Defensive TacticsIn order for players to be successful in hockey, they need to have strategies in place to handle many different situations they will face during a hockey game. A tactic = strategy. Players need to utilize many tactics during the course of a hockey game in order to create advantages over their opponents.
There are 2 kinds of Defensive Tactics: Individual and Team. Here is a summary of the Hockey Canada DVD set dealing with Defensive Tactics. In order to play at higher levels, players need to be comfortable performing these tactics when on defense.
Individual Defensive Tactics is a combination of skating, balance, agility, and checking skills. When on defense, players need to read & react to the situation, and use their technical skills in order to prevent the opposition from getting a quality scoring chance.
1.1 Skating
1.1.1 Forward Skating
- Players should be very comfortable performing glide turns (example for angling), tight turns (example team mate loses control of the puck in the neutral zone, you need to get back into your zone as quickly as possible), stops & starts (should be practice by players at all levels), and control skating (example pressure or contain puck carrier, gap control).
- Players should be able to do these skating drills at top speed, always be in a position to take away your opponent’s offensive opportunities.
1.1.2 Backward Skating
- In order to play at an elite level, you need to be a great backwards skater.
- practice your backwards starts and stops, skate backwards at your top speed. When playing the rush, a player needs to have mastered his backwards skating, which will make it easier to steer opponents away from key scoring areas.
1.1.3 Changing Directions
- Players need to work on their pivoting (from both feet), transitional skating, and turning, which will enable you to keep a close gap on your opponent.
1.2 One vs. One Defense
1.2.1 Positioning
- When you are playing a one on one confrontation, it is important to properly align your body against your opponents. When puck carrier attacks from an outside lane, you need to assume an inside position, line up your outside shoulder with puck carrier’s inside shoulder. When opponent is attacking from the middle lane, defender assumes a head on position and force (steer) puck carrier to outside away from the middle of the ice.
1.2.2 Redirecting the Rush
- be able to read the rush and steer it in the direction that you want. Use your body and stick to steer play as much as possible (example on a forecheck).
1.2.3 Pinching
- When defender in opposing zone believes they can keep the puck in the zone or separate the opponent from the puck, they should perform a pinch by stepping up inside the opposition blue line.
1.2.4 Gap Control
- Gap control is the distance between the defender and the attacker. You should stay no more than 2 stick lengths away from the attacker, very important to work on your controlled skating.
- If defender plays too close a gap (tight gap), he runs the risk of getting beat by the outside lane.
- If defender plays too large a gap (loose gap), he runs the risk of giving away the middle of the ice.
1.2.5 Closing the Gap
- Defender needs to change speeds, read & react to opponent. Players need to practice closing the gap as quickly as possible while maintaining speed.
1.2.6 Stepping Up
- Stepping up is when defenders commit to checking the opposing puck carrier.
- Normally done when attacking player has poor control of the puck, or when the opposing puck carrier has no support around him.
1.2.7 Pressure or Contain
- Pressure or contain will depend on the attackers body positioning and also on how well he is controlling the puck.
- if puck carrier has good control and is facing the defender – CONTAIN
- if puck carrier has his back to the defender, and/or does not have good control of the puck – PRESSURE
- Players should remember the “NUMBER-CREST” rule. If you see the opponent’s number you should pressure, if you see their crest, you should contain.
1.2.8 Angling
- angling is one of the first lines of defense
- Players should learn to angle their opponents in the direction you want them to go, use controlled skating and skate in an arc to gradually reduce the puck carrier’s space and options.
- Keep your stick fully stretched, this will take away a passing lane.
1.2.9 Pinning
- pinning is a great way to maintain physical control of an offensive player.
- Angle puck carrier towards the boards and pin them, by placing your leg in between your opponent’s legs.
1.2.10 Body Checking
- great technic to separate opponent from the puck
1.2.11 Finishing Checks
- once committed to a check, skate through and finish the check - > make sure that opponent that just passed the puck is taken out of the play
1.3 Backchecking
1.3.1 Tracking
- used by backchecker when coming back to join the play in the neutral and defensive zone
- Track between dots looking to take away cross ice passes
- Always the read the situation (from the red line), and pick up the attacker that poses the biggest offensive threat
1.3.2 Backside Pressure
- occurs when backcheckers skate hard back into their own zone and put pressure on puck and/or support play
- try to force opposition outside (use dots as guide)
1.4 Back Side Support
1.4.1 Head on a Swivel
- Always be aware of puck carrier as well as players who do not have the puck (especially your man)
- move your head from side to side
1.4.2 Sagging
- when the puck is deep in the defensive zone, defenders that are responsible for opponents farthest away from the puck, should “sag” or drop down towards the puck (example forward covering weak side point man)
- Sagging offers defensive support in prime scoring areas
1.5 Shot Blocking
1.5.1 Stick in Passing Lane
- Key tactic to take away an opponents options
- put your stick in lane or on opponent’s blade
1.5.2 Active Stick
- Often distracts attacker
- move your stick from side to side (often when you are containing)
- take away options
1.5.3 Body in Shooting Lane
- useful tactic while you are shorthanded
- force opponent to pass the puck
1.5.4 Shot Block – Standing
- keep your feet together
- when performing this tactic, always keep your body square to the shooter
1.5.5 Shot Block – Sliding
1.6 2 on 1 Rush Defense
1.6.1 Play non puck carrier
- take away the pass
- Force puck carrier to shoot
- More often than not, goaltender needs to play the puck carrier
1.6.2 Play puck carrier
- With pressure
- force the puck carrier to either pass or make a play on net (often done when you see puck carrier does not have 100% complete control of the puck)
Offensive Zone
2.1 Offensive Zone Forechecking
2.1.1 Role of F1
- cut ice in half
- Angle puck carrier to one side
- If possible put opponent on his backhand
2.1.2 Role of F2
- must read the play
- Main job is to support F1
2.1.3 Role of F3
- stay high in the zone (between top of circles and blue line)
- Always maintain defensive positioning
2.1.4 Role of D1
- move up ice quickly
- maintain optimal gap with offensive forwards
- Play rush or pinch
2.1.5 Role of D2
- move up ice quickly
- Mid ice positioning
- Offensive support if puck is turned over
Neutral Zone
Players must take away opponents Time & Space in the neutral zone using individual and team tactics. Team work is very important in the neutral zone, you need to prevent opposition from entering the defensive zone.
3.1 Neutral Zone Forecheck
3.1.1 Role of F1
- establish inside/out positioning
- take away D to D pass
- force opposition to play along the boards/wall
3.1.2 Role of F2
- mirror F1’s actions
- Either jump on the play or offer support and stay with your man
3.1.3 Role of F3
- stay between puck and your own net
- position yourself in the midlane or widelane to take away options
3.1.4 Role of D1
- STEP UP if you have support
- If you do not have enough support, back off and read the play
3.1.5 Role of D2
- Offside defenseman
- play the midlane as much as possible
- be aware of any wide threats (very important)
- Also be prepared to STEP UP and make play
3.2 Defending the Rush
3.2.1 - 2 on 1
- maintain middle positioning
- try to delay the attack as much as possible
- force opposition wide
3.2.2 – 3 on 1
- play loose gap in midlane
- leave the shooter to the goaltender
- Active stick
3.2.3 – 2 on 2
- communicate with defensive partner
- If opponents cross high in the zone, defenders should “SWITCH”, stay in lanes and switch opponent they are now covering
- If opponent’s criss cross below top of the circles, defenders should “SWITCH LANES”, switch lanes and keep covering the same man
3.2.4 – 3 on 2
- delay the play as much as possible so backchecker can arrive
- maintain optimal gap
- push attack to the outside as much as possible
3.2.5 – 1 on 2
- You have the advantage
- Defenseman should STEP UP and pressure the puck carrier
3.2.6 – 3 on 3 Tracking
- pick up the trailing forward and eliminate him from the play
3.2.7 – 3 on 3 Rush
- Defensive forward pressures puck carrier
Defensive Zone
- proper positioning
- always be aware of players without the puck
- must win 1 on 1 battles
- support
- team work
4.1 Defensive Zone Coverage
4.1.1 Role of D1
- Responsible for puck carrier
- pressure or contain (read & react)
- stay between puck carrier and net
4.1.2 Role of D2
- hold front of the net
- Feet facing up ice, head on a swivel
- Responsible for man in front of net
If puck switches corner, wait for D1 to take your position in front of the net, and go attack puck carrier
4.1.3 Role of F1
- support D1
- get to any loose pucks
- Responsible down low even if puck moves corner
4.1.4 Role of F2
- Backcheck hard to high slot
- Responsible for weak side defenseman
4.1.5 Role of F3
- cover strong side defenseman
- Head on a swivel
- face up ice, make sure your man does not sneak in behind you and become a passing option
4.2 Defensive Zone Situations
4.2.1 Puck Carrier behind the Net
- If puck carrier has good control, both defenseman should face puck carrier, take away any wrap around possibilities. F1 covers the front of the net. F2 & F3 sag to the slot area
4.2.2 Corner (into/out of)
- when playing puck carrier coming out of the corner, always take inside out route, skate in an arc
- Force play up boards and away from quiet zones
- Always maintain defensive side positioning
4.2.3 Net Front
- try to control players body and stick without tying yourself up
- face up ice, head on a swivel
- Always know where puck is
4.2.4 Point
- High forwards need to pressure the puck
- take inside/out route
- stay with your man
4.2.5 Side Boards
- When offensive team has control of the puck on side boards, F2 can sag and support the play
- keep your head on a swivel
- Always maintain defensive side positioning
4.2.6 Hinge Support – 2 on 2
- When opponents are controlling the puck in the corner, D1 & F1 can play man to man. Hinge – support your partner
4.2.7 - 3 on 3 shade
- Net front defensive player moves to where third offensive player is located
- Shading takes away Time & Space
4.2.8 Defending the cycle
- must communicate
- maintain defensive side positioning
- stay with your man and try to eliminate him
4.2.9 Activated Defenseman
- Forwards checking points must be aware that offensive defenseman can activate and join in on play
- watch for the back door pass
- F2 & F3 play “activated defenseman” all the way to the net