with Tina Mattera,
Tufts University Head Coach;
2012 NCAA Division III National Champions;
2012 National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year;
2016 NFHCA Regional Coach of the Year;
5x Final Four appearances; 8x NCAA Tournament appearances;
2x New England Small College Athletic Conference champions ('09, '16);
2x NESCAC Coach of the Year ('08, '09);
over 200 career wins

In this video, Coach Mattera breaks down many of the drills she uses at her practices that ensure her players perform at their best on game day. You'll be introduced to numerous competitive exercises that pit teammates against one another with the end goal of maximum skill growth.

Starting Off Practice

Mattera kicks things off by showcasing her Air Dribble and Yard Stick Pull drills that build stick handling feel. Next, she dives into an exercise that works on transferring balls in the backfield, which she often uses in the practice immediately before a game day. The reps you'll see are designed for Mattera's 3-2-3-2 system, but can be adapted to fit the scheme of your own program.

Competitive Games

The 2v1 Bang Bang drill is a continuous, physical drill that Mattera first diagrams on the whiteboard prior to moving to the field. The goal of the drill is to see how quickly players can move the ball, how quickly offensive players can get the defender caught wrong-footed, and how quickly the offense can get off a clean shot on the keeper.

Coach Mattera continues by showing her 4v2 Transfer Drill. This is a great disadvantage drill to train the defense to communicate with one another while they're outnumbered. Additionally, defenders will learn to play with the mindset of shifting to keep the offense contained to one side of the field.

Additional drills shown include:

• 4v2 Continuous - A great early-season drill in which Mattera likes to pit different groups of players (forwards, mids, defenders, starters vs. subs, left side vs. right side, etc.) against each other to observe various player combinations.
• BC Drill - A fast-paced 4v3 into 1v1 drill that incorporates a hidden conditioning component.
• 5v5 with Box in Middle - Another fast-paced exercise that splits players into teams and trains athletes to make good decisions in a short amount of time.

All coaches will appreciate Coach Mattera's approach to practice. Her drills are fast-paced, always have a competitive goal in mind, and work multiple skills at once. If you're seeking better execution from your own team, this video is a fantastic choice!

87 minutes. 2020.

with Michael Warari,
Vassar College Head Coach;
recorded Vassar College record 18 wins in 2018;
2018 Liberty League Champions;
2018 NCAA Tournament appearance;
2013 Liberty League Coach of the Year;
former assistant at Messiah College under Jan Trapp (all-time wins leader in Division III)

Michael Warari has put together a jam-packed video full of ideas to improve the stick skills and game readiness of your players. Within this video, you'll come across innovative exercises to encourage getting low and playing with speed/explosiveness when handling the ball, methods to grow wrist strength and boost player confidence playing with either "lead" hand, drills for working together as a defensive unit, and ways to improve communication among teammates.

Stickhandling

Coach Warari runs through three sets of stick skill progressions: On The Line (OTL), 45, and Relays. The outcome of each series is aimed to improve the 5 meter skills of every athlete on your roster. Goals for Warari's progressions include staying low, getting sticks on-ball, playing with speed, and having fun.

You'll see Warari diagram the components of each progression on a whiteboard before moving to the field for a full demonstration. Prior to each rep, Coach Warari reinforces the goals to his team so they will maintain a mindset that breeds maximum improvement.

Competitive Drills

Two main drills are covered by Warari that will prepare your team for a variety of situations you'll see during games. The first is Pressure Cover, which is primarily a defensive drill. In the drill, your players will block the lines to the goal and put pressure on the offensive player that possesses the ball. Coach Warari's primary emphasis is the "Big C"- communication. Additionally, he instructs his team to protect the center of the field to avoid giving up a big shot. Finally, individual players must know how to manage their mark and space, which means knowing the personnel on the field and recognizing when to intercept or delay.

The second drill presented by Warari is 3v2 Continuous. He prefers to extend the field from a traditional 3v2 Continuous space in order to incorporate transition scenarios. You'll learn how to split your players into two teams for the drill as well as how to prep for quick restarts so your team doesn't waste any valuable practice time.

The topics covered by Coach Warari in this video can be applied to lacrosse teams at any level, making it a great choice for beginner or experienced coaches. This video will help you improve your teams' stick skills and game execution today!

71 minutes. 2020.

with Jenelle Downs,
Centre College Head Coach;
5x SAA Coach of the Year;
NFHCA Region Coach of the Year (2017);
2017 NCAA Elite Eight appearance

Field hockey is a complex game and rote learning strategies will only take your team so far. What you need are tactically flexible players. In this video, Centre College head coach Jenelle Downs shows her blueprint to make athletes more versatile.

Coach Downs explains how to progressively place your defenders under increasing stress using flexible open-ended, multi-phase exercises that promote problem-solving and creativity.

Defense Drill Progressions

In a series of open-ended repeat drills, Downs shows how to teach players to become better defenders by:

• Outletting effectively under pressure from active opposition
• Running correct recovery lines after a turnover
• Communicating clearly to organize quickly

In a half-field transition drill that trains all aspects of the game, Downs trains her defenders to work together in numbers-down situations to nullify opposition attacks and then launch counter-attacks of their own. This is full-on, game-sense training designed to produce cognitive players.

Downs uses a whiteboard to introduce each drill with diagrams and detailed discussions that provide not only the "what" of each drill, but more importantly the "why."

This video from Coach Downs will give you ready-made drills you can use to get your players thinking more creatively on the field. More importantly, you'll observe an approach you can use to build your own drills and practices to ensure that your players continue to grow throughout the course of a season.

51 minutes. 2019.

with Jenelle Downs,
Centre College Head Coach;
5x SAA Coach of the Year;
NFHCA Region Coach of the Year (2017);
2017 NCAA Elite Eight appearance

Field hockey is a technical game, and while technical ability is important, coaching proper technique is the easier part. Coaching 'tactically flexibility', on the other hand, leaves many coaches stumped and frustrated.

In this video, Centre College head coach Jenelle Downs shows you how to move past merely coaching the "what" of hockey - to also teach the "why" and "how" - in order to build more complete players, bit by bit.

Building Attack

Using a progression of attacking practice drills, Coach Downs demonstrates how to train your attack systematically, including how to build in 1-2 passes and baseline attacks. You'll learn how to add-in more dynamic off-ball movement to create attacking opportunities ahead of the ball, as well as how to get your players to cue-in with each other to improve success. Coach Downs gives her team detailed on-field feedback demonstrating a positive framework for working with your players.

Through a favorite angled attack drill, which progresses through 3v0, 3v1, 3v2, or 3v3 versions, Downs stresses the importance of communication, off-ball movement, and the attacking space to create more goal scoring opportunities. In this live-play drill, the defense also has a chance to attack if they win possession. This emphasises the importance of transition and the ability to swap roles quickly.

With her detailed whiteboard diagrams and explanations, Coach Downs ensures you will be able to implement these ideas in your next practice.

Coaching Philosophies

In a frank and open discussion of her coaching philosophies, Coach Downs gives you an insight into how to run an effective hockey program. In this discussion, Downs unpacks the roles and responsibilities of players and management and the importance of basing your tactics on the strengths and weaknesses of the players you have. She also covers the importance of breaking down a season into smaller chunks, how to involve injured players, and a variety of other ways to make your program stronger.

Nothing is more frustrating for a coach than a team that struggles to turn possession into goals. This video from Coach Downs offers a method of training that will improve your players' level of thinking, and ultimately lead to fewer wasted possessions.

82 minutes. 2019.

with Jenelle Downs,
Centre College Head Coach;
5x SAA Coach of the Year;
NFHCA Region Coach of the Year (2017);
2017 NCAA Elite Eight appearance

Field hockey is a complex game and rote learning strategies will only take your team so far. What you need are tactically flexible players. In this video, Centre College head coach Jenelle Downs shows her blueprint to make athletes more versatile.

Coach Downs explains how to progressively place your defenders under increasing stress using flexible open-ended, multi-phase exercises that promote problem-solving and creativity.

Defense Drill Progressions

In a series of open-ended repeat drills, Downs shows how to teach players to become better defenders by:

• Outletting effectively under pressure from active opposition
• Running correct recovery lines after a turnover
• Communicating clearly to organize quickly

In a half-field transition drill that trains all aspects of the game, Downs trains her defenders to work together in numbers-down situations to nullify opposition attacks and then launch counter-attacks of their own. This is full-on, game-sense training designed to produce cognitive players.

Downs uses a whiteboard to introduce each drill with diagrams and detailed discussions that provide not only the "what" of each drill, but more importantly the "why."

This video from Coach Downs will give you ready-made drills you can use to get your players thinking more creatively on the field. More importantly, you'll observe an approach you can use to build your own drills and practices to ensure that your players continue to grow throughout the course of a season.

51 minutes. 2019.

with Jenelle Downs,
Centre College Head Coach;
5x SAA Coach of the Year;
NFHCA Region Coach of the Year (2017);
2017 NCAA Elite Eight appearance

Field hockey is a technical game, and while technical ability is important, coaching proper technique is the easier part. Coaching 'tactically flexibility', on the other hand, leaves many coaches stumped and frustrated.

In this video, Centre College head coach Jenelle Downs shows you how to move past merely coaching the "what" of hockey - to also teach the "why" and "how" - in order to build more complete players, bit by bit.

Building Attack

Using a progression of attacking practice drills, Coach Downs demonstrates how to train your attack systematically, including how to build in 1-2 passes and baseline attacks. You'll learn how to add-in more dynamic off-ball movement to create attacking opportunities ahead of the ball, as well as how to get your players to cue-in with each other to improve success. Coach Downs gives her team detailed on-field feedback demonstrating a positive framework for working with your players.

Through a favorite angled attack drill, which progresses through 3v0, 3v1, 3v2, or 3v3 versions, Downs stresses the importance of communication, off-ball movement, and the attacking space to create more goal scoring opportunities. In this live-play drill, the defense also has a chance to attack if they win possession. This emphasises the importance of transition and the ability to swap roles quickly.

With her detailed whiteboard diagrams and explanations, Coach Downs ensures you will be able to implement these ideas in your next practice.

Coaching Philosophies

In a frank and open discussion of her coaching philosophies, Coach Downs gives you an insight into how to run an effective hockey program. In this discussion, Downs unpacks the roles and responsibilities of players and management and the importance of basing your tactics on the strengths and weaknesses of the players you have. She also covers the importance of breaking down a season into smaller chunks, how to involve injured players, and a variety of other ways to make your program stronger.

Nothing is more frustrating for a coach than a t