LADIES’ HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1939, Page 8

LADIES’ HOCKEY

ADVICE TO PLAYERS WHAT RECRUITS SHOULD KNOW. FURTHER NOTES ON RULES. (BY LES. M. MURPHY) (Wellington Ladies’ Hockey Critic.) The appending notes deal further with the fundamentals of the game. In last Monday’s issue I concluded with a brief outline of methods not to be employed in stopping the ball. Today’s important points deal with winning the toss, and best methods of attack. Invariably the ball travels up and downfield several times before a player has a chance to shoot for goal. The half-backs and full-backs will, of course, use their endeavours to prevent the opposing forwards from scoring. When a forward does get the ball in the circle, a shot should be taken immediately. If the goalkeeper fails to stop the ball and it passes between the bars, a goal is the result. In any case attacking forwards should at all times be ready to bang it in again if the keeper only partially clears it. A forward should never let an opportunity like this go begging. If the ball is sent over the line without passing through the goal by an opponent, it is placed on the 25 line at a point opposite where it went out, and is bullied off again. During this bully the teams must keep on their respective sides of the 25 line. If one of the defending side sends the ball over her own goal-line, it is a “corner.” For this the defenders all retire to the goalline, while the opposition or rather the forwards and halves, stand on the striking circle which surrounds the goal; one of their number, generally a forward, hits the ball from the corner flag towards them. It must be stopped before a goal can be scored. Immediately after the corner hit has been taken, both teams move forward and play resumes as usual. Some defending players anticipate too soon and rush out before the player taking the corner hit strikes the ball. They must return to the goal-line. It is well to remember the ball must leave the striker’s stick before the defending players can rush out. If from the corner hit the attacking side score a goal, the ball is returned to the centre circle and bullied off as before. BE AWARE OF “STICKS” BREACH. A goal can only be scored if the ball is within the striking circle when th'e hit is made. When hitting the ball the stick must not be raised above the shoulder. If this is done it constitutes the breach of “sticks” and the opposition are awarded a free hit. I have frequently noticed goalkeepers give, “sticks” in the hope of saving a goal. In their eagerness to gain possession, no player may charge, push, or trip another. Any breach of these latter rules comes under the breach of “foul.” The penalty "for a foul or “carrying” is a free hit to the opposition. In a free hit the opposition take the ■ strike while their adversaries keep at a distance of not less than five yards, If any breach of the above mentioned rules take place in the sticking circle—that which surrounds the goal—and the defending team are the offenders, then a “penalty bully” takes place instead of the free hit. This consists in two of the players, one from each team, standing squarely opposite each other with the ball between them. They then strike each other’s stick and the ground alternately three times, as in the “bully off” when a game commences or a goal is scored, and at the completion of this movement endeavour ,to gain possession of the ball. A breach by the defender in front of goal means a penalty goal being awarded the opposition. If the attacker sends the ball over the line outside the uprights a 25 bully is ordered, but should she send it between the posts a goal is awarded. If the defender beats her opponent for the ball and sends it clear of the circle the game carries on. While this penalty bully is being taken all the players, with the exception of the two participating in the bully, must keep outside the circle until the completion of the bully.

BEST METHOD OF ATTACK.

These general rules are observed throughout the game, and whatever the circumstances. The other rules are best learnt by considering an imaginary game. The teams are lined out and the two respective centre forwards set the ball rolling by “bullying of!'” from the centre of the field. This bully is conducted precisely as described above, and after the ball has been hit it is in play. The forward who gains possession of it endeavours to at once work her way towards the opposite goal closely attended by her sister forwards. This she does either by taking on the ball herself, endeavouring to elude the opposing half-backs and fullbacks, or by passing it to another member of her team. In such movements positional play is essential if the culmination of the movement is to meet with any degree of success. Needless to say, the passing movement is much the better medium of attack. It stands to reason that it is easier for several players working together to get down the field than for one. If during the run down the ball goes over the sideline, it 'is in “touch” or “out.” So the game goes on. If the sides are fairly evenly matched, few goals will be scored and the play will be kept about the middle of the field. Runs will be made now and then by forwards who should always be on the look-out to slip by their opponents. Sometimes there will be a keen struggle round the goal; time after time backs and goalies will save the situation. and again and again the forwards will attack. Finally, perhaps, a goal will be scored or the ball hit out or over the goal-line.

WINNING TOSS IMPORTANT. Now I am coming to a rather important point in the winning of the toss. For example, the sun may be in the eyes of the team playing at one end of the ground. Having the wind or any slight down-hill grade with them is a great advantage to any team. Of course conditions are changed at halftime, but then the wind may have dropped, the sun gone in, or the other team so tired that the advantage of the conditions be of little use to them. The captain of a team must use her discretion about these things, and be guided by the state of the weather and the strength of the other side. If the team is specially good at defence, it sometimes pays to give the other side the advantage and play a sound defensive game until half-time. The opponents will then be somewhat tired with attacking, and the defending side with the advantage will be able to change their style of play and become the aggressors. (To be continued next Monday.)