Developing an Irish Style of Play

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Developing anIrish Style of Play

• Hooked 06 National Conference
• Three Rock Rovers 8th Jan 06

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Objectives of the Workshop

• Background about the High Performance Directors
  role - what I do (and dont do!)
• Determine why we need to develop a style of
  play - -part one of the process
• Outline what a style of play is, and what
  underpins it
• Identify key techniques
• Identify key principles adopted
• Key tactical emphasis of the senior squads
• Questions (specific and general)

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Me and my role

• Me
• English man in Co. Limerick
• 5 children
• 7 years in England - U18, U21, B, Senior
  Assistant and experience of every level of the
  game and all major championships from U16
  Europeans to Olympics
• High Performance Director
• High Performance Planning (currently reviewing -
  2008/10/12)
• Lead technical, tactical, physical, SS/SM
  direction for Irish Hockey
• Manage staff, programs and budgets of all 8
  teams
• Deal with financial sporting bodies (ISC, OCI,
  NCTC, IIS)
• Talent Identification

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What is a Style of Play?

• Define the major hockey nations
• Each has a distinct way of playing
• Easily recognisable
• Could recognise it without any kit
• Is it
• Tactical? (some aspects - man to man, zonal)
• A system? (Pakistan)
• A skill set? (Germany)
• A mental approach (Australia, Korea)
• Probably a combination
• I would describe it as a recognisable framework
  with collective player instincts with
  underpinning principles

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Some examples.
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Australia

• Tempo
• Aggressive
• Attack
• Minded
• Risk takers
• Zonal
• Far post!

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Germany

• Methodical
• Patient
• Secure
• low skills
• Indoor style
• Decision
• making
• Man to man

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Pakistan

• 5-3-2
• Flair
• Individual 1v1
• Quick hands
• Fast IFs
• Zonal
• Intercepts
• Sit-counter

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What influences a style of play?

• Culture is the largest attribute
• Compare the styles of play of teams we have just
  looked at.
• Australia
• Germany
• Pakistan
• Every day lifestyle and national traits
• Evident consistent in other sports

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Why do we need a style of play?

• Do we have one?
• Currently massive disparity between our national
  teams U16 - Senior (not their fault)
• Players instincts developing in different ways
  and at different times (Aus MK 1997 - Athens
  2004)
• Framework bouncing around with different
  principles

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Our Culture

• Take some time to think for yourselves
• Spent 12 months trying to analyse/work out!
• Regional variations
• What foreign coaches say
• Unpredictable
• Some flair
• Aggressive
• Impatient
• Conservative
• Very evident in our national players
• Essential we embrace the various
  cultures/influences within Ireland to best
  develop the right way forward
• Still developing my thoughts. Keen not to copy!

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The way forward. Priorities

• Consistency between my thoughts, Reits thoughts
  and the majority of the JAG staff
• Develop Common Playing System
• Common shared vocabulary
• Core skills to facilitate Framework/style
• Principles of Play
• Tactical direction
• Caution not to do too much too soon
• You start and are most crucial influence

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Overview

• Use unpredictability and flair - best in counter
  attack
• Need for individual 1 v 1 techniques (3D skills)
  to develop
• Need for Deep Defence to create this
• Requires control and patience
• Use Aggression - full press (4 man)
• Increase influence of Midfield - for me too
  conservative!

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System Vocabulary

• Crucial to develop instincts
• 4 - 3 - 3
• RM/LM Inside Forwards
• More attacking/fluid mindset (nos in circle)
• Play more to inside to allow freedom of overlap
  and wide forwards (develops at senior level)
• CH - associate more with Back four (securer role)
• Fullbacks - to develop understanding of marking
  and cover and deal with various circumstances
• Half back (half back, half forward!)

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Technical (core skills)

• 1 v 1
• Ability to attack both sides
• Not get forced down one (left)
• Increase use of 3D skills
• Leads to 2 v 1 (2 v 2)

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Receiving feet forward (especially Inside
forwards and forwards)

• - Pass away from
• defender
• - late receipt
• - Feet forwards
• - Straight arms
• - Ability to come
• off line

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And under pressure.
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Playing Principles

• What we do all the time.. Therefore more
  important than tactics
• Need to be developed at an early ageautomatic
• Develop as instincts
• Therefore ideally adopted domestically
• Some Principles

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The Guard

• Basketball term
• Transfer ball
• (shallow)
• Quick restarts
• Two over ball
• Denies direct
• counter attack

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Defensive Turnovers

• Protect line to goal
• Stick tone
• Slow play
• Mindset

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Look Long from back

• Ball position
• Attack line
• Change angle
• Long vision
• (can always play short)

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The change..
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Tactical Emphasis
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Being aggressive - Full Press

• Static Press
• 4 Man
• Use of CH
• Force aerials

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Deep Press

• Stay Compact
• Deny Space
• Create Space
• Target zones
• Patience
• Instincts

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Counter Attack
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Dont tell Andrew!!
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Questions.