The concept of “reverse chipping” was first introduced to the world back in 2015, when Stanford women’s field hockey player Lacey Steward hit a game-winning, second-half goal in overtime to defeat Tufts 5-4. At the time, forward chipping was just starting to become a thing, and the defensive tactics of the opposing teams limited the effectiveness of this strategy. But since that game, the concept of reverse chipping has gained a lot of popularity, and today it’s estimated that around 12% to 15% of field hockey goals are scored this way.
While reverse chipping is a great way to score goals, it can be a challenging tactic to implement. The strategy calls for the defense to aggressively follow the attack and pressurise the forwards, which can put a lot of stress on the players. In addition, you need to have a clear run at the ball, as defenders tend to swarm towards the play, which makes it even more difficult to beat them without the ball.
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The Need For Speed
To truly implement a reverse-chipping strategy, you need players with both the speed and tactical nous to pull it off. In order to develop these skills, you need to dedicate plenty of time to training and practice. The best players in the world to do this are the Australians, and the fastest player in the history of the sport has even confessed to using reverse chipping as her preferred strategy.
Here’s a look at how you can put the strategy into practice.
On The Attack
When you’re on the attack, you want to keep the ball at all costs and hit as many players as you can, preferably on the wing. To pull this off, you need a combination of speed and strength, along with a few nifty tricks up your sleeve. Use these to attack the defense and create space for yourself and your teammates. Once you have the ball, you can look for passing options or carry on with offensive plays.
On The Defensive
On the defensive end, your main objective is to get back as quickly as possible. To do this, you want to pressurise the attacker with numbers and a high-line. Use your speed to break through the press and win back the ball, or look for options to pass to.
One-on-One
As a defender, one of the most important skills for you to learn is how to deal with one-on-one situations wisely. These are the situations where you’re on the attack and you’re facing off against a single player who’s trying to stop you from getting the ball. In these situations, you need to read the player closely and look for opportunities to switch the pressure. Make sure you don’t rush your footwork and let your instincts guide you.
Open Play
When you have the ball on open play, look to create immediate danger. With the majority of field hockey goals being scored through open play, you need to get creative and find ways to create something fast and unexpected. Reverse chipping doesn’t work against well-organized defenses, so on open play, you need to come up with different tactics to win the game.
Summary
While it’s never easy to lose a game, you can always find ways to score. Even when you’re down a goal, you can make things interesting and create chances for yourself. It’s all about putting the right tactics into practice and having the confidence to execute them. The key to success in this strategy is constant rehearsals and training, along with a few tricks up your sleeve. With a little bit of luck, the right coaching, and some quick thinking on your part, you can find ways to score even when the defense is on the attack.