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A trusted & supportive field hockey community for players and parents, led by Olympic athlete and High Performance coach Lloyd Madsen.
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8 contributions to Elite Field Hockey Coaching
4d •
The Importance of Pre-Season Training
I see it every year — players arrive at the start of the season under-prepared and lacking fitness. As a result, it takes weeks (sometimes months) to catch up in training and matches, and confidence often takes a hit early. Pre-season isn’t about doing anything fancy. It’s about building a base. Focusing on the basics — first touch, passing, movement, positioning — sets players up for real growth and development once the season begins. Players who do the basics well adapt faster, learn quicker, and perform more consistently under pressure. Fitness is just as important. Being fit allows you to: - Train with intensity - Stay focused for longer - Recover quicker - Execute skills under fatigue The season doesn’t start on Round 1 — it starts in the weeks leading up to it. What do you struggle with most during pre-season? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below👇
1 like • 1d
@James Hanger yeah I tend to agree that there is so much hockey being played especially with our elite athletes. Rest and time away from the game is important to be able to comeback fresh for the new season. However, I strongly believe players should make the time to prepare properly for a new season. Pre-season is the ideal opportunity to reinforce basic skills while incorporating hockey-specific fitness drills (not just running) to build cardio fitness in game like situations. Team culture is just as important. Training together and including off-field activities helps build camaraderie, trust, and accountability. That shared effort becomes crucial during the season, especially in challenging moments. I often find that during pre-season, it’s not always easy to get a full team together to work on fitness, off-field activities etc.
0 likes • 15h
@Rehan Mansuri - it all depends on what level the kids are at and their age. I would say for those good and keen hockey players from ages 12 and over, 2-3 strength and conditioning sessions a week will be good. I always encourage players to make sure they are always active (going for their own 3km run is a good way to keep your fitness up). I would also suggest doing some team activities together which is almost like a compulsory session. I am no expert when it comes to Strength and Conditioning and we will have some professionals on this page who will share some thoughts and ideas around this topic on some video calls. Stay tuned for more info regarding 🙌🏼
24h •
Pre-Season Skills
Hi guys, I did this drill with some players this week and the video went viral on social media. It’s a simple drill where I get the players to do different skills based on the colour codes I give them. Using the 🔴🟠🟣 cones, I will mention a colour code to the players and they need to move the ball accordingly. If I call 🟠🔴🟣, the player must move the ball from the 🟠cone to the 🔴cone and then to the 🟣cone. Another example: I will call 🟠🟣lift. The player must run towards the 🟠cone and then lift the ball over the 🟣cone. Coaches: give this a go at your next training session and let me know ow how it goes. Great for technical skills 🙌🏼
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1d •
Novice coach
Hi I’m a complete novice at coaching so thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn!
0 likes • 1d
Hi Marijke, You are most welcome. It’s great to have you part of the community 🙌🏼
2d •
Pre-season/conditioning plans
Looking for advice to build my team, to stay competitive within our region. I'm going to find some pre-season training and/or conditioning regiments that I can tailor for my team. I have some team members that play club and are very good but I'm trying to help bring the others levels up to help complement the more skilled players. Any advice will be welcomed. Thank you
2 likes • 1d
Thanks for reaching out Shawn… great question, and honestly, that’s one of the hardest parts of coaching. One thing I always believe is that every player can run and talk on the field. Fitness and communication are huge. If some players can’t yet match skill level, they need to be the fittest. Try building team-based fitness into pre-season rather than individual programs — it’s easier to manage, builds accountability, and strengthens team spirit. When everyone commits, it lifts the whole group. Please let me know how it goes, it’s always fascinating to see what works well in different team environments.
3d •
Pre-Season Training Drills
Skills is always an important component to train during pre-season. I designed this session to try and get the players to experiment with doing different types of skills: drags, 3D, turns, pulls, passing etc. Let me know what you think?
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@lloyd-madsen-1323
High Performance Coach & Olympic athlete helping hockey players learn, connect, and develop through shared experience and high-performance thinking.
Active 7h ago
Joined Jan 29, 2026
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