Adversity Gauntlet
Resilience
Legend
- player
- partner / opponent
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Test elite resilience by running a structured adversity gauntlet where teams face intentional disadvantages and must compete through them.
What you need
- field hockey sticks
- field hockey ball
- pinnies
- goals
Your focus
Adversity gauntlets create conditions harder than real games, building the mental toughness to handle anything competition offers. Teams that have survived deliberate adversity in training approach real challenges with confidence. Resilience trained in these conditions is durable and transferable.
Run a 6v6 game; every 3 minutes, the coach adds a deliberate disadvantage to one team (e.g., play 6v5, a goal is taken away, restricted touch).
Team must compete through each disadvantage without dropping effort or attitude.
Coach monitors body language and effort as the key metrics.
Final 3 minutes: disadvantage removed, teams play fair. Does the resilience carry over?
Goal
Success is competing through every intentional disadvantage in the gauntlet and finding a way to score despite them, not folding.
Helpful cues
- The disadvantage ends, keep going anyway
- Resilient teams don't need conditions to be fair
- This is harder than any game you'll play, that's the point
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
One disadvantage per session; gradually increase over weeks.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Disadvantaged team must also execute a specific tactical plan despite the disadvantage.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.