Defensive Strategies Presented by Jen Fallon University of New Haven

Philosophy What is your philosophy? What do you want to be “known” for? Do you have a system? Get your team to buy into your philosophy.

Individual Defense Be clear in your expectations. Help athletes identify strengths and weaknesses. Be able and willing to adjust to what you have to work with.

Basic Principles Communication is key. Develop a language everyone understands and uses. Where are we forcing when we defend? To help? To the outside? To non-dominant hand? How do we mark a cutter? Denying ball side or goal side? Where are we picking them up on the redefend, in the midfield and in the critical scoring area?

Team Defense Why are you playing a certain defense? Spell it out. Give athletes rules and guidelines. Be consistent and be clear. Consider size, experience, speed, what your players are comfortable doing and your opponent.

Basic Principles Double teams—when to help, when to slide? Defending picks—do we stay or do we switch? How are we going to defend a stack or a “muddle”?

1. Pressure Behind When to use it: Your team is good at defending the crease and help defense around the goal.

1. Pressure Behind How to use it:a. Send defender behind immediately—even out of transition. b. Force the ball carrier out—away from the center behind the cage. c. Help must come from up top or other side of the crease. Everyone else be ready to slide!

1. Pressure Behind How to practice it: Crease rolls with pressure behind and help coming from the top or other side of the crease.

2. Double Team Defense When to use it: Your team is quick and comfortable taking risks. Can contain and force in one direction well. Capable double teamers and good checkers.

2. Double Team Defense Can be used to disrupt the opponents offense and to create turnovers.

2. Double Team Defense How to use it: When the ball is on the perimeter, defender should force one direction. As ball carrier turns, adjacent defender goes to double. Everyone else needs to be ready to slide. Most players in the double will look for the first option.

2. Double Team Defense How to practice it: Double team drills in the critical scoring area. DOUBLE!

3. Sag Defense When to use it: To clog space in order to make it difficult for opponents to penetrate the 8m. Use it against teams that have strong 1 vs. 1 attackers or feeds well inside.

3. Sag Defense

How to use it: On ball players play no higher than the 12m, always forcing to help. All other players remain on the 8m. Watch 3 seconds.

3. Sag Defense How to practice it: 1v1s from all areas of the 12m with help on the 8m.

Drills… 8 M Pattern Super D 1 vs. 1 in grids Build up D New Blue, New White 4 vs. 3 Midfield transition with boxes