mashedpotato
full stack.
- Jan 10, 2012
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Playing Defense for the first time
- Thread starter mashedpotato
- Start date
ceg195
Registered User
- Nov 6, 2012
- 369
- 106
While in the o zone, concentrate on when the play is going to develop for the other team. Your job is to defend so don't worry about offence unless youre wide open while someone is out of position. Other than that, keep pucks deep in the corner or throw pucks on net when you're confident they will get through. Don't worry about looking for that sweet pass since your new to this. Also, never pinch in unless you're 100% you won't be intercepted and they go in on a breakaway. Worst thing you can do as a defenceman.
In the neutral zone, only try to cut off passes and stand guys up when you're 100% sure of intercepting the play. Other than that, you'll be skating backwards with the flow of the play not getting too far ahead or too far behind. Again, breakaway waiting to happen.
In the d zone (your baby) you're here to protect and you should pride yourself on that. While someone is coming down one in one against you, stay calm and focused. Look at the chest and eyes. Anticipate what their going to do. DO NOT MAKE THE FIRST MOVE ie. swinging your stick. It's a recipe for disaster and again, another breakaway chance. Let them make the first move which will probably be some silly toe drag. Just sit back, relalx, laugh a little, and poke that puck away because they won't have control of the it. If you miss, no worries, you're still maintaining looking at his chest and eyes and then just get in their way and let them bump into you. The play will be dead once you make yourself big and have your stick out in front of you in the middle calmly waiting to get the puck.
While offensively on the d zone, never throw the puck up the middle, everyone should know this. Your job is very simple and is to find an open winger on the boards, the centreman curling low or just simply get the puck out safely off the boards or ice it. Always protect your goalie and net, no player should be between you and the goalie EVER. If so, you're in trouble again. Don't worry about roughing guys up in the corner or infront of the net, you'll probably just get a penalty. Good luck sir.
In the neutral zone, only try to cut off passes and stand guys up when you're 100% sure of intercepting the play. Other than that, you'll be skating backwards with the flow of the play not getting too far ahead or too far behind. Again, breakaway waiting to happen.
In the d zone (your baby) you're here to protect and you should pride yourself on that. While someone is coming down one in one against you, stay calm and focused. Look at the chest and eyes. Anticipate what their going to do. DO NOT MAKE THE FIRST MOVE ie. swinging your stick. It's a recipe for disaster and again, another breakaway chance. Let them make the first move which will probably be some silly toe drag. Just sit back, relalx, laugh a little, and poke that puck away because they won't have control of the it. If you miss, no worries, you're still maintaining looking at his chest and eyes and then just get in their way and let them bump into you. The play will be dead once you make yourself big and have your stick out in front of you in the middle calmly waiting to get the puck.
While offensively on the d zone, never throw the puck up the middle, everyone should know this. Your job is very simple and is to find an open winger on the boards, the centreman curling low or just simply get the puck out safely off the boards or ice it. Always protect your goalie and net, no player should be between you and the goalie EVER. If so, you're in trouble again. Don't worry about roughing guys up in the corner or infront of the net, you'll probably just get a penalty. Good luck sir.
BruinDust
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 24,314
- 21,673
BruinDust
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 24,314
- 21,673
Also try and read and react to what your defensive partner is doing.
Simple things like:
If he pinches along the wall, you need to be at the blueline in the middle of the ice so a potential 2-1 doesn't become a 2-0.
If he goes into the corner in the defensive zone, you need to stay in front of the net.
Neither of you should chase the puck-carrier behind the net, he'll guard one side, you protect the other.
If your D-partner has the puck, you need to provide good puck support, and provide easy escapes in case he gets in trouble with a strong fore-check. Normally this is accomplished by staying horizontal to your defensive partner when they have the puck. Allows your partner to go D-to-D and relieve the fore-checking pressure on him.
Concentrate on making smart, simple high percentage plays with the puck, you don't have to look for the long-bomb hail-mary pass on every break-out.
Simple things like:
If he pinches along the wall, you need to be at the blueline in the middle of the ice so a potential 2-1 doesn't become a 2-0.
If he goes into the corner in the defensive zone, you need to stay in front of the net.
Neither of you should chase the puck-carrier behind the net, he'll guard one side, you protect the other.
If your D-partner has the puck, you need to provide good puck support, and provide easy escapes in case he gets in trouble with a strong fore-check. Normally this is accomplished by staying horizontal to your defensive partner when they have the puck. Allows your partner to go D-to-D and relieve the fore-checking pressure on him.
Concentrate on making smart, simple high percentage plays with the puck, you don't have to look for the long-bomb hail-mary pass on every break-out.
StrictlyCommercial
Registered User
If your backwards skating is that bad, don't try to defend skating backwards. Attack the puck carrier from the inside and use body position to keep him outside while trying to knock away the puck. If your forward skating is strong, engage the play in the neutral zone instead of backing up.
In the meantime work on your pivots, crossovers and power skating backwards before and after games. Do backwards crossovers around the circles in each direction until you are fully comfortable accelerating while going backwards.
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
I started hockey as a get-out-of-my-way left winger who would rather bang a body than try to stop myself.
Then one summer a roller skating rink opened in my neighbourhood (this was 1981, the pre-inline-skates era, and the retro fad had returned for a few years) and I went several times a week and learned how to skate backwards pretty well that summer and that fall I asked coach if I could play d in practice and he was impressed by my mobility. I'd rather skate backwards than forwards any day of the week. It's awesome! Note: If you don't enjoy skating backwards, don't be a defenseman (though Orr, Housley and others have made a career of skating like an extra forward with the puck end to end).
Then one summer a roller skating rink opened in my neighbourhood (this was 1981, the pre-inline-skates era, and the retro fad had returned for a few years) and I went several times a week and learned how to skate backwards pretty well that summer and that fall I asked coach if I could play d in practice and he was impressed by my mobility. I'd rather skate backwards than forwards any day of the week. It's awesome! Note: If you don't enjoy skating backwards, don't be a defenseman (though Orr, Housley and others have made a career of skating like an extra forward with the puck end to end).
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Just a thought, but sometimes guys who are new at defense back off way too much because they don't want to get beaten up the ice. As a result they face rush after rush from an opponent who has a running start exiting their own zone, which is both intimidating and extremely hard to stop without taking a penalty or getting burnt.
Obviously there's some give-and-take based on your skill set. While it's entirely possible that you really do need to give yourself a little extra cushion while you work on your backward skating... just remember not to play so conservatively that you're giving the other team a ton of speed coming up the ice. If you can make them hesitate a little, maybe take an extra second to skate east-west and think about their options, that gives you an extra second to get your own momentum and also for your partner and centerman to come back and help. That way you're not quite so much on an island with a train bearing down on you.
Obviously there's some give-and-take based on your skill set. While it's entirely possible that you really do need to give yourself a little extra cushion while you work on your backward skating... just remember not to play so conservatively that you're giving the other team a ton of speed coming up the ice. If you can make them hesitate a little, maybe take an extra second to skate east-west and think about their options, that gives you an extra second to get your own momentum and also for your partner and centerman to come back and help. That way you're not quite so much on an island with a train bearing down on you.
vladdy16
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 2,551
- 375
Assuming this is a no check league, my first advice would be "don't be afraid to take penalties". Whether it's standing a guy up on the rush, or clearing pucks and bodies from the front of the net, these are situations important enough to not worry about checking, interference, or accidental trips. Chances are a rec team isn't going to be deadly efficient with their PP.
Work on your backwards cross overs.(be light on your toes, engage your hips, and then dig in to build up some momentum) You can use the backwards cross overs to modulate your speed as you leave the o-zone and move back through the neutral zone as you face the rush.
As the rush hits the red line, posture your body and extend your stick in a way that makes the puck carrier feel as though entering the zone through the center of the ice won't be an option.
Assuming your right shot on rd, as the carrier approaches the blue line, retract your left hand and don't reach for the poke check, conceal it by keeping your left hand on/near your left hip, if he takes the bait thinking your arm is still extended and he has room to move it inside extend your stick and gently veer your hips towards the middle, he will most likely mishandle the puck and/or run into you.
If he stays to the outside, extend your left arm again to take away the inside/cut back as he moves inbetween the blue line and circle top, and press your angle advantage until he is forced to run into you, or you and the side wall around the top of the circle or hashmark.
If your free hand is on the inside(RH on LD) use your stick hand more liberally and angled like you could push down with you left hand and lay it ontop of his stick, if he tries to get around to the outside either push further down on your left hand and veer your hip to stick your butt out like you're an extension of the sidewall at a 90degree angle, or come up with a left hand punch to the chest. Always keep your inside free arm cocked and ready to punch him in his chest if he tries to cut inside.
You can also threaten with that right hand punch, and as you see him gather to go outside instead, that's the time to pivot and skate forwards beside him and run him into the wall, lift his stick and skate away with the puck, or skate with him until his going around behind the net.
Don't be anxious to make a move, be calm and inviting. He's welcome to skate over the blue line, he's welcome to skate anywhere but into the middle. Every second that passes his angles and options are decreasing.
Bend at the knees not the waist. You should be able to throw your free hand fully extended with you palm facing the attacker without losing your balance forward.
Practice your on guard stance off the ice, knees bent, back straight, left hand down beside your hip and out for the poke, and right hand palm facing out a foot from the center of your chest and fully extended as your punching hand.
The other 9 players on the ice are a bunch of idiots trying to do to much. You're out there to observe and babysit them. Keep your mind clear and watch the play develop, and when the action comes your way the odds will be in your favor as you set up your angles.
If you do get beat, and the goalie makes the save, then that's just as good as you breaking up the play. If you get beat for a goal, tip your cap instead of anylysing, you're in it for the long haul and are worried about angles and odds, not being the most impressive skater out there.
On offense you're still just observing, and everything that comes your way you're making the decision whether to recycle(collect and dump the puck back into the corner) or bail and transition back, this will be your one and only chance to pick up speed with forward skating if you want, you can sprint back to the red line and then pivot to face the play.
If you get a chance to take a shot, don't envision beating the goalie with it, envision giving him something tough to handle, that'll end up sitting pretty for one of the forwards to bang home.
Try to develop a communicative relationship with your center in the o-zone. If he's in a position to take your spot on the blueline while you pinch down to the hashmark to recycle the puck again, there is no risk there and you should go for it. Otherwise screw pinching, just collect garbage and recycle it. Only pinch on loose pucks or players standing still. If they are breaking out with control and skating, retreat.
Work on your backwards cross overs.(be light on your toes, engage your hips, and then dig in to build up some momentum) You can use the backwards cross overs to modulate your speed as you leave the o-zone and move back through the neutral zone as you face the rush.
As the rush hits the red line, posture your body and extend your stick in a way that makes the puck carrier feel as though entering the zone through the center of the ice won't be an option.
Assuming your right shot on rd, as the carrier approaches the blue line, retract your left hand and don't reach for the poke check, conceal it by keeping your left hand on/near your left hip, if he takes the bait thinking your arm is still extended and he has room to move it inside extend your stick and gently veer your hips towards the middle, he will most likely mishandle the puck and/or run into you.
If he stays to the outside, extend your left arm again to take away the inside/cut back as he moves inbetween the blue line and circle top, and press your angle advantage until he is forced to run into you, or you and the side wall around the top of the circle or hashmark.
If your free hand is on the inside(RH on LD) use your stick hand more liberally and angled like you could push down with you left hand and lay it ontop of his stick, if he tries to get around to the outside either push further down on your left hand and veer your hip to stick your butt out like you're an extension of the sidewall at a 90degree angle, or come up with a left hand punch to the chest. Always keep your inside free arm cocked and ready to punch him in his chest if he tries to cut inside.
You can also threaten with that right hand punch, and as you see him gather to go outside instead, that's the time to pivot and skate forwards beside him and run him into the wall, lift his stick and skate away with the puck, or skate with him until his going around behind the net.
Don't be anxious to make a move, be calm and inviting. He's welcome to skate over the blue line, he's welcome to skate anywhere but into the middle. Every second that passes his angles and options are decreasing.
Bend at the knees not the waist. You should be able to throw your free hand fully extended with you palm facing the attacker without losing your balance forward.
Practice your on guard stance off the ice, knees bent, back straight, left hand down beside your hip and out for the poke, and right hand palm facing out a foot from the center of your chest and fully extended as your punching hand.
The other 9 players on the ice are a bunch of idiots trying to do to much. You're out there to observe and babysit them. Keep your mind clear and watch the play develop, and when the action comes your way the odds will be in your favor as you set up your angles.
If you do get beat, and the goalie makes the save, then that's just as good as you breaking up the play. If you get beat for a goal, tip your cap instead of anylysing, you're in it for the long haul and are worried about angles and odds, not being the most impressive skater out there.
On offense you're still just observing, and everything that comes your way you're making the decision whether to recycle(collect and dump the puck back into the corner) or bail and transition back, this will be your one and only chance to pick up speed with forward skating if you want, you can sprint back to the red line and then pivot to face the play.
If you get a chance to take a shot, don't envision beating the goalie with it, envision giving him something tough to handle, that'll end up sitting pretty for one of the forwards to bang home.
Try to develop a communicative relationship with your center in the o-zone. If he's in a position to take your spot on the blueline while you pinch down to the hashmark to recycle the puck again, there is no risk there and you should go for it. Otherwise screw pinching, just collect garbage and recycle it. Only pinch on loose pucks or players standing still. If they are breaking out with control and skating, retreat.
Goonzilla
Welcome to my house!
I find who plays defence and why to be an interesting dynamic. From my experience playing rec league they tend to be some of the weaker skaters who brand themselves as defenceman and find themselves continually being exposed and ignoring how deficient they are.
Our team leads the league in goals for, we're fine at that end of the ice, but we've got the second to worst in goals against because of all the errors, bad positional play, bad reads and bad skating that gifts too many scoring chances to opponents.
We've got one guy, with a very good shot from the point, but who can't skate backwards properly at all other than a two foot shuffle, while some guys patently put themselves out there because of the extra ice time they tend to get playing at the blue line.
If you're blasting in a big slapper from the point occasionally, but getting scored around every game, you're not really helping or adding much, the opposite in fact.
Our leading scorer, who has a fantastic shot and looks like a pretty good skater, I've thought he must have played at a reasonable level once, put his hand up to play there filling in and I got a shock, he was very average skating backwards.
I skate a lot and work on skating backwards a lot, including standing starts with cross overs and transitioning from forwards to backwards and vice versa. I'm pretty much as comfortable skating backwards as forwards, probably the best backwards skater on the team and would drop back in a heartbeat and solve a few problems in doing so, but I can never get past the guys clamouring to put themselves forward to play back.
I've seen the same thing with a bunch of other teams too and I'm sure it must be pretty common elsewhere too.
If I couldn't skate backwards competently, I'd be embarrassed to be a defenceman.
Our team leads the league in goals for, we're fine at that end of the ice, but we've got the second to worst in goals against because of all the errors, bad positional play, bad reads and bad skating that gifts too many scoring chances to opponents.
We've got one guy, with a very good shot from the point, but who can't skate backwards properly at all other than a two foot shuffle, while some guys patently put themselves out there because of the extra ice time they tend to get playing at the blue line.
If you're blasting in a big slapper from the point occasionally, but getting scored around every game, you're not really helping or adding much, the opposite in fact.
Our leading scorer, who has a fantastic shot and looks like a pretty good skater, I've thought he must have played at a reasonable level once, put his hand up to play there filling in and I got a shock, he was very average skating backwards.
I skate a lot and work on skating backwards a lot, including standing starts with cross overs and transitioning from forwards to backwards and vice versa. I'm pretty much as comfortable skating backwards as forwards, probably the best backwards skater on the team and would drop back in a heartbeat and solve a few problems in doing so, but I can never get past the guys clamouring to put themselves forward to play back.
I've seen the same thing with a bunch of other teams too and I'm sure it must be pretty common elsewhere too.
If I couldn't skate backwards competently, I'd be embarrassed to be a defenceman.
It's no too common in the circles I play. Players I come into contact with are always saying, "I can't drop back. I can't skate backwards." Sometimes as game time is approaching, and there's only three D-Men in the locker room, the forwards let out a sigh of relief when the forth D-Man steps through the door.
As for the OP, to add to what's been said, remember you don't have to make big plays on the puck and strip players of it. You just have to try and disrupt the flow of play, taking away time and space. Whether you do that by just keeping a man bottled up in the corner, taking away the lane to the net, putting pressure on the puck carrier, or just getting a stick on the pass, it doesn't matter.
If you're constantly taking away optimal situations from the other team, you'll do OK. A lot of it IMHO is about making the other team make a small mistake, like feeding a teammate a slightly bad pass. Add enough of those small mistakes together and it'll turn into a big mistake and a turnover.
Goonzilla
Welcome to my house!
I don't mean to suggest it's the norm or most are like that, but rather it's not uncommon and it's frustrating when weak links at the back guarantee a goal or two almost every game, or maybe more against you that just shouldn't have been.
Sure you get them gifted your way by other teams in the same way, but it's probably the one or easiest area where you could improve your points differential and hence your team improve the most, stop or reduce the gifting of easy goals or chances to your opponents.
Sure you get them gifted your way by other teams in the same way, but it's probably the one or easiest area where you could improve your points differential and hence your team improve the most, stop or reduce the gifting of easy goals or chances to your opponents.
In our league (largest adult league in the US -- not that it necessarily matters) teams generally put their best players on D. Rarely do you see the big but immobile player slated as D because they tend to get expose badly - they tend to get put at wing. With our better players at D they can defend then and jump into the play as needed to provide offense. It often gets scary when we need to rely on wingers to cover the D when it jumps in and gets caught deep - but that is what the goalie is for.
For d-men, work hard at backskating and be cautious to standing up and make the one and done defensive play - skate with the attacking player and see if you can guide them onto the corner or at least behind the net. Play your position, trust your teammates, and practice making a good outlet pass once you gain the puck.
For d-men, work hard at backskating and be cautious to standing up and make the one and done defensive play - skate with the attacking player and see if you can guide them onto the corner or at least behind the net. Play your position, trust your teammates, and practice making a good outlet pass once you gain the puck.
HIFE
Registered User
Good advice here and yes search for other threads on the subject. I would add that if your backwards skating isn't great then make your pivot to forward skating against an attacker much earlier. Your back may be to the rushing opponent but it can give you a chance to cause him/her trouble which ever way they try to move by. It might not be as "cool" a play as standing a guy up but it's better than getting beat like a pylon.
Another thing is in the D zone don't get caught puck watching. Look instead around the slot for an open player to cover. You don't have to necessarily tie your man up but always keep an eye for who is the biggest threat.
Another thing is in the D zone don't get caught puck watching. Look instead around the slot for an open player to cover. You don't have to necessarily tie your man up but always keep an eye for who is the biggest threat.
Match the speed and keep em' to the outside. There's no trick to it, you have to get better at skating backwards.
ChiefWiggum
Registered User
The key is to 1) have a gap of TWO STICK LENGTHS by the DEFENSIVE BLUE LINE, which requires that you stay very close to the player at all times and have excellent backwards skating ability in order to match speed, and 2) have your outside shoulder aligned with attacker's inside shoulder which means he is staying to the outside of you
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