Combined Forward and Half Play

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1938, Page 9

Combined Forward and Half Play

Hockey

(By Harry Patterson.) The value of sound teamwork cannot be over-emphasised at this stage, as too many players fail to appreciate its importance. A selfish player will not only upset many promising movements, but will also enable the defence to break up the attack successfully without being drawn out of position. Remember that the team able to retain possession of the ball must have a wonderful advantage, and, by keeping the game as open as possible, must draw the opposition out of position. The whole secret of teamwork is being able to maintain your own position and always being ready to get into a position to receive the ball should it he passed your way. Combination. Perfect understanding between the forwards and halves is absolutely necessary for the successful and harmonious working of the forward line on attack. Often a forward will consider his chances of going through rather slender, and it is then that he can make a short back-pass to the half and enable the Tailor quickly to change the line of attack. The halfback must, of course, have anticipated the move and bo in position ready to receive the ball and clear it with a crisp pass to one of his own unmarked forwards. This move will often catch the opposing defence out of position. When a half-back has the ball, the forwards should always follow the position of the halves and try to anticipate the run of play, and be ready to snap up the pass should it come to them. Similarly,- the halves should follow the position of the forwards and also the opposing defence, so that they can be ready to anticipate the run of play and intercept, if possible, should the forwards lose possession and the opposition endeavour to initiate a counter-attack.

; Crowding or Bunching. Each player has his own position on the field and must stick to It. except, of course, when circumstances force an interchange. For instance, it may be necessary for the inside forward and his wing to change places temporarily. Failure to maintain position only causes crowding or bunching, and this quickly leads to trouble. Halves may try to cover too much j ground and crowd one another, and ! the forwards may do likewise. Then, | again, the halves may try to play too close up on the forwards on attack or converge too close in on the fullbacks on defence. Either of these faults will cause bunching. Halves’ Positional Play. ! The position of the halves plays an i important part in the success of coI operation between the centre line and | the vanguard. When a central at- | tack is being made it is usual for the i centre half to be slightly in advance |of his wing men. A left flank movoi ment will see the left-half supporting j the attack and the other two halves j slightly behind him, whilst a right | flank attack means that the right-half j must be up closer to his forwards than j his other partners. j When the opposition is attacking j and the halves are forced to defend, it iis usually found that the attacks are ! initiated through wing movements, j and then it is advisable for the wing I halves to play slightly ahead of the j centre, who watches for the wing j man to make his centring pass, markj ing the centre-forward very closely. Should the pass he made up to the | centre-forward he should endeavour to | intercept, and, if unsuccessful, should j immediately tackle his opponent. If : the pass is made to an inside-forward, i the centre-half will immediately drop : back ready to cover tire full-back when the latter comes up to tackle his man. Tackling Hack. ■ The inside forwards can do much to lighten the burden of the halves by | tackling back when their side loses possession, especially in mid-field i play. Too often does a forward stand , and watch the opposition bustling his ' halves and wait for the ball to come I his way again, when, by tackling I back, he not only helps his own men : but also- hampers the opposition, and ; allows them less room in which to ; work for an opening in an attempt to I initiate a counter-attack.

The Roll-In. ; Both the halves and the forwards 1 should know their positions on the ' field when a roll-in is being' taken, according to the position from which the ball is being’ rolled in. Immediately the ball goes out over the sideI line they should snap into those positions so that when it is their roll-in ! they are ready to receive it. and the wing-half can roll the ball into play before the opposition have a chance . to gel in their places to counter. ! Similarly', when the opposition arc i rolling-in the same alertness is nccesj sary equally in order to offset the | chance of gaining any advantage, i Passing, . - ll is considered bad hockey tor a j half-back in dribble the ball. It is also | bad hockey for him to fail to pass ! quickly to a forward, who is in a

better position for the reception of ihc ball. The first-time pass is more valuable than half a dozen delayed passes. Remember that a delayed pass allows the opposing halves time to get into position, to mark your forwards and possibly intercept your pass. Therefore, a half should utilise the push pass for short distances and a crisp hit for the longer passes, but always make sure that the pass Is made as quickly as possible.