How to Aerial Dribble in Field Hockey

Aerial dribbling is not actually used in a game (it is not the same as aerial passing). It’s more of a practice technique used to develop your hand-eye coordination. The purpose of aerial dribbling is to work on receiving and controlling the ball. It’s also a fun way to impress your friends! Practice in your spare time to develop your skills and add in some tricks to make it a little more fun.

The Aerial Dribble

While you are aerial dribbling, also known as “air dribbling,” the goal is to keep the ball in the air by continuously tapping it with your stick. It’s as simple as that.

To make it more interesting, count how many times you make contact with the ball before dropping it, and then work to beat your previous record each time.

1. Hold the stick in the basic grip (right hand at the base of the grip and left hand at the top).
2. Hold the stick in front of you with the bottom of the stick facing away and its flat side facing the sky. The stick should start out parallel to the ground and as high as you want it.
3. Place a field hockey ball on the stick.
4. Continually tap the ball about one foot into the air with the flat side of you stick.
5. Keep the ball in the air for as long as possible.

Work on mastering this, then move on to the more complex moves.

Tricks

After you develop the basic air dribbling skill, you can add some tricks to it. With tricks, you can further develop your hand-eye coordination and still have fun. Below are a few tricks to add to your dribble:

Behind the Back

This trick will get your hands in motion, and your ball a lot higher:

1. Aerial dribble the ball in front of you.
2. While aerial dribbling, tap the ball 6-10 feet into the air.
3. Pass the stick from one hand to the other (your preference), from behind your back.
4. Bring the stick back into the aerial dribbling position, and receive the ball on the flat side of the stick.
5. Continue dribbling by tapping the ball lightly.
6. Complete as many times as desired.

Windmill

The windmill is a fun way to practice your skills. You may feel like you’re twirling a baton with this trick, and that’s okay! It’ll get your hands moving and your eyes focused on the ball.

1. Aerial dribble the ball in front of you.
2. While aerial dribbling, tap the ball 6-10 feet into the air.
3. While the ball is in the air, twirl the stick 360 degrees in front of you. Use your right hand to press the stick down and to the left. Use your left hand to push the stick up and to the right. Doing this simultaneously will cause your stick to spin 360 degrees in the air (like a windmill).
4. Catch the handle of the stick with your left hand and place your hands back in the basic grip in time to receive the ball.
5. Receive the ball on the flat side of the stick.
6. Continue dribbling by tapping the ball lightly.

Stick Rotations

In the stick rotation, you continually tap the ball up in the air and simply rotate the stick in your hands so the ball hits every edge. You are basically rotating the stick a 45 degrees every time you hit the ball into the air. By refining your ability to hit the ball straight off the edge of the stick, it will help to improve your hand-eye coordination in the game.

1. Aerial dribble the ball in front of you.
2. Continually tap the ball about one foot into the air.
3. Rotate the stick back and forth in your hands, while continually tapping the ball in the air.
4. First, have the ball hit the flat side of the stick.
5. Then, rotate the stick clockwise or counterclockwise and have the ball hit the edge, the back, the reverse edge, and the flat side again during four separate hits.
6. Complete the rotation as many times as desired.

Cushion the Ball

Cushioning the ball after hitting it in the air is much harder than you’d think. Basically you need to think of the ball as an egg that you cannot break. So, you must be as gentle as possible when you catch it. Once you can master cushioning an air ball, you will be an expert at cushioning a ground ball.

1. Aerial dribble the ball in front of you.
2. Tap the ball about a foot into the air.
3. Catch the ball on your stick and hold it there — do not tap it again. To cushion it, let the stick “give a little” at impact with the ball.
4. Balance the ball on the stick for as long as possible.
5. Then, restart the dribble.
6. Complete as many times as desired.

Waterfall

This trick requires two or more players to complete. It helps you to practice quick repositioning of the stick, and collecting and releasing the ball.

1. First playe r: Place your hands in the basic grip and hold the stick in front of you at about shoulder-height.
2. Second player: Face the first player, and place your stick 6-12 inches beneath the first player’s stick.
3. Second player: Place the ball on the first player’s stick.
4. First player: Tilt the stick to the right or left, and let the ball roll off it.
5. Second player: Catch the ball on your stick. Then, tilt your stick to let the ball roll off of it.
6. First player: While the second player gains control of the ball, reposition your stick underneath her stick, 6-12 inches below it.
7. Second player: As the ball rolls of your stick, reposition your stick beneath the first player’s stick.
8. First and second players: Repeat steps five and six until you both drop the ball or reach the ground. You can use as many players as you’d like.

Create Your Own

These are only few tricks to get you started with your aerial dribbling skills, but you can always add your own. Aerial dribbling is all about developing your skills and having fun at the same time. So, look at these tricks as a time to be creative in your sport. If you put your mind to it, you and your teammates can come up with plenty of new techniques!