Advice To Hockey Players About The Type Of Strokes To Be Used

Chronicle (Levin), 28 April 1949, Page 7

Advice To Hockey Players About The Type Of Strokes To Be Used

(By Les M. Murphy, Wellington Hockey Critic) • This week's article deals with the style of strokes to be used, body obstruction in circle, and goalkeepers and,free hits. . • - • • c I have often been asked by even experienced -players, how they could develop an interesting style of hockey — by acquiring good vStfoke equipment. Players who rely on the aimless, indiscriminate, purposeless high velocity hit deo^elop a type of play which possesses the only interest of being dangerous.,. Such players must widen the "rauge Df "theirstrokes and incorporate the push, scoop, flick and reverse strokes, together with edging, bouncing, dribbling, etc.

The push anfi flick stroke should be emp'oyed in practieally every i?io ve of the game. They are the essentials of the game, like the forehand and backhand drives in tennis, and possess many advantages over the customary hit, The push is accomplished simply by placing the heel of the stick behind ( the ball and propelling it forward, with the museular pow4er of the arms. Being in fiirect contact with the ball-it can be passed or propelled more accurately toward an objective than the hit, which demands a perfect back swing, a perfect contact and follow through, and a sensitive appreciation of strength in hitting and direction. With the push stroke most of these factors are . eliminated, . and so greater accuracy can be securefi. Also, over short distances, the push stroke is faster, for the back swing is excluded. With this stroke a player can disguise the direction of the pass, placing it high-or low at a moment's notice. It is inipossible to give sticks, and greater control is gained over the ball.-.' - The flick stroke is very slmilar to the push, the only differences being.: that more wrist movement is employed and. the ball is projected from the toe of the stick. The Scoop Sfroke. The scqop stroke is accomplishefl by inserting the heel of the stick quickly ' between the ball and the ground and lifting it, like an egg tb a spoon, to hurl it over an opponent's head in a required direction.1 It is a useful tactical move when encircled by opposing players. This stroke shou'd be used judiciously, for serious injury- may result from a eareless scoop into an opponent's face. Tt is an infringement to scoop into the circle amid

a ruck- of p'ayers- who--- may be temptefi in the tenseness of the situation- to -take. flying hits. When a player wishes to Sh'ortpass the . ball to the right she -may hit it, use the reverse toe stroke, or employ the reverse push. The .hit is slow and telegraphs the direc- , tion.v The reverse toe stroke can be used if 'a stibrt- sriappy pass "is required, but over long distances it becomes erratic and. difficult to control. It can be used effectively as a scoring stroke where the goal-keeper has been outwitted by dragging the ball to the. right; a reverse toe stroke swings it behind the custofiian from the right hand side into the open goal. . The most useful short passing stroke, however is the reverse. pushj in which the ball is propelled'to the right from the heel _of . the stick by the employment of . the ordinary pusli. ObstrnctioTL. In 'Circle*. — - What is the reason_for_body_o_bstruction in -the. -cltcle-Tieing "§ox prevalent in New "Zealand? " The fault rests with^7fdtwED4fijS""beifig t Ltfimarked in -the . circle._ - Spm&--de-•fences have not concentrate'd u,pon marking the opponent on the stick side only. 'This' taultwvas. conspicuous last seasbn , and xthe" .unsystefnatic marking ' was -fiargely TespbhSL-; ible for the bofiy ^obstructions ifi the circle being so prevalent. The'-practice--of*"goalkeepers',-'tak*r ing free hits cannot* be '* recbhimended as, ^tjheir .stylq^Pi.. play ftat the net is entirely' ^ifferentofipm,' that of 'the other 'playCfs,' and*they are extremely liable to give sticks. 'This should be the duty of a fullback, preferably*v-.,-a.#rpng^hitter witlva keen- sense of 'LhoWledge of where to place the ball to advantage. (To be continu.ed next week),.,.