The Great Sport of Hockey - A Collection of Classic Magazine Articles on the Art of Field Hockey

By Read Books Ltd.

Carefully selecting the best articles from our collection of classic magazines we have compiled a series of informative publications on the subject of sport. The titles in this range include 'Correct Technique for the Great Sport of Golf,' 'A Traditional Guide to Swimming and Diving,' 'The Great Sport of Rowing,' and many more. Each publication has been professionally curated and includes all details on the original source material. This particular instalment, 'The Great Sport of Hockey', is a collection of articles on the art of field hockey. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473359154

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Tactics in Hockey

PRESENT AND FUTURE

S. H. SHOVELLER,

(An Article edited by the famous International centre-forward)

IN these days players of field-games are very interested in tactics. Once upon a time the talk was of training and fitness; now all that is taken for granted; and there is an increasing admiration for the Shakespearian maxim, that ’Tis the mind that makes the body rich. Brains have to be put into games, and brains simply mean tactics. Now hockey lends itself admirably to the study of tactics, though hitherto it has not been exploited very thoroughly in this direction.

Mr. S. H. Shoveller.

Photo, Fry’s.

One of the new rules which come into force this season affords great scope for development. Sides will gain an advantage who first appreciate this, and make the most of it. The change in the law about the manner of rolling the ball in from touch will have a very much deeper effect upon the game than many players may suppose. Although it has been urgently needed, the authorities have been slow in making an alteration that strikes at one of the old principles of the game, but they have done wisely in making the change at last; it will be very highly appreciated by players, and will tend to improve the game by making it more interesting and open.

As every player knows, the rule about throwing-in has been hitherto that the player to whom this duty was delegated should roll-in the ball either at right angles to the touch-line—that is to say, straight in front of him—or towards his own goal. In no circumstances was he permitted to roll it towards the opponents’ goal. The result, of course, was that the practical area for rolling - in was very limited. The players collected in a bunch to wait for the ball, and often there was the greatest difficulty in getting it away; it was sent back into touch over and over again, with no gain to anybody, but only a vexatious hindering of the play. This has been to hockey just what excess of scrummaging has been to English Rugby football, and it was high time that something was done to stop it, though in the case of hockey the referee had no discretion in the matter.

By the deletion of the two words, except forward, from the rule the whole field is laid open to the man who is deputed to roll the ball in. Now what are the probable results of this important change?

It is obvious, in the first place, that there will be an immediate scattering of the players, colleagues and opponents alike, who are waiting for the ball. They will be forward and behind, and farther out into the field, and the risk of the ball being constantly sent back into touch will be reduced to a minimum. Then it follows that, with the men spread-eagled all over the field, there will be a greater necessity than ever before for close and careful marking of opponents as well as for extra alertness.

When the ball is about to be rolled in, the whole field will practically be on the move, one section being anxious to cover the other and the latter to escape being covered. Probably centre forwards and wing forwards will find their responsibilities increased by the new arrangement, and it would seem that one of the immediate results must be the putting of a premium on intelligent signalling, and on the establishment of definite and very exact understandings as to what particular course shall be adopted in each varying set of circumstances.

A distinct advance in the strategy of the game may thus be anticipated. It will be particularly necessary that wing forwards, for example, shall be in the most absolute collusion with each other, and that when one of them is rolling the ball in the other shall know, without being told, where it is almost certain to be rolled to, so that at the last moment he may escape from his marker and be in a position to take the ball on the run. A simple form of such tactics, that is certain to be established without delay, will be the case of a man rolling in the ball to a point several yards nearer the opponents’ goal than the man for whom it is intended. This man, say, will be almost in front of the player rolling in, and he will naturally be covered by an opponent hanging on to him. The opponent will usually cover the man on the side nearest the goal being attacked, so as to shut off progress. In such circumstances a roll-in forward when the ball is intended for the man who is thus covered might seem a process fraught with some danger, but by a perfect understanding some very pretty tactics will become feasible. Let the ball be rolled-in forward, and if only the understanding is sufficiently sound, the player for whom the ball is intended will have swerved round his opponent and placed himself in possession before the enemy has realised what has been done. It is evident that there will be much advantage in good feints and ruses, and the side will fare best which has the most complete repertory of variations; for a dodge that has once been found out is a very poor dodge for the remainder of that day.

Some players seem to think that this alteration of the rule will give too much of an