An Expert Talks About Hockey

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

An Expert Talks About Hockey

A GRAND Library o:E Modern Sports is being issued by Messrs. J. M. Dent and Sons, the well-known London publishers. The latest addition, to the series is "Hockey," by Mr. D. M. Milford. The books are published in uniform size with attractive binding. We have already had "Rugby Football," "Soccer". and '"Lawn Tennis." Keen athletes would do well to remember these books when relatives are asking about suitable birthday gifts. The editor is a famous authority on all sports, Mr. Howard Marshall. Some of you must have heard him speak during the Empire radio programmes from Daventry. , One of the most interesting chapters for young hockey players in Mr. Milford's book is that entitled "Practice and Training." The author says: Place in School Team Let us suppose you are a schoolboy approaching your last hockey term, and you know you have a good chance of getting a place in the school eleven as an inside forward. For most schoolboys the question, of "training" in the sense of reaching and maintaining maximum physical fitness has not yet arisen; for a fortunate few it never arises (the .author has never seriously M gone into training" for any game yet). But for those otherwise constituted it Bhould suffice to say that it is as necessary to be in s;ood trim, especially as regards wind, for hockey as for any other energetic outdoor sport. We will atssume, however, that you have spent your holidays pursuing the healthy activities of a normal boy, and that you are "fighting lit." You wish then to polish up your stickwork and footwork, so that when the first organised game takes place it is at once apparent; that you "have your eye in," this being.simply another way of saying you, are "in practice." Forwards are Lucky As a forward you enjoy an initial advantage —you can . practise alone. A fullback whose stickwork consists mainly of stopping and hitting the ball can do little in the way of practice without a companion; a halfback, too, who needs most of all to be able ? t<s "take" the ball on the run, requires another player to hit it at him. But the forward can practise his dribbling and shooting by himself to his heart's content. Remember that in-

Good Advice to

side right and inside left require rather different manoeuvres; try both and see which you are best at. It will make a better impression on your captain if when he asks you which inside positidn you prefer you can give a definite answer, instead of an optimistic " either " which probably means " neither." The same with shooting: if you fancy yourself as an inside left, practise running with the ball for a few yards outside the circle to the left of the centre, and then see how quickly you can turn feet and body and crack it into the far corner of the goal. Shooting from the right will seem far easier perhaps, but in a game you will find the inside

right gets less than half the scoring chances of the inside left. If I had to write a book on golf or rackets the first point I should make would bo that both have one enormous advantage over all other ball games — the player can practise by nimself. The golfer, of course, has a further advantage in that he can play by himself, ana personally few things give me more pleasure than going round a new §olf course alone and trying to "break 0." But in several other ball games much can be dofie in the way of practice by

oneself; at lawn tennis the wall is a great stand-by for the young aspirant who cannot always rely on the good nature of his elders; at rugger, of course, all the kicking can be alone, though it is more convenient, as well as more amusing, to have a companion. You will also wish, however, to practise giving and taking passes, and for this you must discover some other ardent soul, or better a couple; and it' will be best of all if you can persuade a pair of backs or halfbacks to come along and give you some opposition. It will be practice for them also. And so to-the practice game —in good hands the best practice of all. The captain will perhaps be playing and observing as ho plays— the coach will be observing also, unless he has to blow a whistle. Between them they should be able to get a good idea of the weaknesses to be eradicated or strong points to be brought out. Suggestions and changes Bhould be made at half-time, ana if any particular point crops up the game should be held_ up from time .to time, bo that errors in tactics or positions can be commented on and corrected. "Utmost Importance" But not too often —that the players should be "warmed up" and have a feeling of continuity in a practice game is of the utmost importance. I have said nothing on the question of how much time should be given to play or practice each week. In this a j)layer must learn to use his own discretion. He must avoid any danger of "staleness," and no one can help him much here, for one player will go "stale" far quicker than another. Each must judge for himself. . . . One final word about "staleness." The young player must learn to distinguish between "his physical tiredness on the one hand, and mental or nervouß fatigue on the other; for'the effect of both on his game is the same, namely, a lack ofzest, a tendency to go at a jog-trot all through the game, and loss of quick acceleration and speed of reaction. Tired Mentally The first is common among schoolboys at the end of a term, and it can be cured quickly and easily by resting from all physical activity ..for a few days. The other can only be cured by giving up hockey for a time —perhaps for a week or so, sometimes for longer. It is this kind of staleness, I thmk, which is liable to attack players after the nervous strain of three or four "trials" on end. Their physical condi-_ tion may be perfect, but they are tired' mentally. .