HOCKEY JARGON/TERMINOLOGY

TERM/JARGON DEFINITION
Press A defensive pattern set up to deny the attacking team
certain spaces on the pitch or to try force them to play the
ball in an area of the field they deem protected
Post up An ‘off the ball’ attacking player receives the ball with his
back to the goal his team are trying to score in.
Jab/poke Tackle A form of tackle meant to disrupt the ball carrier. A poke or
‘jab’ at the ball.
Frontal marking The defender marks in front of an attacker and therefore
stops the pass getting to him/her
Zonal marking The defending team marks and denies the attacking team
certain spaces on the pitch, as opposed to man on man
marking
The “D” The semi circles in the attacking and defending 25’s in
which the goal stands. The ball must be shot from within the
semi circle or D to score a goal.
Lead When an attacker runs without the ball in hope of receiving
the ball or making space for team mates to receive it.
Square pass A pass to someone who is on a line parallel to you, either
left or right
Through pass A pass to someone who is on an angle in front of you
Straight pass The ball is passed straight, parallel with the sidelines.
Back pass A pass to someone behind you
Roll out The ball carrier decides that there is nothing on in front of
him/her and turns around and looks backwards for a
different option.
Jink/pop The ball carrier jinks or pops the ball into the air in hope of
avoiding a flat stick tackle or making it hard for the defender
to dispossess them
Chop Hitting the back of the ball to make it lift slightly
Squeeze Hitting down on the back of the ball hard, used as a shot on
goal
Back and around A passing sequence to move the ball from one side of the
field to the other using the defensive four
Help side Opposite side of field ball is on
Ball side The side of field ball is on
Flashing Crossing arms when ‘g’ turning
Inject (APC) Pull out from back line on Attacking Penalty Corner
Popping Same as chop
Drifting Drifting away from opponent to receive ball
Speedy up side Right hand side attacking zone
Screening A defensive formation to encourage the opposition ball to a
particular area and/or prevent ball being passed to a
particular area
Frontal Defence Strikers being the first line of defence
Guard position Positioning yourself behind (in support) of your team mate
carrying the ball. (the guard position for a baseline runner
would be straight back and just inside the top of the circle)
Economy on the ball Getting ball under control and passing it on quickly
Outlet & Priority Escape/back and attacking passes
passes
Creating wide goal Standing either/both side(s) of attacking goal
Pointing the defence Getting up in the face of the ball carrier
Receiving in daylight Moving into space to receive the ball
Lengthening the Having high strikers and moving the ball rapidly through the
midfield to them
game
Shave tackle A tackle made from behind where the defenders stick is slid
along the ground between the ball carriers feet and the
ball/stick. The defenders stick then moves forwards to
move the ball away from the carriers stick and then
outwards to gain possession.
Man-up Marking tight to a player
Reverse Shot A shot from the left side of the body using a backhand swing
Drag flick Attacking Penalty Corner move, highly successful
Recycled Lead Making a second lead, if first lead is unsuccessful
Cover When a player, usually from the help side, swings around in
behind the defender to form a second line of defence
Free man The free full back in the defensive circle
Back four Four defensive players usually, LH, RH, LB, RB
Trapdoor Letting the ball go through one player, to reach a higher
attacker
Coned When the ball carrier eliminates the defender in a one on
one situation.
Overhead A method of passing the ball in which the person in
possession lifts (using a flick) the ball over the head of
defender/s.
3D skills The person in possession plays the ball in the air it is called
using 3D skills.
Tomahawk A reverse hit is often referred to as a ‘tomahawk’ because of
the similar action used.
Injector After a penalty corner is given, an attacking player must put
the ball on the spot on the backline and drag the ball to the
penalty corner battery who are usually at the top of the
circle. The person that drags the ball to the battery is the
‘injector’.
Striker Generally the players closest to the attacking goal on the
field. Usually the players who score field goals
Midfield The heart of the team, generally the play makers. Usually
incorporates the centre half, and inside forwards.
Short handle hit The player hits the ball as per normal except for dropping
his/her top hand slightly and thus creating a shorter lever
and cutting down on time taken to hit the ball.
Penalty corner A penalty corner is awarded to the attacking team when
there is an infringement in the circle or ‘D’. There must be 4
players plus the goalkeeper behind the base line and the
rest go to half way or beyond.
The attacking team must pass the ball outside the circle
from a spot on the base line and then take the ball back into
the circle and try to score. If the ball is hit it must hit below
the top of the backboard.
Skinned When a defender cleanly takes the ball off the ball carrier in
a one on one situation
Base line The shortest perimeter line on which the goals stand on.
Left to right The ball carrier moves or drags the ball from his/her left to
his/her right to beat an opponent, get out of trouble or
because the situation requires the ball to be on that side.
Right to left The ball carrier moves or drags the ball from his/her right to
his/her left to beat an opponent, get out of trouble or
because the situation requires the ball to be on that side.
Open dribble The player taps or softly pushes the ball ahead of them and
runs on to it. Generally used when the player is in ‘open’
space and/or needs to move quickly with the ball.
Closed dribble The player moves without the ball leaving their stick. Usually
used by players when they are looking around for a pass or
are moving into a certain area of the field while they still
want control.
Indoor Refers to indoor hockey.
Pitch The field the game is being played on
Juggling Bouncing the ball up and down on the stick, good for
players to get used to the feel of the ball on the stick.
Indian dribble often The player moves the ball from side to side and on angles
quickly by either tapping or dragging it. Used to confuse
referred to as ‘skills’. defenders, to get out of trouble or because the player wants
to display skill.
Dummy The player in possession looks to their left and pushes their
stick past and in front of the ball (missing it) and then takes
the ball over to the right to make the defender think they are
going to pass it left.
Body Feint The ball carrier shapes his or her body to make it look like
they are going to pass right and they then move the ball and
their body left and take off.