The Field Hockey Coaching Journal: Arriving Feb 2026

Elevate your coaching and lead your team to peak performance with the Field Hockey Coaching Journal. Created by Daniel Goodwin, Founder and Head Coach of The Field Hockey Academy, this professional-grade tool is designed to help you identify patterns, track team progress, and accelerate development throughout the season. Whether you are analyzing film or managing game-day stress, this journal is your blueprint for the "process of mastery".

The Design

• Designed by Australian International Hockey Coach Daniel Goodwin for use by athletes of all ages and all playing levels.
• Custom made scratch resistant hardcover with upgraded 240gsm waterproof and tear resistant Stone Paper - it can stand up to the spills, sweat and grime of your Hockey kit bag with an ultra smooth writing experience.
• 144 pages pre printed with a repeating format of Game Day / Training Points of Emphasis, A training / Game Day Planner with 2 full field diagrams for planning out sessions, structures, PC's or tactical play, Film and Game Review page, Team Game performance review 5 star system page. Pages feature a light 5mm dot matrix for ease of drawing diagrams, plays and training setups.
• Ring bound so each page can be opened flat for ease of writing.
• Ribbon page marker, elastic closure and pen loop for convenience.
• Designed to work with the The Field Hockey Academy Players Journal for an integrated experience for your team.

Strategic Planning & Team Management

Preparation is the foundation of every win. This journal provides dedicated spaces to organise your thoughts and communicate effectively with your squad:

• Segmented Team Talks: Use specialised sections to plan coaching points for Strikers, Midfielders, Defenders, and the team as a whole.
  
• Game Day & Training Planner: Capture your mental state, intentions, and points of emphasis before stepping onto the pitch.
  
• Visual Strategy Tools: Utilise full-field diagrams to map out training drills, pressing structures, and complex penalty corner routines.
  
• Dynamic Goal Setting: Personalise your pages by sticking in visions or goals you aim to achieve with your team.
  
  

Advanced Tactical & Film Review

Take your analysis beyond the final score with a comprehensive review system:

• Tactical With Ball (WB): Evaluate team Structure, Shape, and the effectiveness of your Outletting.
  
• Tactical Without Ball (WOB): Review your Pressing triggers, Zonal vs. Man-to-Man (M2M) setups, and defensive shape.
  
• Phase-Based Rating: Rate team performance using a 5-star system across Pre-Game (Team Talk), In-Game (Decision Making & Communication), and Post-Game (Discipline & Game Management).
  
• Film Analysis: Dedicated space for Game/Film Review to document technical and tactical breakthroughs.
  
  

Technical Mastery & Player Feedback

Detailed tracking allows you to provide the specific feedback your players need to grow:

• The 4D Defending System: Monitor execution of Deny, Distance, Dictate, and Dispossess, alongside Circle Defending (Feet & Marking).
  
• Skill Execution Review: Track Circle Craft (Killer Instinct & Shot Variety), Ball Control, and Distribution (Leading & Passing).
  
• Set Play Specialist: Analyse PCA (Inject, Trap, Flick, Deflect), PCD (Run, Post), Long Corners, and Special Skills like strokes and shootouts.
  
• Player-Specific Insights: Use the +/- Player Specific Feedback section to record individual "wins" and specific "needs improvement" areas for your next session.
  
• Use the ratings to plan your next training session to focus on areas your team needs the most.

Expert Coaching Insights

• Specificity Rules: Move beyond generalities like "defend better"—the journal encourages specific cues like "protect feet when jab tackling".
  
• Immediate Reflection: Pro-tips suggest completing reviews within two hours of a session while decision-making details are fresh.
  
• Trajectory Tracking: Includes dated entries to help you visualise the team’s growth over weeks and months.
  

"By consistently tracking your team's technical and tactical skills... you can identify patterns and accelerate development throughout the season."

A must have piece of kit for every Hockey Coach.