LEVEL II
DEFENSIVE
TEAM TACTICS
TACTICAL
January 2008
Page 1
LEVEL II
DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES
Prior to covering the team defensive tactics, it will be helpful to present the principles that govern such
tactics.
The four general laws or rules that govern the application of tactics, systems and strategies are:
•
•
•
•
pressure
stall/contain
support
transition
Defensive Principle 1
Pressure: Defensive speed creates pressure on the offensive players. This results in reducing the time
and space available to the attackers.
Accomplished by:
Speed: A quickness to defend that limits offensive options and force error.
Pursuit: Any action of that involves immediate and correct angling to limit the opponent’s options. The
end result is to reduce the puck carrier’s time and space.
Concentration: Any grouping of defensive players to progressively restrict the space available to the
opposition in the area of the puck. Concentrated defense can be applied anywhere on the ice surface
but is particularly important in the goal area and the slot.
Commit: The degree of puck control by the offensive player will determine whether the defender
pressures the player (commits) or stalls (contains).
TACTICAL
Commit is defined as a final action by a defender on a particular play. For example, if the offensive
player is in full control the defender must approach under control and separate the attacker from the
puck.
Defensive Principle 2
Stall/Contain: The defensive team will attempt to force an opponent to stop or slow down the speed of
an attack to provide time to set up better defensive coverage. This can be accomplished by deflecting
the attack to the outside.
Accomplished by:
Hold Ice: In situations where the offensive team out numbers the defense (two on one or three on two)
the defense can control the attack with good positioning.
Defensive Side: Any action by the defender to maintain position between the opponent and the net. By
staying on the defensive side, or goal-side, of the opponent, the defender is in position to prevent a
good scoring opportunity.
Force Outside: Any action by the defender to force the play to the outside away from the middle lane
and prime scoring area.
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January 2008
LEVEL II
Defensive Principle 3
Support: To support the defender working against the puck carrier, teammates must be active away
from the puck, positioning themselves in such a way as to take away the puck carrier’s passing options.
Again, players must be able to read the offensive situation and act accordingly.
Accomplished by:
Man on Man Coverage: A defensive style whereby the defensive players are responsible to play one on
one against the offensive players. In effect, five one-on-ones occur in all zones or in selected zones of
the ice.
Zone Coverage: A defensive style where a defensive player is assigned responsibility over a zone or
area of the ice.
Active Away From the Puck: Any action in which a defensive player is aware of offensive players
without the puck and acts to limit their involvement in the attack.
Take Away Option: This is defined as any action taken by a defender that limits the options of the puck
carrier.
Balance Defense: Balance Defense is one with depth and width in defensive alignments to counteract
triangulation and balance. It requires that defensive players read the offensive pressure and adjust their
positions to provide coverage in the area of the puck as well as other areas where the puck may be
moved.
Defensive Principle 4
Transition: Transition is defined as the ability of a team to quickly move from offence to defense.
Accomplished by:
Counter Defense: Upon losing possession of the puck, the team quickly takes a defensive position to
deflect the counter attack.
TACTICAL
January 2008
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LEVEL II
Defensive Team Tactics
Defending Two on Two
Switching
•
When the attacking team interchanges position at the
point of the attack, it may be necessary for the
defenders to switch or change responsibilities (Figure
1).
•
As the puck carrier Θ moves across the face of the
defender Δ 1 towards a second defender 2 the first
defender calls or signals for the change.
•
The defenders then switch checking responsibilities,
staying in their respective lanes to be in proper
position to check both the puck carrier and the second
attacker who fills the lane vacated by the puck carrier.
•
A switching of responsibilities is the preferred tactic
when the puck is outside the top of the face-off circle.
Figure 1:
Switching
Man to Man Coverage
•
When the attack results in an interchanging of
positions inside the top of the circle, the first defender
Δ1 must challenge the puck carrier and close the gap
quickly (Figure 2).
TACTICAL
•
The second defender then allows the first defender to
stay with the puck carrier in order to be in position to
shift laterally to check the second attacker moving into
the vacated lane.
Figure 2
Man to Man Coverage
Defending Two on One
In general, the defender stays between the two attackers to prevent passing by the attackers. However,
from the top of the circles, a two on one attack should actually be regarded as a two on two situation,
with the goalkeeper and the one defender working together as a defensive unit. The defender should
deflect the puck carrier to the outside and the closer to the net the play gets the more the defender
moves towards the second attacker.
It is important for a team to have a clear defensive philosophy regarding the respective responsibilities
of the two players in defending a two on one attack.
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January 2008
LEVEL II
Mid-Ice Zone
•
The defender stays between the two attackers,
maintaining position in the mid-lane.
•
A good visual cue for the positioning of the
defender is to stay between the imaginary lines
extending from the goal posts (Figure 3).
•
The defender keeps a tight gap on the puck carrier
in an attempt to delay the attack.
•
The defender maintains the same speed as the
attackers.
•
The second attacker must not be allowed to move
to a space behind the defender for a possible
pass.
Figure 3:
Defending Two on One – Mid-Ice Zone
Inside Blue Line
As the play enters the defensive zone, the defender
gradually slows down, attempting to delay the attack
for possible support from other backchecking
defenders.
•
The defender tries to force the puck carrier outside
to a poor shooting angle while protecting against a
pass to the second attacker.
•
The goalkeeper has primary responsibility for a shot
from the puck carrier and moves out to cut down the
shooting angle (Figure 4).
•
The defender has primary responsibility for the
second attacker if a pass is made.
•
If the puck carrier elects to shoot, the defender
covers the second attacker to protect from a
possible rebound while, at the same time, being
aware of the puck and the shooter.
TACTICAL
•
Figure 4
Inside Blue Line
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LEVEL II
Prime Scoring Area
•
As the play moves inside the top of the circle, into the Prime Scoring Zone, the defender
maintains a tight gap to exert pressure on the puck carrier
•
This is to prevent the puck carrier from driving to the net.
•
At the same time, the defender stays square to the attack and avoids pivoting to turn with the
puck carrier as this will leave a passing lane open to the second attacker (Figure 8a).
•
If a trailer pass is made, the defender should quickly stop and close the gap on the pass
receiver (Figure 8b).
•
The goalkeeper plays the puck carrier for a possible quick shot or drive to the net.
TACTICAL
Figure 8a: Prime Scoring Area
Figure 8b: Prime Scoring Area
NOTE: it must be remembered that the puck carrier is the most dangerous player on a 2 on 1 because
they have the puck and all the options!
The second attacker is only potentially dangerous and becomes dangerous when or if they receive the
puck.
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January 2008
LEVEL II
Defending One on Two
Whenever the defenders outnumber the attackers, the defenders should always attempt to maintain a
zone by pressuring the puck carrier and forcing the play early. Completing a check in the attackers’ half
of the ice removes the option of dumping the puck into your end in the same way. Forcing the play
outside your blue line prevents the attacker(s) from setting up in your zone.
Overplay
•
When the puck carrier is attacking from an outside
lane and there is defensive support nearby (i.e. 1 vs
2), the defender may decide to overplay the puck
carrier to encourage the attacker towards the
middle.
•
The second defender approaches the puck carrier
on an angle and completes the check.
•
If the puck carrier stays outside, the first defender is
in position to complete the check using a shoulder or
hip check and pinning the puck carrier against the
boards (Figure 9).
Figure 9: Overplay
Middle One on Two
As the puck carrier approaches, a defender closes
the gap attempting to pressure the puck carrier to
make an early decision.
•
A supporting defender sags slightly and shifts
laterally a few steps in the direction of the puck
carrier.
•
If the first defender is beaten, the second defender
is in position to check the puck carrier.
•
This tactic is effective in forcing the play in the
offensive half of the ice (Figure 10).
TACTICAL
•
Figure 10: Middle One on Two
January 2008
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LEVEL II
Defending Against a Second Wave
•
A defensive player coming back into the defensive zone and seeing a two on two attack
should use head movement and awareness to look for the next attacker s (third and fourth)
coming into the play.
•
In order to prevent the third offensive player from joining in the attack unchecked this
defender then picks up this attacker to prevent this attacker from penetrating unchecked into
a high percentage scoring area..
Riding Your Check
•
This defensive tactic is effective in countering
both the give and go and quiet zone
offensive tactics when there is close
coverage.
•
A player with defensive support pressures
the puck carrier quickly, forcing a pass to a
teammate.
•
Instead of turning towards the pass, the
defender maintains close contact with the
passer.
•
The defender is then in a position to control
the opponent’s stick and body should a
return pass be attempted.
•
The supporting defender tightens the gap
against the pass receiver and attempts to
complete the check and momentarily stays
with him to prevent a give and go (Figure
11).
TACTICAL
Figure 11: Riding Your Check
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January 2008
LEVEL II
Defensive Zone Tactics
Sagging
•
When the puck is deep in the defensive zone, the
defenders in the area of the puck provide tight
coverage against the opponents.
•
To provide additional concentration of defenders, the
defenders
responsible
for
the
opponents
defensemen on the blueline move further into the
zone sag toward the puck.
•
This results in added defensive support in the prime
scoring area and effectively creates a 3 on 5 (Figure
12).
•
The sagging defenders must also be aware of the
movement of the opposition defensemen.
Figure 12: Sagging
TACTICAL
January 2008
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LEVEL II
Backside Coverage
•
Although the defense will be concentrated in the area of the puck, the defenders must also be
aware of the movement of players away from the puck.
•
By either facing up ice and/or using the “head on a swivel” technique, the defenders must
protect the backside by moving to provide tighter coverage of an opponent moving into a
scoring position from the backside (e.g. 2).
•
This can occur anywhere in the defensive zone as well as in the mid-ice zone (i.e. offensive
players filling an outside lane away from the puck) (Figure 13a and b).
TACTICAL
Figure 13a: Backside Coverage
Figure 13b: Backside Coverage
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January 2008