Game Provides For Variety Of Strokes

Chronicle (Levin), 11 August 1949, Page 7

Game Provides For Variety Of Strokes

Les. M.

Murphy)

(By

Hockey is a gume wiiich provides varions styles of strokes, advice on some of which is covered in this week's article, togevher with body obstruction in the circle and the goalkeeper and free hits. I have often been asked by players, how they could develop an interesting sty.'e of hockey — by acquiring good stroke equipment. Players who rely on the aimless, indiscriminats, purposeless high velocity hit develop a type of play which possesses the only interest of being dangerous. Such players must widen the range of their stroke and incorporate the push, scoop, flick and reverse strokes. The Push And Flick. The push and flick strokes should be empioyed in practically every move of the game. They are the essentia s of the game, like 'the forehand and backhand drives in tennis, and possess many advantages over the customary hit. The pusn is accomplished simply by placing the heel of the stick behind the ball and propelling it forward with the muscular power of the arms. Being in direct con.act with the ball it can be passed or propehed more accurateiy toward an objective than the hit, which demands a perfect back swing, a perfect contact and fo'low through, and a sensitive appreciation of s'trengtli in hitting and direction. Wilh the push stroke most of these faclors are eliminated, and s j greater accuracy can be secured. Also, over short distances, the push stroke is faster, for the back swing is excludcd. The flick stroke is very sirnilar to the push, the only difference being tliat more wrist movement is empioyed and the ball is projected from the toe of the scick. The Scoop Stroke. The scoop stroke is accomplished by inseriing the heel of the stick quk-kly between the ball and the ground and lifting it, like an egg to spoon, to hurl it over an opponent's head in a required direction. It is a useful tactical move when eneircled by opposing players. Tnis stroke should be used judicious.y, for serious injury may result from a careless scoop into an opponent's face. The short scoop over an opponent's stick just as it is about to make contact with the baii, is a neat and extremely effectlve me.hod of outwitting the opponent and remaining in possession of the ball. The Reverse Stroke. When a player wishes to short pass the ball to the right she may hit it, use the reverse toe stroke, oi emp oy the reverse push. The hii is slo.v and telegrapns the direction. The reverse toe stroke can be used if a shori, snappy pass is required, but over iong distances it tecomes erratic and difflcult to controi. It can be used effectively as a scoring snoke where th'e goalkeeper has been outwitted by dragging the bail to the rignt; a reverse toe stroke swings it behind the custodian from the right hand side into the open soal.

What is Ihe reason for bo'dy obstruction in the circle being so pvevalent in New Zealand? The iault leais with forwards being unmarked in the circle. Some delences have not concentrated upon marking the opponent on the stick side on.y. This fault was conspicuous last season and the unsystematic marking was largely responsible for the body obstructions in the circle being so prevalent. The practice ; of goalkeepers taking free hits cannot be recommended as their ,style of play at the net is endreiy different from that of the oiher players, and they are extremely liable to give sticks. This should be the duty of a full-back, preferably a strong hitter witn a keen sense of knowledge of where to place the ball to advancage. It is only on rare occasions at Dominion w.omen's hockey tournaments that a goalkeeper is seen taking free hits.