Field Hockey · Niveau 3 : Pré-intermédiaire · Sous-niveau 3.3
Defensive Principles
10 tests · 100 faits · mis à jour le 30 octobre 2026 · markdown
The phases of play without the ball, ball side and help side, double and cover defence, choosing how to mark, getting behind the ball, channelling to the left, marking near the circle, strikers who defend and fake space.
Chaque test ci-dessous compte dix questions sur Insporta. La liste sous un test indique ce que les questions vérifient : un fait par question, avec la source dont il est tiré. Lisez-la avant le test, ou revenez-y après une mauvaise réponse.
Test 1The phases without the ballFaire un test
Without the ball: breakdown, then delay, then disrupt scoring.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Apply pressure to force a faulty or risky pass or play.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Delay: slow down the attack.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Disrupt scoring opportunities: block, tackle, defend goal and rebounds.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Block tackle, defend the goal, defend rebounds.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Defend rebounds belongs to the last phase.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Breakdown: channel and apply pressure.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · restitution
Win it high, slow it, then protect the goal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · application
Pressure, delay, block.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · application
Pressure far from your own goal: breakdown.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey · application
Test 2Ball side and help sideFaire un test
Help side: the non-ball side of the field.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · restitution
Marking on the side of the ball is tight and allows intercepts.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
Far-side marking is goal side and allows cover defence.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
Defenders fairly tight, always on the ball side of the opponent.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
Positional changes take place when the ball is switched.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Positional changes · restitution
Players closest to the ball, ball side, mark very tightly.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Positional changes · restitution
Players furthest from the ball provide cover defence.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Positional changes · restitution
Tight near the ball, cover far away.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
The whole line slides with the ball.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Positional changes · application
Away from the ball, the defender drops goal side to cover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · application
Test 3Double defenceFaire un test
Defensive teamwork: the high defender channels onto the front stick of the cover defender.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
Channel the attacker onto the front stick side of the supportive cover defender.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
The sweeper sets up double defence to force turnovers.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
To force turnovers.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Defensive teamwork, double defence, appears in Phase 2 of the oldest step.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 2 · restitution
The full press forces the opposition to run into double defence or tackles.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
The open stick side gives the strongest tackle.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Close, show, step, win.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
The high defender channels; the cover tackles.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · application
Channelling the attacker onto a second defender: double defence.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · application
Test 4Cover defenceFaire un test
Cover defence: deep defensive support from a team-mate.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
Cover means the next defender is ready if the first is beaten.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Both systems ensure cover from the non-ball side defenders.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · restitution
Cover sits deeper, between the action and the goal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
An important task of the free defender is backup cover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Eight-a-side · restitution
The marking system must also allow for cover at all times.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
With a sweeper behind, the defenders always have cover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Formation 1 · restitution
Pressure, cover, break, rescue.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · restitution
Pressure in front, cover behind, the keeper last.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary · restitution
A deeper team-mate behind the first defender gives cover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · application
Test 5Choosing a marking systemFaire un test
Midfielders must make a defensive decision: man-on-man or zonal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · restitution
The defender defends a zone and picks up any player or ball that passes through it.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
Zone defence forces the opposition to take risks out the back.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Without cover, a lost duel frees an attacker.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Formation 1 · restitution
Attackers look for the seams between zones.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Eliminating key opposition players through tight defensive marking.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · restitution
Defensively overloading the opposition.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · restitution
Man-to-man is tightest.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · restitution
Hold, pick up, pass on.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · application
Following one opponent wherever they go: man-to-man.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic terms in defence · application
Test 6Behind the ball after a turnoverFaire un test
The centre midfielder drops back as soon as possible after a turnover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Wide midfielders recover at once when the ball is lost.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Falling back to own half to get numbers behind the ball.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Numbers behind the ball protect the goal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Turnover of the ball can be unexpected; players need good reactions.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · restitution
Experienced players see a turnover coming sooner.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders · restitution
Players learn to react tactically as possession changes.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side · restitution
Lose, press, recover, organise.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Those highest up have the furthest to go.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
After a turnover, get behind the ball at once.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · application
Test 7Channelling to the leftFaire un test
Play is forced preferably to the left side, which is normally easier to defend.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
Concentrate on channelling the opposition attack left.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Force the opposition left and block play to the right.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
On the left the attacker uses the weaker reverse stick.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Play is forced to the side of the field.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
One striker cuts off the ball back to the middle.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
Pinned near the side-line, the attacker has fewer ways forward.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Block, show, squeeze, win.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
The side is easiest, the circle hardest.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · restitution
Blocking the right and showing the left channels play left.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press · application
Test 8Tighter near the circleFaire un test
The closer the ball is to the goal, the tighter the marking.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
It must also be aggressive.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
It allows defenders to intercept passes ahead of the receiving player.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
Feet and shoulders perpendicular to the line of pass.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Important · restitution
To have the ball and receiving player in the field of vision.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Important · restitution
Ensure that if an attacker receives, defenders are between ball and goal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic defensive rules · restitution
Attackers gather just in front of the goal, so marking there is tightest.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Tighter the nearer the goal.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle · restitution
Three of the basic rules.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic defensive rules · restitution
Side-on to the pass line keeps ball and receiver in view.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Important · application
Test 9Strikers who defendFaire un test
Disrupt the opposition's attacking lines.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Quick reverse press: pressure on opposition defenders and midfielders.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Close down and channel opposition defenders.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Close down the attacking space of the opposition right half, channel and delay.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks · restitution
Winning the ball high leaves little distance to the circle.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Strikers also recover into their own half when needed.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Pressure on rushed passers produces errors.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Press, steer, cut, win.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · restitution
Press high, then delay, then recover.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · application
Strikers close down defenders: defending from the front.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers · application
Test 10Fake spaceFaire un test
A defender allows more space, encouraging the pass to the 'open' player.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · restitution
As the pass is made, the defender steps to intercept, tackle or set up double defence.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · restitution
In the ball-in-centre situation and similar ones.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · restitution
Closing quickly after inviting the pass is everything.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Too slow, and the open player really is open.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Stepping in can set up a double defence.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · restitution
The pass looks safe, so it is played.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · restitution
Invite, pass, step, win.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · restitution
Far, closing, there.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · application
Inviting a pass to an apparently free player: fake space.
Source : KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre · application
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, Basic terms in defence11
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Individual tasks11
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide11
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Systems in hockey10
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defending outside the circle10
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the strikers10
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Full press7
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Ball in the centre7
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Role of the midfielders5
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Positional changes4
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Glossary3
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Important3
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Six-a-side2
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Formation 12
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Basic defensive rules2
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Phase 21
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Eight-a-side1