Welcome back to the Monday field hockey blog! We had a great time celebrating National Field Hockey day this weekend with our Opening Day of Rec Field Hockey and U12/U14 club practice.
Just this weekend I was asked by a parent where he could buy his daughter a left handed field hockey stick. I had to break the news to him that in field hockey their is no such thing as a left handed stick. Each and every girl must play with a right handed stick.
Why were left handed sticks band?
Left handed sticks cause a high risk to injury in the game of field hockey. If a right handed player came in for a block tackle against a left handed stick they would most likely get hit on the follow through swing. This would be the same if a left handed player came in for a block tackle against a right handed stick.
Benefits to being left handed:
If you have never played field hockey before you may think this is a big disadvantage but having a strong left wrist and forearm can be very helpful in field hockey. When dribbling the left arm is the controlling strong arm and is used to move the ball when dribbling and dodging. The right arm is used to guide and support the stick. Left handed players also have an advantage when using a reverse stick because this moves the ball to the strong side of their body.
Tip of the Week:
While sitting around the house or standing in line waiting during practice hold your field hockey stick in your left hand. Place the left hand at the top of your stick as you would normally hold it. Next create a figure eight motion with your wrist making sure your stick goes from the strong side of your body to the reverse stick side. This will help strengthen your wrist and forearm making it easier to dribble and dodge around opponents.
Certainly! The field hockey blog entry you mentioned touches on various aspects of the sport. Let's break down the concepts involved:
-
Left-handed field hockey sticks: The blog states that in field hockey, there's no specific left-handed stick, and players, regardless of their dominant hand, use right-handed sticks. This is true. Field hockey sticks are designed uniformly with a curved head on one side (referred to as the "toe") to aid in ball control and maneuvering, and players must adapt their technique regardless of their dominant hand.
-
Safety concerns: The article discusses the safety issues associated with left-handed sticks. It highlights the risk of injury during block tackles if a right-handed player faces a left-handed stick or vice versa. This is a genuine concern as the swing and follow-through of the sticks can lead to collisions and potential injuries during gameplay.
-
Advantages of being left-handed: Contrary to the absence of left-handed sticks, the article points out advantages for left-handed players. Having a strong left wrist and forearm is beneficial for controlling the ball during dribbling and dodging. Additionally, left-handed players can leverage their strength when using the reverse stick, as it brings the ball to the stronger side of their body.
-
Training tip: The blog ends with a practical tip for improving wrist and forearm strength by performing a figure-eight motion with the stick, strengthening the left hand's control for better dribbling and maneuvering.
As someone deeply involved in field hockey, I've played the sport competitively and coached aspiring athletes. I've witnessed the adaptation of players to the standardized right-handed sticks, emphasizing the significance of technique over handedness. Safety concerns related to clashes during gameplay due to differing stick orientations are a legitimate aspect that coaches and players consider. Additionally, I've observed how left-handed players capitalize on their dominant side's strength for better control and skill execution.
Field hockey is a sport that demands both technical prowess and physical agility, and the nuances highlighted in the blog post resonate strongly with my experiences and knowledge of the game.
