Making Space to Pass.

The situation in the photograph is not uncommon; the player in possession is trying to make a pass to a team-mate who is isolated on the far side of an opponent who has the path of the pass covered.

In this particular case to lose the ball to an interception could be costly because this appears to be taking place in a position close to the end-zone of the player in possession, wide on her left wing. i.e. the right wing of the opponent’s attack. Furthermore if there is an interception, the ‘covering’ defender is going to be badly out of position to prevent an attack directly towards the circle. The situation may be even worse than it appears at first glance, because in the top left corner of the photograph there seems to be part of a head and that could belong to another opponent and cutting inside the clsing tackler may not be an option. The player with the ball therefore has few forward choices and very little time. That lack of choice is the fault of her team-mates and of an erroneous perception that to move the ball forward it must always be played forward.
Playing the ball forward, especially towards players who are in defensive and/or midfield positions, can be counter-productive if those receiving such passes are isolated in possession i.e. are without immediate close support. What, in the situation in the picture for example, will the left-winger do with the ball once she has received it; run with it? Even if it reaches her, she is certain to be harried from the moment she receives it. In order to avoid the opponents stick the player making the pass may have to lift the ball and receiving a lifted pass from behind is not the easiest of skills. The pass is short and the opponent being passed is very close so the receiver may not have time to control the ball.  Also, it appears her support players are going to be behind her, cut off by opposition.  

The ideal situation in which to pass the ball forward is one where the receiving player has time and space and immediate close support to lay off another pass. These situations have to be created. They have to be created by the player who is going to receive the pass.

Let us first look at a situation familiar to all forwards and goalkeepers, where one of the basic principles can be demonstrated.

It is very simple; the further from the goal the forward shoots the better the angle to avoid the reach of the goalkeepers pads. If the goalkeeper moves out he/she has a better chance of intercepting the shot. The closer the forward gets to the goal the easier it is for the goalkeeper to deny a clear shot.

A skillful forward will be able to hit the ball hard and accurately on target, before the goalkeeper can react to cover the corner towards which the ball is traveling, if the direction of the hit is sufficiently disguised; but if he gets too close the goalkeeper need move only a couple of meters off the goal-line to completely cover all shooting angles without even having to stretch to one side or other with a leg-guard.

 Uncontested one-on-ones between a forward and a goalkeeper are unusual. Goalkeepers will rely on some defenders to cover one  part of the goal (at short-corners, for example, close to the posts) and others to shepherd the forward into an unpromising shooting angle (normally to one or other side of the goal) where it will be easier for the goalkeeper to cover the reduced target area.

This simple lesson in closing angles can be reversed to open them.

The cue for the move comes from the player in possession. A turn is made with the ball or it is dragged back, here beyond a rearward right-foot. At the start of this cue, the player to the rear (who should already have advised her team-mate of her availability for a pass) makes a  run,in this case forward and inside, and receives a back- pass. 
As soon as the winger sees the turn for the back-pass he/she is poised to dart into position behind the opponent to receive a pass, wide of the reach of the opponent.  There are many variations that can be developed on this simple move. So many that players need first to learn one or two to gradually incorporate into play. 

By this method a two-on-one situation has been created.  It has practically no risk of interception and puts two players forward with the ball and in support of each other. The tackler is in the same position as a goalkeeper who has been drawn wide out of the goal and then bypassed by a pass across the goal.  
By bringing in a fourth player the passing options become almost unlimited. All depends, however, on the players without the ball working to make passing opportunities for the ball carrier and this must be planned and practiced, so that players are aware of who is going to run where. This kind of development cannot be done overnight (unless you are working with soccer players, who have been doing this for years) but hockey players often have still to develop a 360°awareness of passing and moving options.