Originated in the 19th century, Field Hockey is now one of the most popular sports for sports enthusiasts worldwide. More people are overwhelmingly taking part in Field Hockey. Considering the worldwide popularity of this sport, I have come up to explain what are the positions in Field Hockey.
Field hockey is in the third position in the list of most played sports in the world. Some people want to play Field Hockey but do not know the different positions in field hockey. Therefore, they can’t decide in which position they should play.
Therefore, I am going to discuss “the positions in Field Hockey” precisely in this article. Besides, you will get to know answers to some frequently asked questions. So, let’s start the journey.
What is Field Hockey?
Table of Contents
Field Hockey is one of the ancient sports in the world. Field Hockey is widely played in Europe, Asia, Africa. Belgium currently has the top-ranked Field Hockey team. In this game, two teams compete with each other to put the ball into the net with a hockey stick.
Each team comprises 11 players: 10 field players and 1 goalkeeper. The game comprises of two halves where each half lasts for 25 to 30 minutes. After each goal, teams alter their center pass. The one who can score the most becomes the winner.
But if the players cannot complete the match within the allotted time, they play overtime. During this time, the team which can score first will be the winner. If players can’t score in overtime, then they have to go through penalty shots.
What are the positions in Field Hockey?
In Field Hockey, the coach has greater flexibility to decide upon how many players will be playing in each position. However, the general positions in Field Hockey are Forward, Midfielder, Fullbacks/ defenders, Sweeper, and goalkeeper. While some coaches choose to play in a 4-3-3 format which means 4 forwards, 3 midfielders, and 3 defenders, others prefer a 5-3-2 format. In both formats, there will be only one goalkeeper in each team.
Forward: They are the most active players who consistently try to create opportunities to make goals for their team. Therefore, their prime responsibility is to create opportunities and to turn these opportunities into goals. These players play in the midfield and near the opponent’s goal post.
Usually, three players play in this position in Field Hockey. They may include the right-wing, the left-wing, and the center attacker. Quick movement is one of the basic requirements for this position in Field Hockey. Because they play a vital role in exchanging the ball to the opponent’s goal post.
However, the number of forwarding players doubles when the ball is under the opponent’s control.
Midfielders/ halfbacks: Most of the time, 3 players play in this position in Field Hockey which includes the inner right, the inner left, and center half.
The midfielders are the most multi-skilled players on the field. Because they play in both offense and defense formats. They play a crucial role in a team by cooperating with the forwards when the team is trying to attack the opposition. They create scopes for the attackers to make goals. Besides, they assist the defenders when the ball belongs to the opposition. Click to find out “ Experts Opinion about The best field hockey stick for midfielders. ” Players in this position in Field Hockey must have greater stamina to support both the attackers and defenders.
Fullbacks/ defenders: Defense is one of the most vital positions in Field Hockey since there is no off-side. The primary responsibility of the defenders is to resist the opposing forwards from making goals and keep the ball far away from their goal post.
Therefore, they take their positions near the goalpost. So that they can prevent the attempts of the opponents. Sometimes, one defender is responsible for clearing the ball to the other side. So that their forwards can launch an attack. This position in Field Hockey is known as “Sweeper.”
4 players play in the defense line. These players must master “man to man marking strategy” which means keeping a bird’s-eye to the positions of each member in the opponent team.
Along with greater vigilance capacity, the quality of the Hockey sticks also plays a significant role in the performance of the defenders. Do you want to know what the best Field Hockey sticks for defenders are?
Goalkeeper: Goalkeeping is indeed the most crucial position in Field Hockey. Because goalkeepers are the ending line for defense against an opponent’s goal. They are persons who take the most responsibility to resist a goal and take the most mental pressure. Their main onus is to keep the ball out of the goalpost. They are the only players in the entire team who can resist the ball with their bodies.
The major criteria for being a goalkeeper are having a super-fast reflexive attitude and mastering defensive strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three key positions in Field Hockey?
There are basically 4 positions in Field Hockey: forward, midfielder, defender, and sweeper. Besides, there is a goalkeeper in each team. But some people do not mention sweepers as a separate position since they are a part of the defense. So, the main three positions in Field Hockey are forward, midfielder, defender.
How many forwards are there in field hockey?
Forwards are the players, mostly responsible for making goals. There are generally 3 forwards in each match. But in Field Hockey, coaches have greater freedom to choose the formation of the match.
Some coaches prefer having 4 forwards rather than 3. As a result, 4 players also can play as forwards depending on the formation of the match.
What is the most important position in field hockey?
The goalkeeper holds the most important position in Field Hockey. Because they are the last persons who can prevent the opponent from scoring. If the opponent’s ball can cross the goalkeeper, the opponent team will gain a score. So, the fate of the game often depends on the goalkeepers.
Therefore, the goalkeeper must remain so vigilant and take the most mental pressure throughout the match.
What is the hardest position in field hockey?
Midfielders play the hardest position in Field Hockey since they have to play both offense and defense. Playing in two formats in the same match is quite difficult and requires immense skills than other players.
Final verdict:
There is no doubt, Field Hockey is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It is among the top 3 played sports around the world based on the huge amount of fan-base. Knowing the different positions in Field Hockey is vital for the people who have recently started playing the sports and the persons who want to play this sport. Because, if people know in which position they suit the best, they will be able to deliver the best performance.
In this article, I have elaborately discussed “the different positions in Field Hockey” precisely. I hope you have found the article useful as well as convenient to understand.
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