Annie and the Deathly Hallows of Hockey

Relatability in coaching, particularly in young players, is crucial to messaging that sticks.

Sometimes it is the silly that lands and below is an example of a piece written for a 13 year old girl wanting to play hockey as a striker. Oh, she was a Harry Potter nut so to help, we constructed this.

In the 18 months since this was sent, Annie has debuted in the Hockey Tasmania Premier League and made not one, but two more Tasmania teams, the most recent seeing her awarded the Tasmanian Coaches Award at the Hockey Australia Under 14 National Championships in Brisbane, October 2025.

Hi Annie,

Overall, the main thing to remember is hockey is a very simple game. People over complicate it all the time with drag flick this and tomahawk that, but I think from what I saw in Hobart and when you came to Devonport you would do well to dial it back to what will be absolutely guaranteed to work.

It’s cool to have a full range of skills but for me, so many players can do the fancy stuff but not the three most important things in the game – trap, pass and shoot on target.

Why are these important? Well, I’m glad you asked!

Trap – You can have the greatest skills in the world, Eddie Ockenden kind of stuff but if you don’t have possession because you can’t trap, you can’t perform these special skills.
In a game of hockey, the team with the most goals wins - Not the team with the best skills or flashiest striker or best centre half.
It is ALWAYS the team with the most goals.
The only team that can score a goal is the team in possession.
If you lose possession by not trapping, the other team is the only team who can score.

Pass – So you’ve trapped the ball, well done! Now what do you do with it?
Hockey is a timed game so moving the ball quickly allows the chance to score more goals. What did we say about the team with the most goals?
Passing can be done in a few ways and I am a massive fan of a good old-fashioned push, old school hit or slapping. There are also overheads and fun stuff but we can learn that later together.
Passing requires high ball speed (generally) and accuracy. If you can hit your teammate regularly from a few different position with smart passing, you give your team the best opportunity to score.
One final point on passing -which is the best pass to throw?
Nine times out of ten, it is the easiest one.
Gut instinct will tell you where the easy pass is.

Shot on target (SOT) – Do you read Harry Potter? The Deathly Hallows are the cloak of invisibility, the resurrection stone and the Elder Wand.
If trapping is the cloak, passing is the stone, then without a doubt SOT is the Elder Wand. Without it the Hallows are nothing.
What did we say about most goals?
If you get two opportunities in a game to score, much like the Tasmanian Under 12s did in Hobart last season, and you nail both of them, it could be the difference between a 1-0 loss and a 2-1 win.
Teams work very hard for opportunities and if they play well, deserve a reward in the form of a goal.
If a team is having a stinker of a day and not getting chances to score, burying one can get a side back up again.

Your Mum and I discussed what position is best for you.
I had a really decent think and I don’t believe you are a mid or even an inner. I think you have the speed, skill and smarts to be a genuine, out and out striker.

If I were to coach you again (fingers crossed I do!), I would play you as a key forward.

That is, of course, if that’s where you would like to be.

If you decided that playing up front and scoring goals for fun is something you would be interested in, I would love to help.

We have a team of people available to help you including a state level goal keeper who, believe it or not, is a genius at teaching a deadly tomahawk.
I have played up front for years and have tricks and tips from leading patterns to reading keepers to shooting theory and even polite “sledging” of fullbacks.
One of your Under 12 team mates learned in the last two months to drag flick.
I honestly think when you get your turf installed I could give you the techniques to learn how in 20 minutes. Subject to you wanting to.

The other cool thing is that you have a brilliant support network in place. Your parents are right behind you and your sister is an amazing resource for knowledge of the game and you will find, because of how keen you are to learn and appreciative of advice you are, that people will help you if you want it.

If you are happy, I would love to help. Feel free to get in touch via Mum or Dad at any time with any question.

It could be, “how do I hit harder” or “can I improve my 11 ends” or even “if I don’t wear my favourite socks to play will the grandstand fall down, squash the crowd and stray rock chip my stick?”
The only stupid question is the question that never gets asked.

Stay good for us mate and feel free to chat any time.