INDIVIDUAL PENALTY CORNER ATTACK

INDIVIDUAL PENALTY CORNER ATTACK

Difficulty Ages 9+ for boys; 8+ for girls Penalty Corners are awarded to attacking teams when: An offence is made by a defender in the circle which does not prevent the probable scoring of a goal. (An offence by a defender in the circle which did prevent the probable scoring of a goal would result in a penalty stroke being awarded) For an intentional offence in circle by a defender against an opponent who does not have possession of the ball, or intentionally obstructing an opposition player from being able to play the ball For an intentional offence by a defender outside the circle but within the 23 metre area they are defending For a defender intentionally playing the ball over the back-line When the ball becomes lodged in a player s clothing or equipment whilst in the circle they are defending During penalty corners, 5 of the defending team must start behind the goal line, with the remaining defenders not involved with the initial phases of the corner starting behind the halfway line. The attacking team place themselves around the circle with 1 team member (the injector ) starting behind the backline, who places the ball on either the left or right hand side of the goal at least 10 metres from the nearest goal post (this should be marked out). Before the ball is played, no attacking player is allowed to enter the circle & no defending player is permitted to cross the centre line or back line. The injector drags the ball from its starting point, with a view to transfer it quickly to another attacking player located outside of the circle. Whilst moving or injecting the ball, the injector must have at least one foot outside the field of play. The ball must travel outside of the circle before it can be bought back into the circle before any shots on goal can be taken. If the 1st shot on goal is a hit, the ball must cross the goal line or be on a path deemed to cross the goal line at a height of no more than the height of the backboard (460mm). Players are permitted to flick or scoop the ball at the goal at any height with the initial shot but these must not be deemed as dangerous by the umpire. Successful corner routines rely on a number of individual roles being executed at once. This section will explore some key positions & discuss individual skills necessary to execute penalty corners effectively.

The stick stopper

Potential receiving players at the top of the circle

Example of a drag flick being executed

Example of a drag flick being executed prior to release of the ball

Possible Line Up For Penalty Corner Attack Below details the possible line up for attacking positions during penalty corner routines. This section will cover injecting, stick stopping, hitting & drag flicking in detail. *The injector can move the ball from either the left or the right side of the circle.

The Injector The Injector transfers the ball from the base line, through the circle to a player waiting outside the circle ready to receive the ball. They must put enough pace on the injection of the ball so it does not move slowly through or stop inside the circle. They then assume a position on their nearest post, as they should be the quickest player onto any rebounds which fall to this post & can widen the goal in order to deflect any shots into the goal. The ball must travel outside of the circle in order for it to be played back in. A team mate located outside of the circle must run in & move the ball outside the circle before the ball can be played back into the circle. The ball is usually injected from left side of the pitch, however teams can inject from both left & right.

Hands Ball Position Pre-injection Injecting the Ball The Injector Injector s left hand is placed at the top of the stick with their right hand placed around a third of the way down the stick. This is the same grip the player would use to push the ball. Ball is placed on the 2nd line away from the goal, this is indicated by a short white line crossing the baseline. Ball should be located slightly in front of the injector s right foot positioned just under a stick length away from the player (this distance may vary from player to player). Injector adopts a wide stance with their right foot behind the base line & their left foot on the pitch. Injector s feet are positioned towards the receiver in line with the path the ball is going to take towards the stopper. This is technically one of the points of injecting which people perform incorrectly & they position their feet further towards the sidelines instead. Before transferring the ball, the injector should begin with their weight on their right foot; as would be the case if the player was pushing the ball. Player s shoulders & hips are parallel to the line the ball needs to travel to reach the stopper. The hook of the injector s stick is positioned behind the ball, with the face of the stick facing towards the ground. Injector s stick, as with their body, should be positioned parallel to the line the ball needs to take in order to reach the stopper. Once set in position, the player should focus on the ball as they should have lined themselves up with their body position with the target, which is the stopper s left foot, as this will be placed behind the stopper s stick when the ball is received. From this starting position, the injector moves the ball into the crook of their stick. During the drag (injection) the injector should aim to keep the ball in contact with their stick for as long as possible. The initial movement of the ball does not have to be quick but stick speed should increase as the player gets the ball moving. Whilst moving the ball, the player should move their stick in a straight line towards their target. Injector transfers their weight from their right foot forwards to their left foot & the ball is pulled forwards towards the target. For additional pace behind the ball, the injector should rotate their hips around slightly just before the ball leaves their stick. Injector should follow through with their stick towards the target once the ball has been released.

Injector Positioning Here, the correct body, stick and foot positions are demonstrated for injecting Figure 1: Body & Stick Positioning Figure 2: Foot & Stick Positioning

What is their role? This player receives the ball which is passed through the circle by the injector. The stick stopper stops the ball in order for another player to push / hit the ball once it has been stopped. After they have stopped the ball, this player will place themselves near the top of the circle to pick up any rebound balls. There are several different techniques which the stick stopper may use in order to stop the ball: Hands Pre-injection Stopping the Ball The Stick Stopper Technique 1: recommended The stick stopper should position their left hand stick approximately 8-12 inches away from the head of the stick, hands should be a shoulders width apart. Most players position their left & right hands so they are wrapped around the stick with the hands pointing downwards (as if riding a bike), but can opt to have their left hand pointing upwards if they wish. If player s hands are pointing towards the ground when gripping the stick, the player extends their thumbs along the stick so they point towards each other. The stick stopper s feet are positioned a shoulder width apart in order to aid balance & a low body position is adopted, in which they feel stable. Player s weight is placed on the balls of their feet in order to allow them to change position quickly if the injector s push is off target. Player s stick is positioned in front of them & square to the direction the ball will be travelling in. As well as this, the player s hips, feet & shoulders should be square with where the ball is travelling from. Vision is key to this technique. Once player has positioned themselves ready to receive the ball, they watch the ball as it moves across the circle onto their stick. Ball is stopped outside the player s left foot, making contact with the stick just above the hook. Player s stick should be perpendicular to the direction (line) the ball is taking. If player wishes to stop the ball upon contact, they should angle their stick towards the ground slightly. This technique will cause the ball to be squeezed between the stick & the turf which will bring the ball to a standstill. Most importantly, the stick stopper must ensure that they stop the ball outside of the circle as the 1st shot on goal cannot be taken unless the ball has travelled outside of the circle beforehand.

The Stick Stopper Hands Pre-injection Stopping the Ball The crook of the player s stick faces down towards the ground. Technique 2: Some players may prefer to use this technique The player s left hand wraps around the stick head with the thumb resting on the top of the stick & the fingers holding the head of the stick. The player s right hand is positioned approximately a shoulder width apart from the left hand with the fingers wrapped around the stick with the knuckles facing towards the ground. As an option the player can extend their right thumb in order to provide more support with the grip. Player s feet are positioned shoulder width apart in order to aid balance, & a low body position is adopted, in which they feel stable. Player s weight is on the balls of their feet in order to allow them to change position quickly if the injector s push is off target. Player s stick is positioned in front of them & square to the direction the ball will be travelling in. As well as this, the player s hips, feet & shoulders are square with where the ball is travelling from. Vision is key to this technique. Once player has positioned themselves ready to receive the ball, they watch the ball as it moves across the circle onto their stick. Ball should be stopped outside the left foot & should make contact with the stick just above the hook. Player s stick should be perpendicular to the direction (line) the ball is taking. If player wishes to stop the ball upon contact, they should angle their stick towards the ground slightly. This technique will cause the ball to be squeezed between the stick & the turf which will bring the ball to a standstill. The stopper must ensure that they move their left foot once the ball has been stopped to clear the pathway for the hitting / flicking player to move the ball. Most importantly, the stick stopper must ensure that they stop the ball outside of the circle as the 1st shot on goal cannot be taken unless the ball has travelled outside of the circle beforehand.

The Stick Stopper Technique 3: Often used by those new to the game & by younger players. Using this, the stopper may take the initial 1st shot at goal. Player s left hand is positioned at the top of the stick & right hand lower down the stick, in the same position as if the player were pushing the ball. The back of the stopper s left hand faces forwards to enable quick movement. Hands Player s arms are positioned away from the body in order to force the ball away from the player s feet & to increase vision. Player s left elbow is positioned high, which should encourage the player s hands to be positioned away from the body. Player s feet should be shoulder width apart in order to aid balance, & a low body position is adopted, in which they feel stable. Player s weight is placed on the balls of their feet in order to allow them to change position quickly if the injector s push is off target. Pre-injection Player s stick is positioned be in front of them & square to the direction the ball will be travelling from. As well as this, the player s hips, feet & shoulders should be square to where the ball is travelling from. Stopping the Ball Stopper keeps their stick in contact with the ball & cushions the ball as it is received from the front foot (left) to the back foot (right). This should be a smooth flowing action. By cushioning the ball as it is received, the player gains greater control, as the ball is less likely to bounce off their stick. The ball is kept away from the receiving player s (stopper s) feet in order for them to move the ball on quickly. The player may chose to push the ball to another player or may place the ball into the circle with their 1st touch in order to take a shot at goal.

The Hitter What is their Role? The hitter needs to be able to execute the hit quickly, add disguise to the hit & place the ball in the correct area of the goal, depending on where defending players are positioned. Attacking teams may chose to employ to hit the ball at goal in order to either score through a straight strike, deflection or a 2nd phase (rebound) ball. After the stick stopper receives the ball they will prepare it ready to be hit by the striking player. Stick stoppers & hitters should practice their routines together to enhance the execution of set pieces. Hitting & Clip Hitting* Hands & Arms Body Feet Vision Additional Information The hitter makes sure the hands are together in a comfortable position towards the top of the stick. The player performing the hitting action should cocking the wrists whilst moving the stick backwards. The hitter maintains a sideways position with the left shoulder pointing towards the target. The hitter maintains a strong body position by bending their knees & lowering their centre of gravity. Players should be able to hit off either foot, but generally players will hit with their left foot facing forwards. It might be necessary for the player to hit off their right foot when in pressurised situations, e.g. if shooting on goal to gain the element of surprise & to catch the opposition unaware. The player s weight is transferred from their back foot (right) to their front foot (left) in order to place power behind the shot. Before hitting the ball, the player should be focussed on the hit, however they should scan to identify what passing or shooting options are available. The player follows through towards the target by transferring weight through the ball in the direction of where they want the ball to travel. The player hitting the ball must ensure that the first shot on goal is deemed to have crossed the line at a height of no more than that of the backboard. *For further information on Hitting & Clip Hitting please refer to Proud to Coach Basic Skills Volume 1.

The Drag Flicker What is their Role? Attacking teams may chose to use employ a player to drag the ball when shooting at goal. The drag flick can be a very useful tool for attacking in order to score from penalty corners; as a wider area of the goal is opened up, as the ball does not have to go into the goal below the backboard. Hands & Arms Body Feet Stick Vision Additional Information Player s left hand is placed at the top of the stick & the right hand is positioned further down the stick for control. Player s left hand should be placed close to the forearm of the right arm. Player should be close to the ground with their knees bent whilst executing the drag. Player rotates their body towards their left near to the end of the drag, just before the ball leaves their stick in order to increase the speed the ball travels at. The dragging player s right foot is positioned behind the ball & their left foot is placed level with the ball; feet should be sideways on to the ball. The player always performs the drag flick whilst on the move in order to gain momentum. In order to gain this momentum before the ball is collected, the player performs a crossover step, by crossing their right foot behind their left foot & then stepping forward with their right foot. This move will ultimately leave the player with their left foot planted level with the ball just as contact with the ball is made. Throughout the drag, the player s weight transfers from their back foot (right) through to the front foot (left). Whilst moving, quick footwork is utilised by the player in order to drag the ball upwards & roll the ball onto their stick. Player s stick is placed behind the ball with the ball positioned not on the shaft of the stick just below the stick head. As contact is made the ball travels up the stick onto the shaft of the stick. The drag flick should be a smooth action, as snatching at the ball can lead it failing to lift off the ground or can cause the ball to lose momentum. Player aims to keep the ball on the stick for as long as possible. The longer the ball is on the stick, the more power is generated. Player scans before moving the ball to ensure that they know what target they are aiming for, focussing on the ball & not on the target when completing the drag. Power is generated behind the ball through the rotation of the hips, keeping the ball on the stick for a longer period, by dragging the ball whilst on the move & using appropriate footwork.