On the Hockey Field

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 3, 3 July 1937, Page 25

On the Hockey Field

PLAYING TO THE "GALLERY"

USE STICK SHOTS WITH DISCRETION

.Unfortunately some of Ihe finer shots in hockey are so "fancy" that they always appeal to the spectators. Unfortunately, .because the young player who gels in a good trick shot is flattered by the applause, and tries to play other similar shots, to the. detriment of his game. Fancy shots fall a long way short of good all-round play, and the sooner this fact, is realised by some players in the Wellington area the belter it ■"will be for the players themselves, and for the game.

No player should jump to the conclusion that trick shots are not worth while. They can play an important part in a match, but they should be used with discretion. The player who plays a trick shot—or tries to do so —for the sake of the "gallery" is letting his side down. On the other hand, the player who has mastered a trick shot may pull his side out ox a tight corner by taking his opponents by surprise. Other players should remember that it is the element oJ! surprise that gives the trick shot its value; the player who tries his hand at something fancy to get a cheer from the sideline is not likely to surprise anyone. He more often than not disgusts his colleagues by making a mess of the shot, with favourable results for his opponents. REVERSE. STICK WORK. Every player should master reverse stick work, but it should be mastered at practice. The player who makes a practice of it during a match misses the ball frequently, and his opponents learn to take advantage of his misses because they realise his weakness. Full-backs may say that reverse stick work is of no use to them' because their job is to get the ball well away. Admittedly they should get the ball away from the danger zone asfspeedily as possible, but there is no need for. a full-back to hit a ""boundary" only to have it returned by a full-back at the other end of the field. The fullback should play to his halves, and the reverse.stroke can be very useful when he is hard pressed. Other players, can also make good use of it.in short passing, and. there is only one system of passing in hockey. Teams that; hit the ball for long distances j always lose control and can only win by such tactics if they can make their opponents run themselves to a standstill. ■ ; ■'■. . ■•..■.' Carrying the ball on the stick —a much over-rated trick—has a' strong appeal for some young players, and •vvhen.it succeeds it looks well, but generally gets the player nowhere, unless it is into trouble. T'i K ability to juggle the ball on the stick, is worth while for, one reason. It is excellent training in the correlation of hand and eye, a part of the hockey, player's training that cannot be overemphasised. For all practical purposes on the.field, however, it is one of the most .useless accomplishments of ■ a player. .'To balance .the ball on the .blade, of the stick and run with it:is a feat in juggling;/to .take the ball neatly on the stick and pass it safely and accurately to''another player, is good play. . The young'player should not mistake juggling for play.' THE SCOOP SHOT. Another much misused shot that should/scarcelybe classed as; a trick shot is,the scoop. Only a few of the senior players in the Wellington district have approached mastery of this shot, but ■it is pleasing to note that some of the. junior players use it with good effect. ' . ■ The scoop shot should not be used indiscriminately. It is a shot for a particular occasion, and it should be held in reserve for that occasion. The scoop can lie a dangerous shot and consequently umpires arc quite justified in penalising1 it when it is used on improper occasions.

Probably some players are a bit doubtful about the difference between the scoop and a slice. The ,scoop is played by placing the blade of the stick under the ball and "spooning" it into the air. The scoop should be used for lilting the ball out o£ a