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Basics
Strategies
Neutral Zone
Offensive Zones
Teaching Basic Defensive Play
Success comes from strong defence
Winning 50-50 pucks
Being physical
Out number the opposition
Active sticks
Beat man to inside-back check and lock hard through
middle
You must stay on the D-side if they have
possession
Quick to regain puck control
Push people outside to move the offense
away from the house
Deny anyone gaining the scoring area
Know your role & responsibilities!
 Take away time & space
 Beat your man back to the house defensive side
 Need to play inside-out - Do so by
angling and containment
 Always stay between the puck and
your net – on defensive side
 Stay on the defensive side of the
check
 Take all scrambles from inside –
defensive side
 Stops & starts – no circles
 Keep sticks on the ice & in the
passing lanes
 Stick on stick
 Clear area in front of net
 Clear rebounds (in corners)
 Blocking shots (pay the price)
 No Turnovers – no high risk passes or carries
 No bad penalties
 No mistakes at the blue lines - make safe plays
 Imperative to win one-on-one battles!!!
 Chip in - Chip out
 Close gaps - force the opposition to the
outside
 Force decisions before they’re ready
 Tight Gap when 1 on 1
 Pressure when attempts to enter the house
 When entering scoring area: Tighten gap
with direct pressure
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F1 is on or managing Puck
F2 Supporting F1 for pass
F3 Should remain high at all times
D1 Holding blue line on puck side
D2 Split the ice in half & hold blue
line (note: hinge back on D-Side for support if lost
puck possession)
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Never turn over a puck on an entry in Ozone
Should never have three players deep
No blind passes –they are killers
D must separate the ice and protect the
middle
Never force any blind pass to make play at
the goal line
50 50 pucks stay on the D-side of the puck
 F3 pressure puck carrier (F1 & F2 caught low)
 F1 and F2 track back through the middle (lock
middle) have stick on the ice – force to
outside
 Forwards should never get beat up ice by
opposing D
 D1 hold the red line to create a turnover
 D2 moves low to prevent cross ice passes or
dump ins
 Protect the middle of the ice
 D must talk coming through N-zone gaining
defensive position
 Body and active stick position to direct
opposition
 Hard solid pressure to create turnovers
 F1 continues to exert puck pressure or
support D1 (on D-side)
 F2 & F 3 Race back to the house to pick
up late man & gain D-side position
 Clear rebounds and loose pucks in front
of the net
 D1 pressures puck carrier, Head on
swivel never get beat to net
 D2 picks up net drive, force players to
the outside
 Defend cross crease passes and
rebounds
 D1 moves in on the puck carrier
 D2 picks up anyone entering the house
 D2 Keep players to the outside and
prevent pass outs and clear rebounds at
the net
 Players sort out responsibilities in D-zone
entry
 D must hold the opposition from gaining into
the house
 Must separate the man with body positioning
on any net drives
 F2 and F3 must skate through the middle
(lock middle) then move into d-zone coverage
 Players must communicate with each other
helps with ice awareness
 Keep it simple
 Each area of D-zone has key defender with
supporting defender (centre) to share
responsibilities
 There are shared areas of the ice—need
communication
 Players are not restricted to stay in “zones”
support one another
 Each player has an area/zone to cover
 Players defend against any opposing players
who enter his designated area of coverage
 Once D-zone established, stay with player
until whistle
 Never have three players trapped deep
 D must protect middle
 No blind passes below goal line
 50/50 puck battles stay on the D side (play
safe)
 Requires skilled players!