To ensure students use correct technique of push pass, prevent hockey stick lift during the back swing portion of the movement and to stop hockey ball correctly using trap technique
How do we execute a push pass? (low body position with bent knees to generate power in pass, keep hockey stick on ground, maintain hockey ball/stick contact, drag along ground until pushing) How do we trap the ball? (lay hockey stick horizontally along ground to make wall OR slowing hockey balls speed down by guiding it from in front of our body to behind our body with hook end of hockey stick).
Set up a number of gateways in a defined playing area by placing two cones of the same colour about a metre apart. In pairs players will start either side of the gateway with a hockey stick each and one ball. The first person completes a PUSH pass to their partner through the gateway. Their partner will then TRAP the ball and complete a push pass back to their partner. When 5 push passes and traps are complete, the player with the ball dribbles to another gateway. Before starting the game, demonstrate to the students how a push pass is executed with correct technique. Hockey stick always remains in contact with the ball throughout the entirety of the shot - should not hear a loud clapping noise from the hockey stick + ball making contact. To trap correctly talk about the hockey ball and the colours. When the hockey ball is moving along the ground all the colours merge forming a rainbow, when the ball is trapped (completely stationary) you can now visibly see all colours individually without them merged toegther like a rainbow. NOTE: if there is enough time the coach can add in a competition between all pairs within the class to see who can complete passes at as many GATEWAYS as possible in the allotted time.