Junior Player Development Plan

Our ultimate goal at Sheen Hockey is to have players who have developed an excellent mastery of the game of field hockey. To get our players to the necessary level of mastery when they leave us, we have created our development plan on how we can help make this happen.

Foundation Stage (U6/U8 Age Groups)

Players starting in the foundation groups are likely to have very little knowledge of the game.

The key for us is to teach players the rules of the game, an understanding of how it’s played and the basic skills necessary to play.

At the end of this foundation stage players should possess 3 core skills and be on their way to mastering them.

1.       Passing and receiving the ball, both in a stationery position and whilst moving with the ball

2.       Ball Carry 

3.       Body positioning

Intermediate Stage (U10 Age Group)

Once the foundation skills have been mastered, players need to now be exposed to playing the game on a bigger pitch (7-a-side).

The key for us is to teach players how to use the skills mastered in the foundation stage on a bigger pitch and how to best utilise the increased space.

At the end of this intermediate stage players should be able to do the following on the field:

1.       Block tackle

2.       Increased range of passing (push, slap, hit and reverse) - Hitting is a technique that should be encouraged

3.       Ball Carry/elimination skills

4.       Left foot passes

5.       How to create a 2v1 situation and comfortably eliminate the defender.

Advanced Stage (U12 Age Group)

Once the intermediate skills have been mastered, players need to now be exposed to playing on a full pitch (11-a-side).

The key for us is to teach players how to use the skills mastered in the intermediate stage on a full pitch, how best to utilise the increased space and move the ball the distances needed to make a successful pass.

At the end of this advanced stage players should be able to do the following on the field:

1.       Increased range of passing (introducing the aerial pass, increased distance passing and passing off both feet).

2.       Pre-scan and receiving

3.       Defending/taggling (block tackles, jab tackles and shave tackles)

4.       Goal scoring

With our development plan each player will gradually learn the basic technical skills. We will regularly repeat and refine the skills throughout the season.  Each player will naturally progress at different rates but everyone will be exposed to the skills relevant to their stage.

To become a good hockey player, players need to be comfortable on the ball and be good decision makers. To achieve this, they need to be taught technical skills and then the ability to apply these technical skills in game situations.

Once players graduate and leave us at the end of Year 7, we can assist those players who wish to continue their hockey journey, to join a local hockey club.