Defensive Zone

Think defense first and offense only when in full control of the puck.

Keep your head up & take the man first and then the puck. Take the offenseman out after he has passed the puck to eliminate a return pass.

Only one man moves to cover the point. If two men move to the point, the 2nd man should drop back on the board side. Keep your head up when moving to the point & don't let the opposing defenseman move around you.

Cover the slot at all times. Move to a man coming from behind the net only when he is a direct threat to score.

One defenseman should always be in front of the net & control any player in the low slot area. The defenseman should face up ice & be aware of players in front of the net. To watch the play in the corner, the defenseman should turn his head but keep his body squared up the ice. The defenseman should not turn his back from the slot area unless a player is coming from behind the net & is a direct threat to score.

When the defenseman has the puck just inside into your own zone, unless you're on a power play.

Never allow your team to be outnumbered in the defensive zone. (ex. forwards up too high)

When experiencing difficulty in moving the puck out under pressure, freeze or ice the puck to get a face off.

Don't shoot the puck around the boards unless a man is in position to play it, or the far defenseman is not in a position to pinch it.

Never pass the puck rink wide or through the center in your own end.

Never pass the puck up the middle in your own zone, rather, pass to the wingers on the boards or the other defenseman in the corner.

Never pass the puck without looking in your own zone. The man must be there.

Never go backward into your own zone, unless you're on a power play.

Offense

If your teammates are covered, dump the puck in or turn back & pass to the defense, regroup & attack again. The forwards without the puck should move to open ice with their stick on the ice, preparing to take a pass. Never try to stickhandle past the opposition when teammates are with you. never go offside! Straddle the blue line or cut in front of or behind the puck carrier.

Defense

Backcheck by picking up the offside forward. take the man to the net if he stays outside the defenseman. If the player cuts to the middle in front of the defense, stay in the lane. The backchecker should be on the inside of the offenseman & should be slightly ahead of the man. Make contact with the man.

If two forwards are back, pick up the lanes or one lane & the middle of the ice. The defense can force the play at the defensive blue line.

If the backchecker is trailing the play, pick up the high slot area.

Offensive Zone

Drive for the rebounds. You must want to score. Release the puck quickly.

One man should always be in the slot with the stick on the ice, ready to score, or in a position to screen the goalie.

Shoot the puck when in the scoring area (slot). Extra passes can end up in missed opportunities.

The defenseman must shoot the puck quickly from the point. If the puck is mishandled or too much time is taken, the puck should be passed or shot back into the corner.

Never pass the puck blindly from behind the net. If you do not see a man & have to release the puck, shoot the puck at the goalies skates.

Penalty Situations

Force the play in the opponent's zone, but keep skating. pick up the lane in the neutral zone whether an offensive player is there or not. Cover the slot for cross passes. Force the play in the defensive zone until the offensive team sets up. Some teams continue to force the play.

The man in the penalty box always replaces the missing forward position, whether right winger, center, or left winger, no matter what position he usually plays.

Never go by the opponent's point man in the defensive zone. When down by one man, try and remain in a four player box. When down two, try and remain in a three player triangle. Wo not chase the puck, protect the slot and be aware not to screen your goaltender.

On intercepting or breaking up powerplay attacks in your zone, immeditely clear the puck out over your blue line. Do not stickhandle or try to pass cross ice, us the boards whenever possible. Do not hold the puck, get rid of it.

Power Plays

On a delayed penalty, the center on the next line replaces the goaltender. If the puck is in your zone, the replacing player goes to the center line: in the offensive zone the player goes in front of the net.

Try to use four teammates in the neutral zone to move the puck across the blue line. Move the puck to the point in the offensive zone.

Move the puck quickly. If there is no man to pass to the player should move. Don't stand still with the puck. Moving the puck quickly allows a man to move to the opening.