College coaches evaluate field hockey recruits based on specific skills relevant to each position. When building your pinned playlist, use the skill tags below to highlight the skills coaches want to see most. 

Field Hockey Skills in Pinned Playlist:

• 1v1 Offense

• 1v1 Defense

• Passing

• Tackling

• Stick Skills

• Ball Carrying

• Shooting

• Att. Penalty Corners

• Free Hits

• Circle Entry

• Press

• Marking

• Def. Penalty Corners

• Circle Defense

• Outlet

• Interception

• Clearing

• Saves

If you think something is missing or need assistance, submit a form here:  🔗 Form Link → 

⭐ Tip: If a clip contains multiple skills or covers an extended play, use multiple tags so college coaches can evaluate it accurately. For example, a successful drive that leads to a goal should be tagged with both "Ball Carrying" and "Shooting."

Forwards

Forwards are primarily responsible for creating and executing scoring opportunities. College coaches evaluate forwards on their ability to create space, finish plays, and contribute to a dynamic offense.

• 1v1 Offense

  • Demonstrate your ability to beat defenders in space while maintaining ball control. Include clips showing different elimination skills, changes of direction, and successful creation of shooting space.

    • Examples: Successful elimination moves against defenders, creating space to shoot

• Shooting

  • Showcase your finishing ability with a variety of shot types and situations. Include both penalty corner shots and field play shots, demonstrating your ability to finish under pressure.

    • Examples: Reverse shots, slap shots, tip-ins, deflections

• Circle Entry

  • Display your ability to effectively enter the circle with control and purpose. Show clips of successful entries that lead to scoring opportunities.

    • Examples: Carrying the ball into the circle, passing to teammates in scoring positions

• Stick Skills

  • Highlight technical stick skills that allow you to maintain possession and create opportunities. Show effective 3D skills, lifts, and close control in tight spaces.

    • Examples: Aerial skills, deception moves, quick hands in the circle

• Ball Carrying

  • Demonstrate your ability to carry the ball at pace while maintaining control. Include clips showing effective use of space and the ability to eliminate defenders while on the move.

    • Examples: Carrying in open field, eliminating defenders at speed

• Passing

  • Show your distribution skills with accurate and timely passing. Include both short-range combination passes and longer penetrating passes that create scoring chances.

    • Examples: Give-and-go passes, leading passes to teammates

• Att. Penalty Corners

  • If you are involved in attacking penalty corners, include clips demonstrating your role. This could be as an injector, stopper, shooter, or deflector.

    • Examples: Executing deflections, positioning for rebounds, striking from the top of the circle

Midfielders 

Midfielders must contribute on both ends of the field and excel in transition. Coaches seek players who can impact the game across all areas of the field with their distribution, defensive awareness, and offensive creativity.

• Passing

  • Display your distribution skills from various field positions. Show your ability to switch play, send penetrating passes, and connect with teammates in advanced positions.

    • Examples: Through passes, aerial passes, quick give-and-go combinations

• Ball Carrying

  • Demonstrate your ability to carry through midfield and eliminate defenders. Include clips showing your decision-making and ability to transition from defense to attack.

    • Examples: Carries that break lines of defense, elimination skills in midfield

• Stick Skills

  • Showcase your technical ability with the ball. Include clips demonstrating control, receiving skills, and the ability to eliminate defenders in tight spaces.

    • Examples: First-touch control, 3D skills, close control under pressure

• 1v1 Defense

  • Show proper defensive positioning and footwork when defending opponents. Demonstrate channeling attackers away from dangerous areas and successful tackles.

    • Examples: Containing attackers, forcing them to non-dominant side

• Tackling

  • Display proper tackling technique and timing. Include clips of both standing tackles and jab tackles that effectively dispossess opponents.

    • Examples: Clean tackles, successful jab tackles, recovery tackles

• Interception

  • Demonstrate your ability to read the game and intercept passes. Show examples of cutting off passing lanes and quickly transitioning to offense after gaining possession.

    • Examples: Intercepting through passes, stepping in front of receivers

• Press

  • Show your understanding of team pressing and individual pressing responsibilities. Include clips of effective pressure that forces turnovers or disrupts the opponent's build-up.

    • Examples: Pressing opponents into errors, coordinated pressing with teammates

• Free Hits

  • Display your ability to quickly restart play with free hits. Include examples of self-starts and strategic free hits that create attacking opportunities.

    • Examples: Quick self-starts, free hits that break defensive lines

Defenders

Defenders must demonstrate both individual defensive skills and team defense concepts. Coaches evaluate defenders on their ability to prevent scoring opportunities, maintain possession, and initiate attacks.

• 1v1 Defense

  • Show your ability to defend attackers in isolation situations. Include clips demonstrating proper defensive positioning, footwork, and successful dispossession.

    • Examples: Channeling attackers away from the circle, maintaining proper defensive stance

• Tackling

  • Showcase your tackling technique and timing. Include both standing tackles and jab tackles that effectively win possession without fouling.

    • Examples: Clean tackles within the circle, jab tackles to disrupt attacks

• Marking

  • Demonstrate how you track and stay with attackers off the ball. Show clips where you deny receiving opportunities and prevent high-percentage shots.

    • Examples: Close marking in the circle, denying leads from forwards

• Circle Defense

  • Display your ability to defend within the circle. Include clips showing positioning, composure, and successful interventions in high-pressure situations.

    • Examples: Clearing rebounds, blocking shots, defending against multiple attackers

• Clearing

  • Show your ability to effectively clear the ball from defensive areas. Include clips of both controlled clearances and pressure releases.

    • Examples: Strong clearances out of circle, controlled passes to initiate attack

• Def. Penalty Corners

  • If you defend on penalty corners, include clips showing your role. This could be as a runner, post player, or line defender.

    • Examples: Blocking shots as a runner, defending the post, clearing rebounds

• Outlet

  • Demonstrate your ability to distribute from the back. Show examples of effective outlets that initiate attacks and bypass opposing pressure.

    • Examples: Accurate passes to midfielders, movement after distributing

• Interception

  • Show your ability to read the game and intercept passes. Include clips of anticipating attacking movements and stepping in to win possession.

    • Examples: Intercepting through passes, cutting off passing lanes to the circle

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers must demonstrate save ability, communication skills, and distribution. Coaches evaluate goalkeepers on their shot-stopping, positioning, and ability to initiate attacks after saves.

• Saves

  • Show saves from various shot types and situations. Include both reaction saves and positional saves, demonstrating your technique and athleticism.

    • Examples: Kick saves, glove saves, stick saves from different angles and distances

• Def. Penalty Corners

  • Display your penalty corner defense technique. Include clips showing positioning, reaction time, and successful saves during penalty corners.

    • Examples: Defending drag flicks, saving rebounds, organizing defense

• Clearing

  • Demonstrate your ability to clear the ball effectively after making a save. Show both kicks and hand clears that find teammates and relieve pressure.

    • Examples: Accurate clearances to sidelines, distribution to open teammates

• Circle Defense

  • Show your ability to defend in open play within the circle. Include clips of coming off the line, narrowing angles, and managing rebounds.

    • Examples: Sliding tackles, aggressive positioning to cut off angles

• Outlet

  • Display your distribution skills after making a save. Include examples of quick restarts that create counterattacking opportunities.

    • Examples: Quick free hits after saves, accurate long clears to midfielders

• Interception

  • Demonstrate your ability to read through passes and intercept them before attackers can reach them. Show your decision-making when coming off the line.

    • Examples: Sliding out to intercept through balls, cutting off crossing passes

After learning what coaches are looking for with your specific position, it’s time to start creating your pinned playlist. Check out our article, “Building and Publishing Pinned Playlists,” to get started!