1. Clears: Shot, 43, Sideline

2. Clearing Game: General Thoughts
Streamline: It’s only necessary to have only one primary clear. There is too much to learn as it is.
Simplicity: Our out of bounds clears (43 and Sideline) are essentially the same clear. Sideline is just pushed further down the field.
Play to our Strengths: Let’s put players in positions to make plays. If you have an athletic midfielder, let him “leg” the ball out of the zone.
Organized: A team that clears successfully will be a successful – in shorter games this is doubly true. Be organized and polished with our clearing game.

3. Clear After a Shot/Save

4. Level of Play (Shot Clear)
Shot Clear: Level of Play
Level of Play (Shot Clear)
“Shot” is suitable for teams of all skill levels. It is very effective because the opponent is unsettled after the shot. This is our base clear after a shot and save. All teams should understand how to properly break away from the goal after a shot.

5. Shot Clear: Set-up
Execution (Shot)
Goalie makes the save and yells “break”. D2 and D3 “banana break” and curl out from the crease running an arc to the sidelines as an outlet pass for the goalie. D1 initially stays at home, then moves to the corner of the restraining line. M2 who was covering man who shot breaks to the deep midfield/sideline. M1 breaks to the opposite deep midfield/sideline. M3/LSM breaks to the center midfield line to not allow his man to sub out. First look to the breaking midfielders for fast break, if not there, pass to D2 or D3 and deep midfielders will return and come back to the ball.

6. Execution (Shot Continued)
Shot Clear: Execution Continued
Execution (Shot Continued)
D3 catches ball and runs up the sideline. M2 mirrors D3 running up field crosses into offensive end then comes back to receive pass from D3. M2 will carry ball into offensive end and pass to A2 in the alley who has come out from Flat Break. A2 will run through X to set up offense. LSM has subbed off and midfielders fall into offensive set.

7. A3
M3/LSM D2 G A1 D1 M1 D3 M2 A2
Shot Clear: Set Up 7

8. G
Shot Clear: Execution 8

9. 43 Clear

10. 43 Clear: Level of Play
Level of Play (43 Clear)
“43” is suitable for teams of all skill levels. It is very effective because the dominant ball-handler is a midfielder. 43 will be our base out of bounds, dead-ball clear.

11. 43 Clear: Set-up
Set-up (43)
Four defensive players want to spread across the field about 5 yards in from the endline. M1 picks up the ball wherever it goes out. The goalie wants to be adjacent to the midfielder inside of the restraining box. The two defensemen, D1 and D2, align themselves in the other two positions. In this scenario, they start outside of the restraining box about 5 yards inside the sideline...

12. 43 Clear: Set-up Continued
The other three player set up across the midfield line with the last defensemen, D3 next to the box, M2 in the middle of the field,, and M3 away from the box. M1 should be an athletic midfielder who is comfortable with the ball in his stick so he can “leg it out” if necessary.

13. M3 D2 G M2 M1 D1 D3
43 Clear: Set Up

14. 43 Clear: Execution
Execution (43 Clear)
If only one player guards M1, then he should run past them and try to clear the ball. If someone slides to them in the open field then they should look in that direction for an open teammate. If M1 gets past this first man, then M2 and M3 should go over the midfield line to stretch the defense. If M1 throws to D3 and he goes over with the ball, then M1 must stay back…

15. Execution (43 Clear Continued)
43 Clear: Execution Continued
Execution (43 Clear Continued)
If two players cover M1 initially then he should throw the ball to the Goalie (or D1/D2 if G is covered) who then walk the ball up the field. When the goalie (or D1/D2) has the ball, M2, M3 and D3 should go over the midfield line. If one of them is covered by an attackman then they should be wide open. If all three of these players are covered, then D3 should immediately go back onside…

16. Execution (43 Clear Continued)
43 Clear: Execution Continued
Execution (43 Clear Continued)
As soon as D3 is back onside, M1 needs to cut over the middle of the field, and over the midfield if necessary, to get open for a pass form the goalie. If M1 is still not open then M3 and M4/D3 need to act as “partners”. Only one of them can over the line at a time. The other has “on-side responsibilities”.

17. Execution (43 Clear Continued)
43 Clear: Execution Continued
Execution (43 Clear Continued)
**Advanced coaches can substitute a fourth midfielder at the box for D3 to avoid having a defenseman carry the ball.
**If the goalie gets pressured as he walks up the field, he may need to throw to D1 or D2, who can make the same appropriate reads and passes.

18. D2 M3 G M2 M1 D1 D3/M3 43 Clear: Execution
The goalie wants to locate the player, M3, M2 or D3/M4 who is located by an attackman. This player should be open once they’ve crossed the midfield line. If all three of these players are covered, then D3 M3 needs to get back onside and M1, wants to cross the midfield line and get open. D2 M3 G M2 M1 D1
D3/M3
43 Clear: Execution

19. 43 Clear: Final Thoughts
43 Clear: Final Thoughts
The 43 will be the base out of bounds, dead-ball clear used by HYL. The most important aspect of this clear is the wing players (M3 and D3/M4) must be mindful of where the other is. If the ride forces the defense to throw cross field passes, whichever player is on the weak side needs to recover across the midfield line to provide “onside” insurance.

20. Sideline

21. Level of Play (Sideline)
Sideline Clear: Level of Play
Level of Play (Sideline)
Sideline is a more advanced clear because of the coordinated movements required, but it’s very effective if the clearing team understands how it operates. Instead of making several passes like other clears, it only takes 1-2 passes for this clear to succeed.

22. Sideline Clear: Set-up
Set-up (Sideline)
This clear should be employed when the ball goes out of bounds on the sideline between the restraining box and the midfield line. If it goes out of bounds below the restraining box, the 43 should be used. In “Sideline” M1 starts with the ball where it goes out of bounds. M1 should, again, be athletic and capable of carrying the ball under pressure so he can “leg it out” if necessary.

23. Set-up (Sideline Continued)
Sideline Clear: Set-up Continued
Set-up (Sideline Continued)
D2 lines up approximately 7 yards behind M1 around the restraining line and acts as an outlet for M1 if necessary. The goalie lines up in the middle of the field around the restraining box. D1 lines up across from D2 on the opposite side of the field. D3 lines up at the midfield line, inside of the wind face-off line about 5 yards inside the sideline. M2 lines up on the offensive side of the field, 3-5 yards from the restraining line.

24. D2 M1 D3 M3 G M2 D1
Sideline Clear: Set Up

25. Execution (Sideline Clear)
Sideline Clear: Execution
Execution (Sideline Clear)
In essence, this is a 3v2 clear. M3 starts on the offensive side of the midfield line so the opposition must cover him with a midfielder. That leaves 2 midfielders responsible for M1, M2 and D3. If M1 has only one player defending him, then he should run by this player and clear the ball himself. D3 should cut over the midfield line to create space for M1 to dodge. M2 must wait for D3 to come back onsides before he goes over the midfield line.

26. Execution (Sideline Clear Cont.)
Sideline Clear: Execution Continued
Execution (Sideline Clear Cont.)
If M1 is covered by two players, he should first look for D3 breaking over the midfield towards the center of the field. If an attackman covers D3, he will be open for a pass.

27. Sideline Clear: If M1 is Double Teamed
If an attackman covers D3 he should be open right away. If a midfielder covers D3, then M1 wants to throw the ball to the goalie (or D1 who then makes a cross field pass to D2 if the goalie is shut off). D2 M1
When the goalie has the ball M2 breaks over the midfield line looking for a pass from the goalie. If M2 has an attackman guarding him, then he should be wide open. D3 M3 G
If M2 is not open then he should get back onsides, and as soon as he does, M1 is free to go over and should be open because the opposing midfielders are on M2, M3 and D3 (who are all not open). D3 wants to make sure he is in the middle of the field leaving plenty of space for M1. M2 D1
Sideline Clear: If M1 is Double Teamed

28. Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts
Sideline should be used in all dead-ball situations when the ball is above the restraining line. When using sideline, it is imperative that M3 make certain that he is covered by an opposing midfielder. He wants to be in the offensive zone, but still be above the restraining line.

29. Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts
Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts Continued
Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts
If the other team covers M3 with a defenseman, he must alert his teammates of a 10-Man ride. M3 and the attackmen covered by the other team’s goalie must find an open space and be an outlet for their teammate.