former Duke University Head Coach,
member of the NFHCA Hall of Fame (2008),
led Duke to four consecutive Final Fours from 2003-06,
finishing as the national runner-up in three of those occasions (2003-05),
has over 300 career victories!
Step onto the field with this All-Access inside look into Beth Bozman's Duke Field Hockey Team as she welcomes you to a series of three practices where you get to see all the workings of a championship program. The emphasis and activities of each practice change as the team work's their way through the week and comes closer to a weekend of games.
In the first practice, Bozman's team has just come off two games over the weekend followed by a off-day, so Bozman leads them through a more vigorous practice aimed at conditioning and skill work. Jeff Houser, the speed and agility coach at Duke (and a former Olympian), starts the practice with an anerobic threshold conditioning workout, which builds up the players' staminia.
Next, Bozman switches to skill work, running a 3-station ball support drill, passing, and shooting drills that incorporate a ball lift to develop soft hands on the receiving end before the shot. Moving to defense, Bozman runs a defense drill that reinforces pushing the attacker to the hash marks, which will give the defense a chance to recover and organize. The drill starts 1v1, then moves to 2v2 allowing the defense to work on reading the lead attack player. You will hear Bozman pass along coaching tips and strategies for the defense, as well as for the offense that will lead to corner opportunities.
Bozman runs a 3v2 No Touch game reinforcing tracking skills and getting to the low defender as quick as possible. The goal is to develop sharp passing combinations to isolate the defense and create more 2-on-1 situations in games.
A skeleton passing drill closes practice. This drill sharpens cutting patterns and ball pace.
In the second practice, the team is led through more team drills that incorporate game play into the practice. This prepares the players for games both physically and mentally. The practice features drills for ball movement, circle defense and the press.
Day two's passing and shooting skill work includes a 5-Man Passing drill that focuses on backing away, covering passing lanes and scoring when the numbers are in your favor. A weave and shoot drill works on spacing and getting a number of shots in a short amount of time.
Moving on to defense, Bozman runs a defense and recovery drill that will help your defense slow down the attack in the circle and, by using the body, defend a space that will force the attack outside.
Bozman shows her Fall Away Press, where you will see the importance of moving on the front end of the pass, so that you don't lose your chance to step up and press.
Bozman's third practice is the final practice before departing for games. She lowers the intensity and places the emphasis on preparing for the upcoming games. Drills during this practice are specifically tailored to mimic schemes that opponents run so Bozman's squad is prepared to face them on game day.
Grid passing helps with fading off the pass, using soft hands and keeping the passes flat. Warm-up shooting, redirection passing, long hit and skeleton passing keying on fakes are a sampling of the skills that Bozman drills.
With this inside look into Duke Field Hockey, you will be able to prepare your team for games like Hall of Fame Coach Beth Bozman does!
These practices were conducted following the opening week of the season, which will give you a good feel for how to structure the opening prcatices of your season.
139 minutes (2 DVDs). 2010.
