5 Tips for Coaches to Create an Engaging Preseason Program for Field Hockey Players

It's that time of year again - January preseason! As a coach, you know how important it is to get your players back into the swing of things and ready for the resumption of the season, following the winter break. One key way to do this is by creating an engaging and well-planned preseason program.

Here are a few tips for coaches on creating an engaging preseason program to get players back into hockey after the winter break:

1. Set clear goals for the preseason

   Before you even begin planning your sessions and drills, take some time to think about what you want to accomplish during the preseason. This will vary depending on the age and experience level of your players, and whether they are a social, performance or potential performance team. Do you want to focus on improving your team's fitness levels? Developing technique in certain areas? Working on a particular skill or strategy? Having clear goals will help you design a program that is focused and effective.

2. Mix up your sessions and drills

   While it's important to work on the fundamentals of field hockey, your players will likely get bored if you do the same drills over and over again. Try to mix things up by incorporating different types of sessions and drills, such as small-sided games, conditioning exercises, and skill-specific drills. If you are on the lookout for new ideas, ask fellow coaches for advice (or you can always look at our evogamechanger.com Coaches Program for unique inspiration).

3. Make it fun

   Preseason can be a difficult time for players, especially if they have been out of practice for a while. Try to incorporate fun elements into your program to keep things interesting and motivate your players. This could be as simple as adding music to your sessions or having friendly competition between teams. Think of what fun looks like for the players you are working with. For example, for performance players, a “fun” session may be an intense session where they come off feeling like they have had a full work-out, whereas you would not want to do this with a group of U10 players!. Plan your session to keep players motivated, by designing it to maximise the number of ball contacts and decision-making aspects each player gets in every session, during the preseason stage.

4. Encourage teamwork and communication

   Preseason is a great time to focus on building team chemistry and developing strong communication skills. Encourage your players to work together and communicate effectively during drills and games.

5. Plan for rest and recovery

   It's important to remember that your players will need time to rest and recover after their sessions. Make sure you plan for plenty of breaks and encourage your players to take care of themselves by staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet. You want to get the balance right in training and recovery, to avoid players getting injuries through overtraining after long periods out.

By following these tips, you can create a preseason program that is engaging, effective, and helps your players get back into the game after the winter break.