Defensive Tactics

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Defensive Tactics

• Level 4 Rochester, NY
• By Mark Hogan Jim Hofford

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Welcome to Level 4

• Introduction
• My Topic is Teaching Defensive Play
• I will discuss the following
• 1. Defensive Philosophy, General Thoughts Key
  Points
• 2. Developing Defensive Skills
• 3. Team Defense
• a) Forecheck
• b) Backcheck
• C) DZone Coverage
• 4. Drills used to teach these tactics.
• QA

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Hockey Overview
DEFENSIVE PLAY
DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE
BACKCHECKING THROUGH THE NEUTRAL ZONE
FORECHECKING IN THE OFFENSIVE ZONE
BREAKING OUT OF THE DEFENSIVE ZONE
MOVING THROUGH THE NEUTRAL ZONE
ATTACKING IN THE OFENSIVE ZONE
OFFENSIVE PLAY
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Defensive Play Philosophy

• If you do not have control of the puck you are on
  defense.
• The objective of defense is to regain control of
  the puck.
• Defense takes Discipline Self Control that
  requires Physical Mental Strength!
• There is no Glory!
• Its hard work and takes desire, sweat and
  determination!

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Defensive Play General

• Take away time space
• Do so by angling and containment
• Play inside-out
• Stay in-between the puck and your net defensive
  side
• Stay on the defensive side of the check
• Approach all scrambles from inside defensive
  side
• Stops starts no circles
• Keep sticks off the ice in the passing lanes
• Stick on stick
• Clear area in front of net
• Clear rebounds
• Force play into corners
• Blocking shots stack legs pointing toward boards

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Defensive Play Key Points

• No giveaways no high risk passes or carries
• No bad penalties
• No mistakes at the blue lines - make safe plays
• Win one-on-one battles
• Chip in - Chip out

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Developing Defensive Play

• Skating Body Contact
• - USA Hockey website usahockey.com/coaches
• - Skills Drills demonstration
• Developing Defensive Skills Packet
  perintonyouthhockey.org
• Focus on Gap Control section in Level 3 Coaches
  Manual
• Read React - Situational Skills

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Gap Control

• Involves skill, decision making, discipline
  mental attitude
• Tight vs. loose, angle vs. direct, pressure vs.
  contain
• When do these Apply?
• Pressure or Contain At blue line or force to
  corner
• Close Gap Speed of both players are the same
• Direct Offensive players dont have complete
  control
• Pressure Defense out number opponent
• Tight Gap Defense has Isolated 1 on 1
• Pressure Opponent attempts to enter primary
  shooting zone
• Contain/Angle Opponent has advantage to the
  outside
• Scoring threat Tighten gap by applying direct
  pressure.

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Drills Gap Control 1v1
USA Circles
X
x
x
D
F
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Defense Various Situations

• 1v1
• 2v1
• 1v2
• 2v2
• 3v2

• 3v3
• 4v4
• 5v3
• 5v5

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Drills Situation
F
D
F
D

1. 1 v 1 w/ pass drag
2. 1 v 2 progression

• 1v1 straight down
• b) 1v1 2 whistle

D
F
F
D
F
X1
a) 1v1 3x
F
D
O1

1. 1v1 opposite way
2. 2v2

X3
O3
D
F
b) 1v1 2v2 3v3
O2
D
F
X3
F
c) 1v1 3xs from NZ
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Drills Situation
Small Ice Games - Nets in corners - 3 puck 3 1v1

• 3v2 Cycle Low
• b) 3v3 Cycle Low

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Team Defense

• Defense starts w/ strong forecheck
• Defense continues with hard backcheck
• Backcheck all they way into the zone do not
  release your man until D has coverage
• 1st Forward back look for trailer
• 2nd 3rd Forwards are responsible for 2nd wave
  of attack

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Defense in all three Zones
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2-1-2 Forecheck

• F1 forces D up wall
• Try to make contact in corner
• F2 through face off dot to half wall hoping to
  intercept puck or take winger
• F3 goes to high slot
• If puck switchs side
• F3 becomes F1 and forces play in corner
• F2 comes all the way across
• F1 becomes F3 in high slot

F2
F1
F3
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2-1-2 Forecheck
F1
F2
F3
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Forecheck Switch Sides
F2
F1 to F3
F3 to F1
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Additional Forechecking

• 1-2-2
• 2-0-3
• Wedge
• 3-0-2 Kamikazee http//www.icehockeysystems.com/s
  ystems08/3-0-2_Forecheck.swf

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Drills Forchecking
F
D

• 3 v 2 forecheck
• to a cycle

• 1 V 1 angle
• b) 2 v 1 through dot

F
D
F
F
D
D
F
Maine Breakout
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Back Checking

• Backchecking requires effort
• Backcheck through the middle
• General rule backcheck the player with the puck
  if you can catch before the red line if not 1st
  Forward back should take open player.
• Do not back check past the open player
• F2 F3 are responsible for 2nd wave of the attack

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Drills Back Checking
X1
D
F
O1
1v1 to 2v2
1v1 w/ BC
O2
F
X3
D
F
F
F
F
D
Vancouver Backcheck
2v1 to 3v3
D
F
F
F
Fbc
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D Zone Coverage Initial Setup

• Man on man down low
• Preferably strong side D1 and Center take
  opponents in corner layer support
• Weak side D2 covers man in slot but be ready to
  support D1 C
• Strong side winger on top of circle facing boards
  blocking passing lanes
• Weak side winger in high slot to act as support
  in case of break down be ready to cover for D2
  if necessary
• Protect the House

The House
C
LW
LD
RW
RD
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Hogan Inverted House

• I have found that I have been drawing the house
  backwards all these year but
• I focus on protecting inside dots back to the
  goal line or end board.
• And protecting the setup area just out side the
  primary shooting area as well

C
LW
LD
RW
RD
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Defensive Zone Coverage
LD
C
RD
RW
LW
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Defensive Zone Coverage
Good positioning
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DZone Coverage Switcing Sides

• LD beats man back to house
• RD moves out to corner
• C supports RD mirror puck
• RW to top of circle
• block passing lanes
• Left Wing to slot area
• Weak side winger in high slot to act as support
  in case of break down be ready to cover for D2
  if necessary
• Also off cycle with D shots

C
LW
LD
RW
RD
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Man on Man Down Low
Winger is facing wrong way Look at the angle of
his feet
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Man-on-Man Down Low
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Man-on-Man Down Low
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DZ Breakdown
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Teaching D Zone

• 5v3 Cycle then add winger

W
F1
D
F2
D1
C
F3
D2
D
W
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Man-on-Man Where should they be positioned
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Man-on-Man Where should they be positioned
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3v3 Breakdown
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Too much protecting the fort?
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Putting it Together - All Zones

• Forecheck Backcheck D Zone

RD
C
RW
D
F2
F1
LD
LW
F3
D
RW
RD
C
LD
LW
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Drills Putting it all together
3v2 forecheck
3v2 cycle
3v2 line rush
3v2 line rush
5v5
5v5
Face off
3v2 line rush
5v5
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Drills Situation
F
D

1. Small Ice Games

• 3v2 Cycle Low
• b) 3v3 Cycle Low

F
D
F
X1
a) 1v1 3x
F
D
O1

1. 1v1 opposite way
2. 2v2

X3
O3
D
F
b) 1v1 2v2 3v3
O2
D
F
X3
F
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Questions Answers

• Contact Information
• Mark Hogan
• mjhogan2_at_rochester.rr.com
• 585-576-7035