A View From the Side

Our eponymous leader talks the fridge, Rob Burrows, Boyley and what really matters when you get on the hockey pitch...

The long and the short……and does size matter

Who is the tallest player in the club? Lathers? Or the smallest? Umpa Lumpa Greeners? (Did a lot for the club as exCharimano…bit like Boyley). But out of these who is the better player? Does size matter? Well lets explore it. Think American Football – think William Perry (The Fridge…so big) or Rice (tall and thin) the famed wide receiver. If you ain’t huge or the ultimate speedster forget it. In Rugby League with the exception of Rob Burrows (Leeds Rhinos) most players are big, well very big. Basketball, if your under 6ft, you might be a guard, if your lucky, if not then you’re the mop guy. In so many sports the players “fit” influences ability and success. In essence many sports are limited to a few. Hockey now let’s think – tall, short, fat and thin – all can play. If you have a degree of fitness then you play until you decide – longevity rules. So for me hockey is the most accommodating game it truly is a sport for all – size doesn’t matter!!!

In hockey the only real long and short to be considered is the distance of the pass. In defence England Hockey might advocate “long” and in attack short in nature. It would be fair to say that such an approach to passing is admirable, but if practiced on a too frequent basis might be easy to read. In fairness a pick and mix, not a Woolies best, but one that adds uncertainty is something worth considering. Regardless of “long or short” players need to be aware of others, in a sort of Luke Skywalker type of way. In practice players scanning and leading would aid whatever formation is being advocated by coaches and captains.

So in playing your game just think that you are playing a game that is available for all and one in which size doesn’t matter. All that does matter is your playing and enjoying hockey. 

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