1. Defensive Tactics
By Mark Hogan

2. Welcome Introduction Teaching Defensive Play Topics
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.
Q&A

3. Hockey Overview DEFENSIVE PLAY OFFENSIVE 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

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 don’t 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.

9. Drills – Gap Control 1v1
USA Circles X x x D F

10. Defense – Various Situations
** USE SMALL AREA
3v3
4v4
5v3
5v5
GAMES **

11. Drills – Situation F F D D 1 v 1 w/ pass & drag 1 v 2 progression
1v1 straight down
b) 1v1 2 whistle F D F D F X1 D F
1v1 3x
2v2 3xs O1
1v1 opposite way
2v2 D X3 F O3
b) 1v1
2v2
3v3 O2 F D F X3

12. Drills – Situation Small Ice Games - Nets in corners - 3 puck 3 1v1
3v2 Cycle Low
b) 3v3 Cycle Low

13. 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

14. Defense in all three Zones

15. 1-1-2 Forecheck (hybird) 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

16. 2-1-2 Forecheck F1 F2 F3

17. Forecheck Switch Sides
F1 to F3
F3 to F1

18. Additional Forechecking
2-1-2
2-0-3
Wedge
3-0-2 Kamikazee

19. Drills – Forchecking F D 3 v 2 forecheck 1 V 1 angle to a cycle
b) 2 v 1 through dot F D F F D D F
Maine Breakout

20. 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

21. Drills – Back Checking Vancouver Backcheck X1 D F O1 1v1 to 2v2
1v1 w/ BC O2 X3 F D F F F F D
Vancouver Backcheck
2v1 to 3v3 D F F F
Fbc

22. 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 RD RW

23. 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 RD RW

24. Defensive Zone CoverageLD RD C RW LW

25. Defensive Zone Coverage
Good positioning

26. 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 RD RW

27. Man on Man Down Low Winger is facing wrong way
Look at the angle of his feet

28. Man-on-Man Down Low

29. Man-on-Man Down Low

30. DZ Breakdown

31. Teaching D Zone
5v3 Cycle then add winger F1 W D F2 D1 C F3 D2 D W

32. Man-on-Man – Where should they be positioned…

33. Man-on-Man – Where should they be positioned…

34. 3v3 Breakdown

35. Too much protecting the fort?

36. Putting it Together - All Zones
Forecheck – Backcheck – D Zone C RD D RW F2 F1 LD F3 LW D RW RD C LD LW

37. Drills – Putting it all together
3v2 forecheck
3v2 cycle
3v2 line rush
3v2 line rush
5v5
5v5
Face off
3v2 line rush
5v5

38. Drills – Situation F D Small Ice Games 3v2 Cycle Low b) 3v3 Cycle LowX1 F
a) 1v1 3x D O1
1v1 opposite way
2v2 D X3 F O3
b) 1v1
2v2
3v3 O2 F D F X3

39. Questions & Answers
Contact Information
Mark Hogan