There are 7 laws of field hockey. Understand them clearly. Apply them. Teach them, They are universal and will never change. This PP Presentation is loaded with practical examples, depicting what happens, when Olympians obey or disobey them. It is informative and educating. Enjoy.

1. What happens when one
disobeys the first 5 laws of the
game?
Shiv Jagday, FIH Coach

2. Which are the 7 Laws of the game?
• Ball Travels Faster than the Player
• Play First time. One-Touch Hockey. Give & Go
• Attack from the Right & Score from the Left
• Keep Switching the Focus of play from Left to
Right, and Vice Versa
• Play in Triangles, Utilizing the Width & Depth of
the Field
• The Passer is Free 9 out of 10 times
• Use Centre-Half & Sweeper Back as a Base -Axle
- of the Team

3. Space Awareness
• The next 2 slides give a brief introduction to
the various departments of the field, to
develop Space Awareness
• The detailed role of the various departments
on the field and how one can optimize its
utilization, to play effectively and efficiently,
will be discussed in different Power Point
Presentations and videos

6. Sequence 1.
Event: 2012 London Olympic Games
Match : New Zealand vs Great Britain (Women)
Game situation: Kiwi player has intercepted a pass
coming from the opponents right side on her right
side, near the 23 meters line, close to the RDQ
What does she do: Runs with the ball, at a fast
speed
Situational Analysis: There are 2 quick Turnovers, in
a span of 10 seconds, by the members of both the
Olympic teams, this results in lot of - not so
effective - running with & without the ball
Comment: Hard to believe that Olympians make
these rookie mistakes … After all no body is perfect

7. Kiwi player has intercepted the ball near
her 23 meters, coming from her left

8. She has started running with the ball.
Ignoring & disobeying the law # 1

9. Note RW is wide open, she could pass the ball to her
on the stick or in the space, and attack from the
right, while following the Law # 3
RW

10. 2 seconds later, she has run about 12 – 13 meters
with the ball & not passed the ball to RW, who has
run off the ball intelligently, while waiting for the pass
to come. Not fair to the RW
Vacant space

11. Game sense & decision making is not at its best?
RW is still open; Delays are dangerous

12. The player with the ball ignores the pass to the
RW, who is still open & passes it to LI or CH.
Breaking the laws, & not making a wise decision

13. LI or CH has so much time to pass the ball first
time to her left or scoop it to the RW. Is she
aware of her options - law # 4 - of switching the
play or Is simply being indecisive?

14. While being in the process of making a
decision, Kiwi player is tackled from the
left, by a GB player

15. Why do we do the things the hard way?
See where the 1st Kiwi player who passed the ball has gone.
She is working so hard and is it productive? Does the Kiwi
player with the ball now have any support around her?

16. Turnover (TO) has occurred & a counter attack is launched by the
GB team. Arrows depict the options the Kiwi Player had

17. Time to Reflect & Rethink
The Kiwi player who first intercepted the ball;
• Did not look towards her right to pass the ball first time, to
her leading RW
• This would have opened the game, using the width & depth of
the field. Law # 5
• She ran almost 35 – 40 meters, and so did her teammates, to
some extent
• Was this is a good move & investment?
• Did all this hard work, pay rich dividends?
I see these situations frequently. Thoughtless running with the
ball, at full speed, resulting in Turnovers. Not a step in the right
direction.
This is not the players fault. It is our Education – Coaching –
System, especially at the Junior level & the training methods we
implement. We need to revisit, rethink, change & improve upon
the way, we develop our Elite Juniors. Think about it.

18. If the ball would have been passed to the RW, first time, these
powerful Pattern of Plays would have unfolded

19. Sequence 2. Now let’s see what the GB
players do, with the ball? What is their
thought process & plan of action?

20. Even the GB players have forgotten that the ball travels faster
than the player. Law # 1. Modern players are so rich in speed,
strength & stamina. And work very hard. Now, they – we - need
to improve upon; Reading the Play & Decision making Ability.
See the RW is wide open.

21. Still there is time to pass the ball to the RW. Or to RH.
All 3 GB players are running in a straight line. Is it a
100 meters sprint? Where have the concepts of width
& depth gone? Law # 5
Vacant space

22. GB forward does not make the best of the
golden opportunity to generate a counter
attack. She has been tackled in the Play making
space of the ROQ

23. Time to Reflect and Rethink
• GB player employed the same tactic as the Kiwi
player had done a few seconds earlier … Run with
the ball hard & fast
• In this situation the GB player had a lot of support to
implement a give & go. Law # 2
• The best move was to pass the ball to the R.W. first
time or the 2nd player on the right could have slowed
down & drop back, to form a triangle
We need to refine our skills of “Reading the Play” to the highest
degree. Reading the play or game sense can be defined as A skill
of identifying & understanding patterns of play.

24. Sequence 3. It is again a counter attack situation for the
Kiwi’s. This time they play smart. The player THINKS …
& let’s the ball do the running

25. A counter attack is launched. The Kiwi
player does the right thing … Passes the
ball first time, on her wrong foot

26. 9 GB players are beaten by this pass. My school days
coach used to say, with a dodge you can – may – beat 1
or 2 players, but with a pass you can beat 9 or 10
players. So true. Yes, the ball travels faster than a
hockey player & Usain Bolt 

27. 2 on 1 on GB’s Full Back, one of the
most experienced & decorated player’s
of the world. A winner!

28. Does the GB defender delay and contain the Kiwi LW?
Or she commits too soon & shows her cards. This
tackling topic is to be addressed separately

29. LW has passed the ball to her CF successfully,
who is in a ready – Close to Perfect - stance

30. The Kiwi CF takes a try on the goal first
time, while the GB FB is looking over her
shoulders, while being on her heals

31. Ball is heading slowly towards the left post.
While the GB players are waiting for the verdict

32. Ball has hit the post & rebounded. It is cleared
by a GB player

33. The goal post helped GB but not the Kiwi’s.
Some guys – teams - have all the luck.
Rod Steward’s classic song from the 80’s. You will enjoy
his video & learn a lot from Rod’s footwork, which is
probably better than most hockey players. Click here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2WIFGQttE

35. Sequence 4. Lets fast forward 4 years from London 2012
Olympics to the 2016 Hero London Champions Trophy
Event: 2016 Hero London Champions Trophy
Match : Germany vs Korea (Men)
Game situation: German player has intercepted a
pass in the midfield. He releases it first time to his
teammate (RI) or (RW) in the ROQ, near the center
line. One can see the German CF leading
intelligently to receive a pass. He is completely
ignored. Quite similar to the RW situations we saw
in sequence 1 & 2.
Analysis: Do observe the photo sequences, and You
be the judge; Is German player’s (RI) mindset and
thought process, any different than the Kiwi & GB
players (RI), mentioned in the first 2 sequences?

36. Photo sequence (PS) 1-4.
PS 1. RI is in the process of
receiving a pass, near the
center line.
Zoom on PS 3 & 4. RI can pass
the ball to his CF, who can
take a try from the D top.
PS 4. The optimum time to
pass the ball is now, as the
Korean defender has his back
towards the German CF. He is
approaching to challenge the
RI with the ball.
Looks like the German
forward RI wants to do it all
on his own. And not take
advantage of the situation by
passing the ball to his open
CF.
Game sense & Decision
making quality is not of the
highest order?

37. Photo Sequence 5 – 8.
The German RI has crossed
the 23 meters line and is
approaching the Circle.
PS 7. Now he has passed
the ball to CF. after running
with the ball 30 meters. A
bit too late.
PS 8. See the number of red
shirts , who have recovered
to defend. Yes, the Korean
team intercepted the ball
and launched a counter.
Usually this is not like the
Germans. They are very
methodic, systematic &
extremely efficient in their
play. May be lately, they
too are picking up, the not
so good habits. 

38. Comparative analysis; Consequences of unnecessary running with the ball for more than
30 meters. In PS 4 it was a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 situation, which ever way you like to see. In PS
8, we can see a army of red shirts. Which is a better situation to score? You be the Judge

39. Research has indicated …
Players who have high quality of decision
making ability, engaged in extensive team based
game play –Mini Hockey – as children, be it in
their back yards or with others at the local park.
For Example 2 on 2 mini hockey
Book; Developing Sports Expertise

40. Why is Maradona, arguably world’s all time best football player? Because, he knew when to
hold the ball, when to pass it & when to run with it. Here is a example of how he passes the
ball, to his leading CF Cannagia, while being gang tackled by Brazilian defenders, in the ROQ
& play making space. This was during the 1990 world cup, and this single goal assisted by
Maradona forced the Brazilians to pack their bags and go home early

41. See how Maradona, sees the openings, even before they
have opened. He plays in the future. Scientist call this
intelligent Pattern Recognition. A key quality which
separates the great players from the good one’s

42. Quote;
Coaches who provide their players with game
based training opportunities, rather than stereo
typed drills with minimal decision making
requirements are likely to develop more
completed decision makers
Book; Develop Sports Expertise

43. Conclusion: Lessons Learnt
• Follow the 7 laws of the game. They are universal &
will never change
• Work hard & smart. Keep an optimum balance
• Know when to hold the ball, when to pass it & when to
run with it
• The moment the turnover (TO) occurs, especially in a
situation when the opponents are attacking with
numbers & speed. They are highly vulnerable
• Exploit the TO situation, by taking maximum advantage
of the opportunity. Think and Act Fast, the way Kiwi’s
did in the 3rd sequence, while applying Law # 1
• Be aware of the importance of the play making space.
It is a real goldmine. More examples and strategies to
be presented in the coming articles / publications

44. Cause & Effect; Who is responsible for not developing modern
players, game sense & IQ to the highest degree?
We can’t blame the Olympians we covered in these examples. This is the way
their minds have been trained & game sense developed.
It is neither the fault of their National coaches, as there is not much they can
change, when the players in their early to mid 20’s, come under their
tutelage.
Whom to blame? Our Coach Education system and player development
model at the Junior level
Isn’t this becoming a “ERA” of Robotic, Brute force & Power Play hockey,
rather than being a blend of Beauty, Grace & Power?
I am sure, we will see these trends of Power based play in 2016 Rio Olympics.
A good guess is that this trend will carry on to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, also
It is time we change the mindset, skillset and toolset, of the young players in
their early teens, to make our game more beautiful … with a blend of soft
and hard skills
A effective strategy is to invest heavily in Coach Education for the coaches,
involved in the Elite Youth player development programs;
Coach education of both hard & soft skills is a must, and developing Game
Sense via Mini Hockey Games.

45. Any Questions
• Your feed back will be deeply appreciated
• Shiv’s email; coachshiv@aol.com
• Thanks!