Horst Wein:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAME INTELLIGENCE IN HOCKEY A NEED FOR ACHIEVING TOP PERFORMANCES
Each epoch is characterized by certain tendencies or fashions. This applies not only to music, medecine , fashion but also to hockey.
While teaching and coaching hockey was orientated in the early 50's and 60's mainly on improving technical skills, from the mid 60 s onward I contributed to shift this tendency toward using more the tactical knowledge to overcome technical better teams and using at the same time a different system of play. The use of a covering sweeper who allowed his defenders in front of him to mark their opponents very closely ( which often caused obstruction) became a fashion when Germany smashed India for the first time 3:0 in Berlin in 1967. The shirt numbers of the players were not selected any more depending on their position on the field and, instead of being a specialist for a particular position and playing mainly in an restricted area of the field, the allround player was born in the last phase of grass hockey.
The more hockey was played on artificial turf from 1975 onward another aspect of the top performance of a hockey player became obvious and received more attention without neglecting the importance of the technical and tactical training.I refer to the physical preparation of the hockey player, an aspect which had been underestimated by many countries in the time of grasshockey in which the ball was not played more than 26 until 28 minutes during a 70 minutes game. But due to the increased use of artificial turfs and more effective playing time a different and more physical game evolved and optimal physical performance levels became more and more a must for any team hoping for outstanding results.
In the 90s other tendencies were developed ( mainly by Germany, the Netherlands and Australia) but despite globalisation none of them became popular or were accepted world-wide.
And now in the first decade of a new century, where is hockey going to? What will become a tendency in hockey teaching and coaching for the years to come? Certainly, there are different views and opinions about it around the globe but it could be of interest to know which of the various tendencies seen at the Olympic Hockey Tournament in Athens will finally come out.
The correct comprehension of a game situation
is the origin of all actions of any player on the field
horstwein@eresmas.net 1
Today, to become World Champions or an Olympic winners its necessary to develop and dispose of complete hockey players with an excellent technical ability, a high physically fitness level, a wide tactical knowledge and, last not least, with help of a mental trainer an optimal mental fitness.
But is there still something to improve in a performance of an individual player, or a group of players and a team, which has been left behind ? Which aspects of the development of a complete player has up to now not been considered or stimulated sufficiently in training to bring the game to a superior level?
There is one aspect of the player's performance which needs more attention within the learning and teaching process which soon may become a tendency all over the world: the development of game intelligence in hockey, that quality which allows a player to recognize and adapt to situations on the pitch quickly in the high pressure atmosphere of the match . Without a doubt, game intelligence is already an important criteria in evaluating the performance level of each player in many areas.
The development of the intellectual capacities of youth and adult hockey players
is still in its infancy, largely due to the authoritarian teaching style preferred by
the vast majority of trainers and coaches to shape and coach their players.
The frequent instructions and hints that the players receive from the sideline
before a game and during its development are not sufficient to take the game to
a higher level.
The only way to improve the standard of play in the medium and long term is to,
among other things, start a systematic development of thinking and tactical awareness from a very early age with the emphasis on a progressive stimulation of their perceptive and intellectual capacities. As the player's ball skills get better and better, he should also perfect his knowledge and thinking, not only developing his muscles and tendons but also his brain.
It is well known that practicing, experimenting and observing gives any child a wide variety of different experiences. Going one step further and using and interpreting these experiences leads to a correct behavior pattern when faced with different situations both in life and in hockey. But if nobody guides the child and helps him to interpret his proper experiences, he will never reach his full potential, either in life or in hockey. What he needs is the experience of an adult, to offer advice, to question almost everything and to give examples. This is not only true for everything the child experiences, for example in school or with the family, but also as far as the development of his overall performance is concerned.
Too often we neglect that besides technical competence and phyical conditioning the achievement of top performance is conditioned by a systematic and progressive development of perception skills and cognition (understanding of the game), two aspects which up to now have been underestimated in the coaching process of too many teams
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As soon as possible, depending on the technical level of the player, all youngsters
should be exposed during training to simplified games to gain first-hand knowledge and tactical experiences about the correct way to acquire tactical habits. The more knowledge the youngster acquires, the better! But subjective experiences alone are not enough! The acquisition of experiences and knowledge is much better when it is a result of a well-proven pedagogical process where the coach uses questions and demonstrations to unlock the development of experiences and knowledge, so that they are clearly understood.
Stimulation, encouragement or advice, an explanation or demonstration
by the coach, together with the appropriate number of repetitions of the same
game situation and subsequently the transfer of the solution to other similar situations
that occur in the game forms a solid foundation in the young hockey player's mind for developing his game intelligence.
Intelligence must be developed mainly through the global and not the analytic method, exposing the players to a series of technical-tactical simplified games such as 3 v 1, 2 v 1 or 3 v 2. Depending on the simplified game, each player has to face and resolve a series of problems which should be shaped perfectly to his physical, technical and mental capacities. A great variety progressive exercises and games are proposed in this book which will help to develop step by step the youngster's tactical thinking and awareness until he has discovered himself, with the coach as a guide, a great variety of solutions for almost every situation that he may confront in a soccer game. It doesn't matter if the solution was discovered thanks to the frequent repetition of a similar situation in training or due to his imagination, creativity and spontaneity. The important thing is that the player has been able to understand and read the situation and resolve the
problem successfully.
The ability to quickly and efficiently vary a previously learned skill is only possible
when the player has been exposed to a systematic development of his intellectual
capacity from a very early age right through to top performance level.
Good perception, a vital requirement for any player, followed by a correct interpretation and comprehension of the game situation and the ability to make good decisions culminates in a good technical execution of the mentally prepared move. All these phases of the playing action must be coached over a period of years in order to be able to raise the performance level of any player.
In hockey an ounce of intelligence
is worth more than a pound of muscles
horstwein@eresmas.net 3
What does game intelligence mean?
In hockey, every position in the team or task to perform requires a specific type
of intelligence. The one required of a goalkeeper is totally different to that of a
central defender or a front-line attacker as the problems are not resolved in the
same way in defense or in attack or inside the pitch or only in front of the goal.
The intelligence of a player should be considered as the real driving force
behind his performance. Often, the difference between one hockey player and
another is the level of intelligence he demonstrates in the game. His intelligence
explains his success.
A high level in hockey is only possible when making constant use of game intelligence.
Neither a player who is physically fit and technically proficient but without
an alert mind or intelligence nor one who is capable of resolving problems mentally
but is unable to transfer his brilliant ideas into actions which benefit his team can be considered a complete player.
Unlocking and developing systematically a hockey player's game intelligence is
still beyond the knowledge of many coaches and teachers. Unfortunately there
is no literature yet about developing this important aspect either in hockey or in
other sports and few coaches are prepared to modify their coaching style which is an important prerequisite for being able to stimulate game intelligence.
The continuous commands and instructions given by most coaches before, during and after the match prevent most of the players from using their intelligence. Instead of confronting the players in training with a great variety of problems to be resolved, they receive day by day the solutions to the problems from the coach to which they have to obey. This rigid and authoritarian coaching style doesn't develop intelligent players with awareness and responsibility.
horstwein@eresmas.net 4
To get more intelligent players on the pitch in the future, coaches need to stimulate more and instruct less. Instead of being instructors on the hockeypitch, they should become consultants, guides or organizers of information, knowing how to complement the teaching of technical skills with the accumulation of game specific knowledge, thus achieving significant learning!
Developing game intelligence in any hockey player implies teaching him to:
- read the game and understand what is happening on the pitch (for which a
certain level of perception, knowledge and experience is necessary),
- draw on past experiences when confronting any given situation to come to a
correct decision,
- execute with an appropriate skill level, and quickly, the previously thought
solution.
Apart from being able to 'read' the situation in the game, an intelligent player can anticipate how the play is likely to develop thanks to the information previously
processed. The ability to anticipate, which is always the result of good perception and decision making, is a significant tool for intelligent players.
To be able to focus maximum attention on his problem or task at hand and decide quickly and intelligently about his next move, his technical skills should have been consolidated and automated beforehand. Doing so, the quality of his game will be raised and the player will perform at a higher level. It is necessary to make intelligence work for hockey in order to achieve a better game!
Nobody is born with a high level of game intelligence in soccer, but to develop
their innate potential, players must be exposed daily to a varied and progressive
training program with simplified games. They are an ideal tool to unlock
and not only develop game intelligence in any player, but also will hone his
technical and tactical skills.
"A varied and progressive training program with simplified games is
the best way to develop and improve intelligence in soccer
step by step"
"There is no greater power on the field than the players' intelligence"
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How does a hockey player's intelligence manifest itself on the field?
An intelligent player:
- generally chooses the best option in less time
- not only looks for the best solution to the problem he is confronted with on the
pitch by quickly prioritizing all the various alternatives, but also calculates the
risk factors involved. He rarely loses focus until he has resolved the situation.
- knows in any moment of the match how to give the adequate speed to the
ball and to the rhythm of his team .
- is never rushed and feels secure and confident when performing a particular
move anywhere on the pitch. He controls with his eyes all the space around
him, in front, behind and to either side, taking full advantage of both very limited
space and wide-open spaces! He always appears to have time. He knows
that rushing and doing things too quickly tends to produce errors.
- always tries to achieve a balance between taking risks and safety. Too much
risk could mean losing the ball or even the match, while playing without any
risk rarely helps to turn the match to your favor. He is brave enough to take
risks!
- stands out because he can adapt to the ever-changing situations in the game,
to the referee, to his teammates , to his opponents and to the pitch and
weather conditions.
- knows that things do not always come off. This is why his performance level
rarely dips after making a mistake or two or three in a row.
- knows when and where to pass the ball or when it is better to keep possession.
- has good optical - motor assessment or spatial awareness. Assesses correctly
the distances between him and his teammates and the opposition or to the
lines of the pitch and the location of the goals, acquired through many years
of practice with simplified games which also sharpened his decision making
capacities.
- keeps it simple. Only a master, an outstanding player, can play simply.
Game intelligence helps performers translate their technical abilities and phyiscal fitness into an effective performance
horstwein@eresmas.net 6
- knows what he is going to do with the ball before he even receives and controls it.
- uses his creativity to the benefit of his team and teammates.
- knows how to play hockey, especially without the ball, constantly making himself
available for his teammates to which he offers possible solutions to many
situations that arise on the pitch.
- is a player who contributes all his qualities for the good of his team. A soccer
player who doesn't use his intelligence to serve his teammates around him will
never succeed in the game because he will then tend to perceive only a portion
of the whole game, seeing plays completely isolated and not in context
with the whole. This type of player doesn't see everything that is taking place
on the pitch.
- frequently asks questions and quickly learns from his mistakes. He is good at
memorizing a great variety of plays and reproducing them.
- only does what is within his capabilities.
- knows how to pace himself throughout a game. His experience allows him to
make appropriate decisions such as when to run or when it is a waste of
energy.
- is not affected by stress, knowing that a high level of stress tends to narrow
his focus and perception capacity and also influences his decision making
negatively. This explains why sometimes key players do not make positive
contributions in decisive matches. The pressure nullifies their usually intelligent
play.
"As hockey is largely a cognitive game it is advisable to focus learning on constructing a significant knowledge database, achieved by a balanced interaction between player, coach and situations in context"
Eduardo de la Torre (1998)
Note:
Literature for how to develop Game Intelligence:
Horst Wein (2004): Developing Game Intelligence in Soccer Reedswain,Inc. USA
Horst Wein (2004): Coaching Game Intelligence in Youth Soccer , DVD with a 90
minutes video, Institut für Jugendfussball (Germany), www.ifj.de
Horst Wein (2004): Die Entwicklung der Spielintelligenz im Fussball, Institut für
Jugendfussball, www.ifj.de
horstwein@eresmas.net 7
DEVELOPING GAME INTELLIGENCE IN HOCKEY
with formative programs from THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN HOCKEY
An optimal coaching and learning model to unlock and develop the innate potential
of young hockey players
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Coaching Course : STARTING WELL
1st LEVEL OF FORMATION FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 7 AND 8 YEARS:
GAMES OF BASIC ABILITIES AND CAPACITIES FOR MINI HOCKEY
1st. Day 7 p.m.: Presentation of the brochure*
Presentation of the Coaching Course for Coaches*
Introduction :The necessity of working with a Hockey Development
Model ad developing game intelligence from the grass
root level *
10 p.m.: End of the session
2nd. Day 9.00 a.m. Games of basic skills and capacities (1st. part)
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3 00 p.m. Games of basic skills and capacities (2nd.part)
-Games for dribbling and chasing the dribbler
-Games in the maze
-Passing, receiving and shooting games
-Games for tackling
5.30 p.m. Video about the Hockey Development Model *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
3rd. Day: 9.00 a.m. Multilateral Games (1st part)
-Running games
-Ball games
-Games for developing strength and dexterity
Program of Simplified Games for teams formed by 2 players only
(1st part)
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
4th.Day: 9.00 a.m. Multilateral Games (2nd part)
-Games for developing the senses
-Games for tactile discrimination
-Games for improving balance
-Games for improving orientation
Program of Simplified Games for teams formed by 2 players only
(2nd part)
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
2nd PART: GAMES FOR MINI HOCKEY
5th.Day: 9.00 a.m. Mini Hockey and its rules
Preparatory and corrective exercises/games for Mini Hockey
Test of the capacity of play in Mini Hockey
11.15 a.m. Workshop: Why the competition of Mini Hockey stimulates the
development of young hockey players more than 6-a-side Hockey
or even Hockey 11 vs.11 *
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
6th.Day: 9.00 a.m. Pentathlon of Mini Hockey
Developing Game intelligence in Hockey with the 17 variations
of Mini Hockey
11.45 a.m. Video session about basic skills
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
7th.Day 9.00 p.m. Proposal of a progression of competitions: From Mini Hockey
towards 6-a-side Hockey
Workshop: List 10 characteristics of the teaching style
demonstrated in this clinic compared to the traditional way of
coaching young players *
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Friendly Game
4.30 p.m. Lecture: Competitions tailor made for young hockey players
- a need to improve the standard of hockey in Singapore *
6.00 p.m. Closing ceremony of the 1st coaching course *
2nd Coaching Course : STAYING INVOLVED
2nd PART: GAMES FOR 6-A-SIDE AND 8-A-SIDE HOCKEY
1st Day 7.00 p.m. Presentation of the brochure*
Presentation of the Coaching course for Coaches*
Presentation of an optimal Hockey Coaching and Learning Model
to unlock and develop the innate potential of young Hockey
players*
2nd. Day 9.00 a.m. The programme of simplified games for teams formed by 3 players
incl. corrective exercises/ games
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Simplified games for the attack and the defence in the penalty
corner
The art of hitting the ball with the sweep hit
6 p.m. Video session about goalkeeping*
3rd. Day 9.00 a.m. Fundamental exercises and games for developing young
goalkeepers
Goalkeeper Decathlon
Video session about goalkeeping*
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
4th. Day: 9.00 a.m. The programme of simplified games for teams formed by 4
players incl. corrective exercises/games
Hockey-Triathlon 5 vs. 5
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
5th. Day: 9.00 a.m. 6-a-side Hockey and its rules
Workshop: Why the competition of Mini Hockey stimulates the
development of young hockey players more than 6-a-side Hockey
or even Hockey 11 vs.11 *
Lecture: The 10 rights of children when playing HOCKEY
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Hockey Triathlon 4 vs.4 and 5 vs.5
5.30 p.m. Closing Ceremony*
*in the lecturer room
3 nd. Coaching Course : STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCY
3rd PART: THE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN THE ATTACKING MOVES
11-A-SIDE HOCKEY
1st. DAY 7.00 p.m. Presentation of the brochure*
Presentation of the coaching course*
Introduction: THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAME
INTELLIGENCE IN TOP PERFORMANCE
HOCKEY
Workshop about the characteristics of counter-attacking ( what to
do before, during and after the counter-attack)
10.00 p.m. End of the session
2nd Day 9.00 a.m. Exercises/games for launching counter-attacks
Exercises and games for the first time play (1st. part)
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3 00 p.m. Exercises/games to learn and consolidate correct technical habits
before, during and after the reception and the control of the ball
5.00 p.m. Workshop about receiving and controlling the ball
6.15 p.m. End of the session
3rd Day 9.00 a.m. Games for the initiation, development and conclusion of the
positional attack
The principles of play with and without the ball
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
4th. Day 9.00 a.m. The atom of the game of hockey: the 2 vs. 1-situation
Progressive serie of exercises/games for creating and resolving
2 vs.1-situations
Workshop Understanding hockey with a questionnaire about the
2 vs. 1 situation
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
5th. Day 9.00 a. m. 28 simplified games for learning to keep the possession of the
ball
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
6th. Day 9.00 a.m. More effectiveness in goal-scoring
The rebound- a second opportunity.
Workshop: Elaboration of a list of possible deficiencies in the
collective attack*
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
7th. Day 9.00 a.m. Attacking from the second line
Coaching the capacity to execute through passes
. Workshop: The capacity of Passing*
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Practical session with children to apply the program
6.00 p.m. Evaluation of the coaching standard *
6.30 p.m. End of the session
4th. PART: THE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN THE DEFENSIVE MOVES
11-A-SIDE HOCKEY
8th. Day 9.00 a.m. How to approach an attacker in possession of the ball
How to coach cover defence
1.00 p.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Workshop to establish 20 rules for more successful tackling:*
4.30 p.m. When, where and how to play pressing defence
Coaching the capacity of anticipation
6.30 p.m. End of the session
9th. Day 9.00 a.m. Summary of exercises and games for the individual defence
11.00 a.m. Workshop: Hockey of the past, of today and tomorrow*
1.00 a.m. Lunch
3.00 p.m. Friendly Game
4.30 p.m. Evaluation of the Coaching Course*
5.05 p.m. Closing Ceremony*
* in the lecturer room
For more information please consult me at:
Tel/Fax: 00-34-936746246 or e-mail: horstwein@eresmas.net
WEEKEND TASTER COURSE:
DEVELOPING GAME INTELLIGENCE IN HOCKEY
with formative programs from THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN HOCKEY
FRIDAY 7 p.m.: Presentation of the brochure*
Presentation of the Coaching Course for Coaches*
Introduction :The necessity of working with a Hockey
Development Model for developing game intelligence in Hockey
from the grass root level *
10 p.m.: End of the session
SATURDAY 9.00 a.m Developing GameIntelligence in 8-10 years old hockey
players
Mini Hockey and its rules
Preparatory and corrective exercises/games for Mini Hockey
(1st.part)
11.00 a.m Preparatory and corrective exercises/games for Mini Hockey
(2nd. Part)
Mini Hockey and its variations
4.30 p.m Developing Game Intelligence in 10-14 years old hockey
players
Simplified games for teams formed by 3 players
Simplified games for teams formed by 4 players
SUNDAY 9.00 a.m Developing Game Intelligence in top performance hockey
players
Coaching Counter-Attacking
11.00 a.m Coaching the initiation and development of the positional
attack
12.30 p.m. Workshop: List the characteristics of the coaching style used
in this clinic compared to the traditional style of
coaching football in Greece*
1.30 p.m Closing Ceremony
· in the class room
For more information please consult me at:
Tel/Fax: 00-34-936746246 or e-mail: horstwein@eresmas.net
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