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Defense Defense is the act of assisting your team's goalie in protecting the goal.   Your Athlete Can: Never Sometimes Often Identify his or her own goalie Position self between the opponent and the goal Maintain proper defensive position Track a moving puck Block or stop puck with body Block or stop puck with stick Stick check an opponent Body check an opponent Intercept a moving puck Clear the puck out of the defensive end Clear the puck from the goal crease without stepping into the crease Communicate with teammates Work with another teammate to trap an opposing athlete Make an outlet pass to a teammate to start an offensive play           Teaching the Skill The easiest way to take the puck back is to intercept a pass. This is an excellent method of stopping the opponent's scoring threat. The athlete has to use both the eyes and body to get in position to intercept a pass. Once in position, the athlete only has to place the body or stick in front of the puck to intercept it. By anticipating where the opponents are going to pass, the athlete can move into a strategic intercepting position. Some opponents have certain patterns that they always seem to follow. If your athletes knows the pattern, they can then intercept the pass.   Be sure your athletes know that stick checking is the optimal way to steal the puck. (Refer back to Stick Handling — Stick Checking for skill). Forwards should also be taught to look for opportunities to "trap" the opposing athlete with the puck. "Trapping" involves a guard delaying the athlete on offense while a forward moves in on the other side and "traps"/steals the puck, like a double team.   Maintaining proper position is important in minimizing goal scoring opportunities by the opponents. That is why each athlete should know where to be and what to do at any given time. Teammates should work together to try to stop the opponents from scoring. Positioning gives order to otherwise random play.   GUARDS: The right defenseman stays on the right half of the court while the left defenseman stays on the left half of the court. When an opponent gains control of the puck, the right defenseman should be positioned on the right side in front of the goal crease, and the left defenseman should be in the middle protecting the front of the goal and watching for a pass across court. The right defenseman should be positioned between the opponent with the puck and the goal. If the puck is in the middle, the right and left defensemen should be next to each other between the opponent with the puck and the goal. If the puck is on the left side, the right defenseman should be in the middle protecting the front of the goal crease and watching for a pass. The right and left defensemen must work together, playing a zone defense outside the goal crease.   FORWARDS: The center plays the whole court. When an opponent gains control of the puck, the center should be positioned in the middle and in front of the goal. The center works with the two defensemen in defending the opponents and trying to steal the puck. The right wing can help out on defense if needed. The left wing does exactly the same, but on the left side of the court. There is no rule requiring athletes to maintain these positions, as they can go anywhere on the court except in the goal crease area. In general, the athletes should maintain these positions. Only the athletes of the team on offense may put their sticks in the goal crease to clear the puck. No athlete (except the goalie) can put his or her body inside of the goal crease.   Teaching Points Athletes can handle or block a moving puck using their foot, stick or hand. The puck may be blocked or kicked forward, but may not be kicked into the opposing goal. If an athlete kicks the puck into his or her own team's net, the goal counts for the opposing team.   When maintaining proper position on an opponent with the puck, athletes should remain between their opponent and their own goal. Athletes should not try to stick check the puck away or intercept a pass if it gives the opponent an opportunity to get closer to the goal. Demonstrate how easy it is to score a goal when an opponent on offense gets between the defender and the goal, and how hard it is to score a goal when the defender stays between the opponent and the goal.   Body checking is the most effective way to take the puck away from an opponent if both athletes have their sticks inside the puck. The objective is to gain leverage to dislodge the puck from the opponent. By stepping in front of the opponent, the athlete is in position to use his or her back to push the opponent away from the puck. Even though an athlete can use his or her own body to push an opponent away from the puck, by stepping in front of the opponent, the athlete will get penalized for elbowing, tripping, kicking, etc.   Taking the puck from an opponent is a defensive play, and making an outlet pass to a teammate is the start of an offensive play. This transition from defense to offense is critical. When making an outlet pass, the athlete needs to minimize the chances of the opponents regaining control of the puck and scoring a goal. When an outlet pass goes across the middle and is intercepted by the opponents, they will have an excellent opportunity to score right away. However, when an outlet pass travels parallel to the sideline on the side passed from and is intercepted by the opponents, the opponents will not have an easy scoring opportunity. They will have to bring the puck back into the middle, giving the opponents a chance to get back on defense. Stick handling the puck up the middle through opponents can also be dangerous. Stick handling the puck behind a team's own goal and then making an outlet pass to the closest sideline or up the sideline is safer.   Key Words "Defense" "Get the puck" "Get back" "Stay with them" "Move your feet" "Stay between the puck and the goal" "Block the puck" "Talk to each other"   Coaching Tips It is important to teach your athletes to communicate with each other on the court in order to ensure full coverage of the defensive zone and to prevent blocking your own goalie. Teammates should work together to try and stop the opposing team from scoring a goal.   Faults & Fixes   Common Mistakes Correction Drill Reference Athlete allows opponent between self and the goal Teach the athlete correct defensive positioning Mirror Drill One on One Drill Athlete commits a crease violation Teach the athlete to clear the puck without stepping in the goal crease Two-on-Two Keep-Away Drill Athlete passes puck forward with no intended target Teach the athlete to pass puck to a teammate Accuracy Pass Drill Athlete blocks own goalie's line of sight Teach the athlete to react to the goalie's communication Three on Two Drill

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