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Sunburst Flyers 15ULeave Demo

Clearing drills

Drills you can run at practice.

Team drill
Penalty Corner Defensive Clear
Run at practice

Clearing

12 minutes
Penalty Corner Defensive Clear
Clearing
Legend
Player
Defender
Ball
Defender movement
Ball path
How It Works

Execute accurate defensive clears from penalty corner situations against a live injection and shot.

More drills
What You Need
field hockey sticksfield hockey ballconesgoal
Your Focus

Penalty corners are high-pressure set pieces where clearing execution is critical.

1
Set Up

Set up a standard penalty corner: injector, stopper, and shooter on offense; 2 defenders rush out.

2
Run The Rep
A.
On the injection, the first defender rushes to block the shot; second defender looks to clear any rebound or deflection.
B.
If the first defender gets a touch, they immediately clear wide to sideline.
3
Check It

Rush flat and stay low

Goal

You've got it when your defensive clear beats the penalty corner injection and gets the ball safely out of the circle.

Helpful Cues
Rush flat and stay lowClear decisively, no hesitationAim for the sideline, not down the middle
UPLVL IT

Add a third attacker crashing the circle.

Source: USA Field Hockey Coach Education Program
Team drill
High-Pressure Clear and Counter
Run at practice

Clearing

12 minutes
High-Pressure Clear and Counter
Clearing
Legend
Player
Opponent
Ball
Player movement
Opponent movement
Ball path
How It Works

Clear the ball under intense opponent pressure and immediately transition into a team counterattack.

More drills
What You Need
field hockey sticksfield hockey ballconesgoals
Your Focus

Advanced clearances must connect to the team's counterattacking structure.

1
Set Up

Set up a 40x30-yard area with goals at each end; 3 defenders vs 4 attackers in the defensive half.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Attackers press hard; defenders must win the ball and clear to two midfielders waiting at the halfway line.
B.
If the clear reaches the midfielders, they immediately attack the opposite goal (3v2 counter).
3
Check It

Clear to a teammate, not just away

Goal

You're doing it right when your clear under pressure immediately triggers a counterattack, the ball doesn't just leave the zone, it lands somewhere useful.

Helpful Cues
Clear to a teammate, not just awayCall for the ball before you clearTransition your mind from defense to attack instantly
UPLVL IT

Defenders must clear within 5 seconds of winning the ball.

Source: USA Field Hockey Coach Education Program
Solo drill
First-Touch Clear Under Pressure
Run at practice

Clearing

12 minutes1-2 Players
First-Touch Clear Under Pressure
Clearing
Legend
Player
Defender
Ball
Cone
Ball path
How It Works

Clear the ball on the first touch after receiving a pass from a partner, developing speed and decisiveness under mild pressure.

More drills
What You Need
field hockey sticksfield hockey ballcones
Your Focus

In games, defenders rarely get to set their feet before clearing.

1
Set Up

Defender stands at the top of a small circle; partner stands 10 yards away.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Partner passes the ball firmly to the defender.
B.
Defender takes one controlling touch, then clears the ball wide to a target cone 25 yards away.
3
Check It

Angle your first touch to set up the clear

Goal

Success is getting the clear away cleanly on the first touch, no second touch needed, no dithering under mild pressure.

Helpful Cues
Angle your first touch to set up the clearClear on the second touch, don't take threeMake it strong and wide
UPLVL IT

Add a time limit of 3 seconds from receiving to clearing.

Source: USA Field Hockey Coach Education Program
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