How to Tackle in Field Hockey
Tackling, or intercepting, is the goal of defense in field hockey. Once you lose possession of the ball, tackling is the way you're going to get it back. It puts pressure on your opponent and allows you to take the ball from her.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Know that tackling is done by aiming your stick at the ball when your opponent's stick is not on the ball. Good times would be when your opponent is in the middle of dribbling or passing. It's a penalty to hit your opponent or her stick.
-
2
Try the straight-on tackle - it's more like a block. Be in an open stance facing the attacker, put your stick in the way of the ball and capture it on the toe of your stick while the attacker goes by. You take the ball right out from under her.
-
-
3
Practice lunging - it's a form of tackling used when you are far enough ahead of the dribbler to have time to position yourself. Go to the right side of the attacker. With your stick, reach in the area in front of your attacker's stick where the ball is being played and knock it out without interfering with her stick.
-
4
Remember that tackling can be done with only one hand - your left - on the stick, which will allow for more mobility. This also requires that you be able to control the stick with only one hand! You can practice this so that it feels comfortable. Also think about keeping your stick lower to cover a possible change in the ball's direction.
-
5
Keep in mind that success in tackling depends on the quickness of the thrust of your stick, not the speed of your body. Don't charge full steam into your opponent - she can easily move to the side, and you'll miss.
-
6
Take short steps when moving into your opponent, and be ready to move to either side so you can reposition yourself as the situation changes. Let your opponent be the one to commit to a direction first and then you can follow.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Consider using tackling to slow your opponent down or to direct her to a particular space if you can't get the ball from her. If you want to move her into a space where more of your defenders are so you can get help, overplay the direction you don't want her to go. By your playing one side, she'll naturally head the other way into your teammates.
More Like This
Comments
-
Mar 20, 2006
When running alongside a player (normally on their left hand side), hold your stick in your right hand, keep your eye on the ball constantly and just knock the ball from in front of them with the tip of your stick. Don't make contact with the player or their stick, and don't put your body in front of theirs or obstruct them. This requires arm strength. -
Mar 20, 2006
When running alongside a player (normally on their left hand side), hold your stick in your right hand, keep your eye on the ball constantly and just knock the ball from in front of them with the tip of your stick. Don't make contact with the player or their stick, and don't put your body in front of theirs or obstruct them. This requires arm strength.
-
Nov 22, 2005
In field hockey, goalies always need to slid onto you right hip, this way you are not backward. Otherwise, they could go around you and score a goal!
-
Nov 22, 2005
As you are running up the field with the ball, move your right hand close to your left hand, this will make you have less control of your stick but your body position is better, which allows you to run faster. As soon as an opponent comes to tackle you, you can keep the same hand position and whack it (your hand position close together enables you to get a harder hit), or move your right hand back down the stick and dribble past them.
