What are the different field hockey positions and what do they do?

Question

if you could please help it would be greatly appreciated!!

i am trying out for varsity this year but havent played in 3 years because i switched to volleyball but now i want to play field hockey again and im afraid that i forgot how to play i want to make sure i have everything rightt.

im doing a camp in a few weeks and i need to be on top of my game please help!

Answer 1

seems like you Just need a refresher. I made a little paper for my friends with simple stuff, because I want them to play fh. There are positions in there, and If you want you can skim over the other stuff.

HOW TO PLAY FIELD HOCKEY

Some basic info:

Positions

So there are 11 people for one team on the field at a time. The there is a goalie with a lot of protection equipment. A sweeper that is right out side the goal, sort of like another line of protection for the goal. Two full backs (or sometimes called halfbacks), which are like basic D. On Offense, there are three midfielders. Midfielders are like both d and o, but are considered d. Midfielders can score, but most likely they won’t, midfielders run the most out of all the positions on the field.  The centermid is a little different then the other mids, but I’ll get back to that later. Lastly there are four forwards that are called: right wing, left wing, inner, inner. They are the scorers.  The picture above is showing the starting layout.

Hits  

The first hit is the drive, the Drive is my favorite, and I am the Driver on the team, but that might change next year. The Drive is hitting the stinking’ ball as hard as you possibly can to another player. Players on another team can’t get with in 6 ft of you (I think its 6). You get to drive when you get a free hit because the other team commits a foul out of the D circle (see picture above).

The push pass is when you place the stick on the ground and push the ball as your stick is still on the ground with force.

Flick is when you place the flat side of the stick partly under the ball at an angle and flick the ball to go in the air. This is used to get a goal, and when someone’s stick is coming at the ball to steal it, you can just flick it over the ball.

Fouls (A list of things not to do)

• Hit/touch ball with rounded side of stick (you can only use the flat side)

• High stick (you have stick higher then shoulder when another player is near you)

• Third party (you are between the ball and holding back opponent, there for letting a teammate get by with out a obstructed access to the ball (I with explain later))

• Advancing (You can’t hit the ball with any part of your body except your stick. The most common violation of this rule is accidentally hitting the ball with your foot)

• Out of bounds (ball went across side lines)

What happens if I do foul?

Inside the circle:

There is a penalty corner; all the Defense players (goalie, sweeper, Fulls/halfs) go in the goal. Also the centermid goes in the goal to, unlike the rest of the mids, and forwards that go to the half line. The other teams mids and forwards line up around the circle, except one who goes on a line close to the goal with a ball. That player with the ball hits it to the players on the line, and as soon as the player hits the ball, the D players can come out of the goal, and protect the goal from the line people.

Here is a video of the top ten ones: (One you get the point you can turn it off).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsjqPqY1j...

Out on the back sideline:

Long hit, the driver hits it from a little down from the left or right corners of that side of the field.

Out of circle:

Free hit (drive)

Thanks I hope this at least helped.

Answer 2

There are 11 players on the field per team, including the goalie and 10 field players. Formations often consist of four forwards, three halfbacks, three fullbacks, and one goalkeeper, known as a 4-3-3 formation. Variations, such as the 5-3-2, are also used, depending on the coach’s strategy.

Forwards: Primary scorers who spend most of their time between the midfield and the opponent’s goal.

Midfielders: Must be able to play both defense and offense and have the stamina to run the field in the transition between offense and defense. Also called “links.”

Fullbacks: Primarily defend the opposing forwards and attempt to clear the ball when it gets close to the goal. Some coaches assign a single defender, called a “sweeper,” who plays closest to her own goal behind the fullbacks.

Goalie: Stands in front of goal to block shots with her body and stick. Must have quick reflexes and ability to communicate defensive strategies to teammates