Playing field hockey is a wonderful way to spend your weekends. It’s a great sport for families and friends to interact with each other while spending some quality time outdoors. There are however, many ways you can improve your game. The aim of this article is to teach you the basic mechanics of field hockey and how to enhance your gameplay through practice. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Learn The Rules Slowly
Field hockey is a game that requires basic rules awareness. You have to understand the game if you want to play effectively. Instead of throwing around complicated regulations, the best policy is to take your time understanding the basics. Familiarize yourself with the game by studying the rules and practicing on your own. You won’t lose much playing time if you take the time to learn the game thoroughly.
Tackle Tacklers With Intelligence
Tacklers are players who will try to give you a hard time while you are in possession of the ball. While you can’t pick your opponent, you can prepare for them. Your adversary is usually of a bigger size compared to you and can bring you down with a single hit. The key is in anticipating their moves and beating them at their own game. During your downtime, study the opposing teams to know their playing style and figure out ways to beat them. This takes a bit of research but can really help you improve as a player.
Know When To Be Aggressive
Even the most experienced players can suffer from aggression-related injuries. These are usually caused by taking a hit while not expecting or planning for it. When playing field hockey, you will inevitably have to give and take some hard hits. Knowing when to stand your ground and when to go down sliding can help prevent injuries. Getting knocked off-balance sometimes is a part of the game but taking too many hits is not beneficial for your body. Keep a good balance and you will be able to play the game for many years to come.
Play In The Right Place
It can be frustrating to play sports in extreme conditions. The temperature changes, the lighting is different, and the floor is not always even. One of the best ways to play sport in the true spirit is to do it outdoors. A perfect place for that is the field. If you want to play in the proper manner, the arena is not the place to be. Find a grassy area with some trees or a paved surface with some gravel in it. It really depends on what fits your needs best.
Get All The Gear You Need
As mentioned before, playing field hockey is a great sport for families and friends to interact with each other while spending some quality time outdoors. Making the most of that involves camping or purchasing a camper to transport your hockey gear to and from the game. The latter will make carrying all that weight much easier and will give you the freedom to move around as you please during the game. If you are planning to camp out, make sure you bring along all the necessary items for a comfortable stay. That includes a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and a pair of shoes if you plan to be outside during the night. Of course, you will need a sleeping pill as well to help you get some shuteye during the night hours.
Field hockey is a wonderful sport to play and even more wonderful to watch. It’s a great way to spend your weekends and can be a lot of fun with friends and family. As you grow as a player, you will learn more about the game and how to improve your own game. With enough practice, you will find yourself competing at a high level and enjoying the sport much more. Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you in your quest to be better at field hockey and that you continue to have fun out there!