Welcome

Rules

Penalties

General Team Skills

Basic Team Patterns

Phase One

Phase Two

Phase Three

Phase Four

Phase Five

Phase Six

Puck In Contention

Trick Stuff

Review
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

     There are two cases in this phase: we lose it in the shooting zone (between the blue line and the goal, usually called the slot), and we lose it near the boards or in the corners.  These determine what our defensemen do.  If the other team gets the puck in the shooting zone both defensemen must immediately start backing up to cover the other team's breaking forwards.  Our forward in the high slot must immediately act as a defenseman.  This will usually give us the advantage because we will have three defending players for the other team to get around.

     If the other team gets it in the corners or at the boards, our defenseman farthest from the puck must start backing up right away, almost to the red line.  Our forward high in the slot backs up to the blue line.  Our defenseman nearest the puck usually
must also start backing up.  But he MAY hold his position at the blue line (the point) to try to stop a clearing pass up the boards if and ONLY if the forward is at or near the blue line to cover for him AND our other defenseman is backing up.  The basic idea is we need an absolute minimum of two players back.

     In other words, a defenseman must back up when the other team gets the puck unless someone is covering for him and the other defenseman is backing up.  This prevents us getting caught with less than two defending players back when the other team breaks out.  THERE IS NO IDEA MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS IN PHASE ONE.  READ IT AGAIN.  AND AGAIN.

     For the forwards it doesn't matter where the other team gets the puck.  In either case the forward nearest the blue line (usually in the high slot area) should move back to the blue line and be ready to move to center ice and cover the other team's
head man (backchecking), even if he doesn't have the puck.  Don't wait; start skating back as soon as the other team gains possession.  This is the most important move for a forward to make in Phase 1.  One, it guarantees we have at least two players back on defense, even if one of our defensemen makes a mistake.  Two, it usually gives three players back on defense.  This is the two-three defense I spoke of earlier.  Finally, it doesn't matter if the other teams's head man is temporarily ahead of you.  Your job as a defending forward is to catch up to him to prevent him from maneuvering around our defensemen or taking a shot.  A secondary job is to get between him and his passer to try to intercept the pass, but don't let this slow you down from catching up to him.  In most cases this one move by our forwards will give us three players back, which will help a great deal to cut down on goals against.  See Figure 1.

     The forward nearest the puck should try to get it back from the other team (forechecking).  Finally, the forward who is neither near the puck nor nearest the blue line should move to the slot about halfway between the crease and the blue line and be ready to receive a pass and take a shot if we regain the puck inside the zone.

     If you are the forward nearest the blue line and also the one nearest the puck, leave the puck and move back to center ice unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE you will regain the puck.

     If the other team's breakout succeeds, we should have both our defensemen backing up in center ice and one forward covering the other team's head man in center ice.  Our other two forwards should move to cover the other team's remaining two forwards.  Again, it's most important not to give up just because you are behind them.  They have to slow down to pass and maneuver and to keep from going off side.  You don't have this disadvantage.  If you go full speed you will be back in the play and contributing to defense, no matter where you are when we lose the puck.  The worst mistake you can make is to think you are too far behind to make a difference.  Forwards ALWAYS make a difference when they come back hard on defense.

     If the breakout doesn't succeed; that is, if we regain possession of the puck within their zone, we move to Phase 6.  We already have two forwards (and maybe one defenseman) inside the zone.  The forward who came back outside the blue line should turn around and rush back in, directly towards the net, ready for a pass.  This sets up the attack triangle with the other two forwards.  Our defensemen should move forward again, but cautiously.  Don't get caught skating in if we lose the puck
again.

HINT:  Before going on to Phase 2, think about this.

     Don't ever give up trying to get the puck, even when it looks like the opposing player will get it first.  In our league, even when the opposing player gets to the puck before you, he will mishandle it much of the time.  If you keep going hard and fast, you won't give him any second chances.  When he misses it, YOU will have it.