# Building from the Back · Field Hockey Level 4: Intermediate

Field Hockey · Level 4: Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/field-hockey/level-4/building-from-the-back/)

Getting the ball out of the defensive third: the aim of outletting, the overload at the back, outlets through the outside defender and the stepping centre back, bounce passes, and going around, through, over or into a press.

## Test 1: The aim of outletting

- With the ball near its own goal the team wants to clear the danger zone, so it moves the ball on quickly towards midfield and the attack. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Getting the ball out of the defensive third turns defence into attack, while the keeper's feet or the team's own circle keep it near goal. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Speed beats a press before it organises. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Outletting is the 'playing it out' phase: moving the ball from the defenders to the rest of the team once it is won near your own goal. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey)
- Near your own goal a lost ball can mean a goal, so outlets use set patterns and safe passes rather than gambles. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey)
- Good, intelligent inter-passing can create an overload out the back. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- A midfielder who leads into space gives the defender a clear passing line, so the ball can leave the back without being forced. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders)
- The defender must win the ball and look up before passing; a midfielder's lead gives the target, and the defender then supports the pass. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- A good outlet carries the ball away from the team's own goal: through the defensive third, then midfield, to the attacking third. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Passing the ball out of their own third to team-mates further up is outletting, the move that starts an attack from the back. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)

## Test 2: The overload at the back

- Three forwards against a back four is the usual pressing shape, so a team building from the back expects to face three pressers. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- An extra player means one is unmarked. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Passing the ball round the back finds the free defender. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Stepping up from the back line adds a player to the build-up, so the team has more options against the pressing forwards. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Square passes shift the ball to the free defender. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary)
- No forward marks the free defender, so he has time and space and should use it by carrying the ball forward or passing on. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Spread wide, a single presser cannot cover two players. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Wide spacing means the forwards can only press three of the four defenders, so the fourth is free to receive and carry the ball forward. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- The bigger the overload, the easier it is. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Four against three leaves one defender unmarked. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)

## Test 3: The outside defender's outlet

- In this option the centre back starts the outlet by passing quickly to the outside defender, who then takes the ball up the side. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- After passing, the centre back keeps moving into midfield to give the outside defender a support option rather than standing still. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- These three points make the pass work: how hard it travels, the angle it is played at, and drawing an opponent so a team-mate has room. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- Attract the defender to create a 2 v 1 with the opposite striker. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- Rhythm is about the timing of passes: playing them at the right pace keeps the outlet moving so the press cannot settle. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- Outlet passes go on to the right- or left-hand side attack. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks)
- Staying near the side-line stretches the opposing press and gives the outlet pass a wide target away from the crowded middle. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks)
- The centre back passes fast to the outside defender, runs on to support in midfield, and the ball then progresses forward from there. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- The guide lists the pace and rhythm of the pass first, then its angle, then the need to attract a defender before passing on. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)
- A wide pass by the centre back followed by a run into midfield is the guide's first option: the outside defender, then a support lead. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 1)

## Test 4: The stepping centre back

- The centre back or sweeper is the defender who can leave the back line to join midfield and add a player there. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- An extra player in midfield gives the ball carrier more passing options. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- With the centre back gone forward, the outside halves drop back closer to the sweeper so the back line stays covered. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- A new player in midfield changes the shape, so the others must move to give clear passing options. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- Moving out wide is one way to adjust: it keeps the midfield spread so the extra man does not crowd the same space. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- Leaving the back line needs cover behind. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Formation 1)
- The deeper defenders tuck in to cover. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- The centre back steps up and receives, then releases to a free player, while the defenders left behind hold cover in case the ball is lost. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- The sweeper stays at the back as cover, the outside halves drop in beside him, and the stepping centre back is the highest of the three. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)
- With dark 3 stepping up, the halves drop in beside the sweeper. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting option 2)

## Test 5: The bounce pass

- A long pass goes to a wide midfielder or a forward, who plays it straight back to a team-mate coming onto it rather than turning. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- The wide midfielder lays the ball off to the outside half, who is already running onto it to take the play forward. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- The forward receives the long ball and returns it to a midfielder running on, so the midfield gets the ball moving forward. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- A first-time return avoids a risky turn. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- A receiver already on the run takes the bounce in stride, so the attack keeps its speed and the marker is left behind. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- They need to receive and eliminate markers to create an overlap. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Out and back makes a V between three players. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The long pass goes to the forward, who returns it first time; the midfielder runs onto it and plays it forward. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- The outside half passes long to the wide midfielder, who bounces it back, so the outside half touches the ball first and last in the move. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- A first-time return to a running team-mate: a bounce. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)

## Test 6: Around the press

- Pressing deep in the opponents' third near the side-line traps the ball carrier against the line, so many teams press high there. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The right response depends on how the press is set up, so defenders must first read what the opponents are doing. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The ball goes back to the sweeper, who switches it to the far side, away from the pressing players. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Switching finds the side the press has left. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press)
- A quick transfer reaches the far side before the press can slide across to it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The ball is switched to the far side, so the defenders there must be open and unmarked, ready to receive it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- A slow switch lets the press slide over. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Once the press squeezes one side, the ball goes back to the sweeper, who switches it to the free side, where the team builds. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The ball starts under pressure on the pressed side, is switched by the sweeper, and ends on the free side where there is space. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Going back to the sweeper and then across to the other side avoids the pressed side: this is the guide's 'around the press' option. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)

## Test 7: Through the press

- A hard hit gives pressers no time to react, accuracy finds the target, and disguise stops defenders stepping into the line. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The pass skips the pressers and finds a forward high up the pitch who has space to receive it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Disguise stops pressers reading the pass. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Only a player who can strike the ball both hard and accurately can beat the pressers without the ball being cut out. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- One pass beats the whole press line. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The hit needs a target, so the forward must have found open space beyond the pressers and be ready to control the ball. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- A pass through a crowd can be cut out. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The forward finds space beyond the line first; the hitter then disguises the direction and strikes hard, and the forward controls it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The guide asks first for a really hard hit, then for accuracy, then for disguise of the direction. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- A hard pass between the pressers, rather than round or over them, is the 'through the press' option. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)

## Test 8: Over the press

- A lifted ball goes over crowded pressers, so against a really tight press it can break their line in one pass. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The ball flies over the crowded area. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- A flick or a scoop lifts the ball off the ground, while a push keeps it flat. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 9.9)
- A lifted ball that is dangerous to opponents is penalised under the Rules, so an aerial must be played with care. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 9.8)
- An aerial is saved for the moment when the press is so tight that ground passes are blocked. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- A high ball arrives fast and bounces awkwardly, so the receiver must control it cleanly before the press closes in. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2)
- A ball lifted over the pressers lands behind them, so defenders must be ready to turn and track it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The press closes in, the passer flicks the ball over it, and the receiver controls it on the far side. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Going around the press keeps the ball on the ground and is safest; going over relies on a lifted ball and a clean first touch, so it is boldest. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- The ball travels in the air above the pressers, which is the guide's 'over the press' option. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)

## Test 9: Into the press

- Play into the press, suck the play in, then quickly switch out. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Going into the press needs a midfielder strong on the ball with sound receiving skills, who can take pressure and keep possession. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- By holding the ball the midfielder pulls several opponents towards him, which takes them away from the rest of the pitch. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Once the pressers have closed in, the opposite side is left empty, so the midfielder releases the ball there quickly. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Each presser who moves in to the ball leaves the area he was guarding, so space appears for team-mates on the other side. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary)
- Surrounded by pressers, the midfielder must keep the ball with strength and control until team-mates are free to receive. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- A turnover inside the press is dangerous. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The feed goes into the midfielder, who holds it while the pressers close in; only then does the quick switch out find the space. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Going into the press comes last in the guide's list, after the three ways of avoiding it: around, through and over. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Drawing the press in before switching out. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)

## Test 10: Reading the pressure

- With no forwards pressing, defenders have time, so they can pass the ball among themselves and move it out calmly. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Maximum pressure leaves little time and space, so defenders must read how the press is set up and pick the option that suits it. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- On the side the line takes away half the carrier's options, so pressing there is most effective, especially deep in the defenders' third. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Squeezed against the line, the carrier has fewer choices. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press)
- Scanning shows the pressure before the ball arrives. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary)
- Set patterns help under pressure. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey)
- Pressers left behind leave space to attack. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Mid-field press)
- A defender scans for pressers before the ball arrives, sees where they are, chooses an option and then plays the pass. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)
- Pressure grows with the number of players involved: first none, then three forwards, then the whole team. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting)
- Forwards pressing deep in the opponents' third, here on the side, is a high press. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Outletting under pressure)

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).

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