On-Pitch Leadership Challenge
Leadership
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Test full-game leadership capability by removing coach intervention completely during a scrimmage.
What you need
- field hockey sticks
- field hockey ball
- pinnies
- goals
Your focus
Real leadership is tested when the coach steps back. Players who can self-organize, communicate tactically, and manage team dynamics without a coach demonstrate high-level leadership. This scenario prepares players for tournament situations where coaches have limited access.
Inform both teams that the coach will not intervene for 15 minutes.
Teams must self-organize: warm-up, game plan, and in-game adjustments.
Coach observes and documents leadership behaviors without commenting.
Debrief: who led? What worked? What failed? What would you do differently?
Helpful cues
- Leadership is shown in the moments when the coach can't help you
- Coordinate, communicate, commit, those are the leadership actions
- The best teams don't need the coach on the pitch
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Coach stays involved for game management but steps back from tactics.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Remove the coach from the visible environment entirely, players must self-refer all decisions.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.