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Field Hockey · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Sub-level 3.2

Attacking Principles

10 tests · 99 facts · updated 30 October 2026 · markdown

The phases of play with the ball, width and depth, leads and their timing, support leads and triangles, the overlap, switching the point of attack, interchanges, getting to the circle and passing before dribbling.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The phases with the ballTake a test

  1. With the ball: play it out, build, create chances.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  2. Play it out: no risks, set patterns.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  3. Set patterns help a team bring the ball out safely.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  4. Build: little risk, then more risk further up.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  5. Create chances: score, attack rebounds.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  6. Transfer play shifts the ball to the other side to find space.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  7. Attacking rebounds belongs to creating chances.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  8. Safe, then progressive, then decisive.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · applied

  9. Risk grows the nearer the opponents' goal.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · recall

  10. Safe passes near your own goal: playing it out.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · applied

Test 2Width and depthTake a test

  1. Teaching players to stretch the width creates space in depth.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Eight-a-side · recall

  2. In possession, the left and right strikers give width.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · recall

  3. Width pulls defenders apart and opens gaps.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  4. Depth gives options ahead and behind the carrier.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  5. Two options to the sides and one in depth.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 1 · recall

  6. Two options, either side.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · recall

  7. Running in the width and depth, with and without rotations.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill plan · recall

  8. The wider the shape, the more space inside.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  9. Width, spread, gap, penetrate.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  10. Players holding the side-lines give width.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · applied

Test 3Leads and their timingTake a test

  1. A lead is a sprint made towards the ball or into space.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  2. In the correct direction, at the correct tempo, into the correct space.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  3. Dummy to one side and move to the other.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  4. Lead towards the ball to receive it.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  5. Indicate clearly where you want to receive the ball.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  6. Short and long leads.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  7. Timing matters: early leads let the marker recover.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  8. Fake, go, ask, receive.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  9. Direction, tempo, space.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · applied

  10. A sprint towards the ball to receive: a lead.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · applied

Test 4The support leadTake a test

  1. Make a support lead after giving a good pass.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  2. It gives team-mates a passing option.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  3. Support leads determine the success of combinations.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 1 · recall

  4. Always have two possible passing options.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  5. A player who moves after passing becomes the next option.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  6. Deep supporting leads to players in the striker line.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · recall

  7. Lead to establish clear passing links from the defence.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · recall

  8. Give, go, offer, get.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  9. The more options, the safer.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  10. Moving after the pass to offer an option: a support lead.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · applied

Test 5TrianglesTake a test

  1. Playing in a triangular shape.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill plan · recall

  2. In a triangle, the ball carrier always has two team-mates to pass to.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  3. Give and go: square pass, then run onto a through pass.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  4. The centre midfielder is responsible for the triangular shape.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · recall

  5. In a line, one player is blocked from the other.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  6. Flat lines remove angles; triangles keep them.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  7. Staying inside the strikers maintains the triangle.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · recall

  8. Square, run, through, receive.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  9. More points off the line give more angles.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  10. A triangle gives the ball carrier two angles.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · applied

Test 6The overlapTake a test

  1. Running behind the player in possession to receive a pass.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  2. The runner creates a 2 v 1 on the wing.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  3. They need to receive and eliminate markers to create overlap.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  4. Wide players such as full-backs and wing midfielders are the usual overlappers.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defence line · recall

  5. Drawing the defender opens the outside for the runner.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  6. Forcing an opponent into an area creates space elsewhere.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  7. An overlap leaves a gap behind; the runner must recover.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  8. Draw, run, pass, attack.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  9. One against one becomes two against one.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · applied

  10. Running round the carrier to receive: an overlap.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · applied

Test 7Changing the point of attackTake a test

  1. Receive a pass from behind, turn out, accelerate in a new direction.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  2. Switching finds the space the defence has left.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  3. Around the press: play deep to the sweeper, who transfers to the other side.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  4. Around the press means switching via the sweeper.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  5. Over the press: the aerial ball can destroy a tight press.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  6. Play into the press, suck the play in, then switch the ball out.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  7. A hard accurate hit with disguise to a high forward in space.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  8. Crowd, back, across, attack.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  9. Along the ground round, along the ground through, then in the air.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting · recall

  10. Moving the ball to the empty side: a switch.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · applied

Test 8Interchanges and in-out leadsTake a test

  1. Interchange: players change their positions on the field.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  2. E.g. the left striker becomes the right striker for a while.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  3. A lead to the inside and then to the outside.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  4. It wrong-foots the defender so the attacker receives under less pressure.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  5. Swapping positions confuses the marking.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · recall

  6. Scoring: from a positional interchange.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 1 · recall

  7. Positional interchange: depth and width.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  8. In, follow, out, receive.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  9. Swap, swap, doubt, release.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  10. In, then out: the in-out lead.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · applied

Test 9Getting to the circle fastTake a test

  1. Speed to the circle beats a defence that is still setting.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · recall

  2. Individually or with short passing combinations.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · recall

  3. Cut to the inside as soon as possible: shortest way to goal.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · recall

  4. A fast counter meets a disorganised defence.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary (counter-attack) · recall

  5. A fast attack after a turnover or a broken-down corner.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  6. Attack space or the reverse stick side of the last line of defence.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · recall

  7. Penetrate the opposition's defensive line.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · recall

  8. Win, release, run, finish.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · recall

  9. The ball travels faster than a player.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  10. A fast attack after winning the ball: a counter.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · applied

Test 10Passing before dribblingTake a test

  1. Passing is more important than individual dribbling actions.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  2. Individual dribbling skills without being selfish.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  3. Running without the ball is quicker than dribbling, and the ball quicker still.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · recall

  4. Dribble when space opens or no pass is on.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall

  5. Receive and early quick passes keep defenders moving.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  6. High tempo passing combinations.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  7. Look up: a free team-mate is usually the better choice.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 1 · recall

  8. Receive, scan, pass first, then dribble.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

  9. Pass first.

    Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · recall

Sources

KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, USA Field Hockey 101, NFHCA notes, FIH history and official results; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category (Field Hockey - Rules of Hockey).

  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 223
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary18
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide17
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey10
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting8
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side4
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 14
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks4
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers4
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill plan2
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders2
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Eight-a-side1
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defence line1
  • KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary (counter-attack)1