampered by the weight of your body.

/ A. slight bend ,is necessary at, the waist to enable you to see the. ball at your feet, and .also to give you an added balance in the' swift turns' of hockey. Too riiuch.bend will not help you to see the players or the field, and though it may help you to becoma a good dribbler, your parses will always be inaccurate and untimely. ■'■

In my opinion, a centre-forward and a centre-half should be less prone to speed than' their team mates. The onus of being the "brains" of a side falls generally ■on either of these two. or both if they are fast; naturally {hey would not get enough time to "plan their movements. The "brains". of a. side should be as fresh, towards the end of a game as at its' beginning to give physical and mental help to his side when it is needed most. Humanity is so weak that freshness cannot last, till the end of a game1 if'burst! of speed are-made frequently,'not\yith» standing- the most■ strenuous ...pro. gramme of training.—M. N. Masiid. :."''