CEP Level 3 Manual - Rushmore Hockey Association

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SChapter 20Positional PlayOBJECTIVES• Describe the potential responsiblities of defensemen• Describe the defensive side of positional play• Ouline the importance of individual positional skill developmentDEVELOPING DEFENSEMENToday’s swift, wide-open style of hockey makesplaying defense one of the most difficult positions tomaster on a hockey team. It is a position where aplayer receives few accolades, but make a mistakeand he/she is sure to hear the jeers and sneers.However, defense is the backbone to sound teamplay because defenseman are responsible forinitiating offensive attacks and also thwarting theopposition’s assaults on their goal. The days ofplacing the big, slow, clumsy player back on defenseare gone. Today’s game requires a unique,intelligent, highly skilled and well-trained player backon the blue line. Many coaches select their bestathletes to play defense, because they are the“quarterbacks” of a hockey team.Defenseman Characteristics• superb skater - strong and stable on skates• excellent lateral mobility• good upper body strength• patient and confident• keen hockey mind• handles the puck well• passes with pin-point accuracy, short, longand one-touch• has a quick, hard, low shotMany coaches neglect drilling their defensemenon the skills required to play their position. Drillsmust be constantly used to develop the abilitiesneeded for today’s defensemen.Before coaches or players begin special drills fordefensemen, they must understand theresponsibilities a defenseman has on the ice duringa game. This understanding avoids a great deal ofconfusion and indecision on the ice and in theplayers’ minds during a game. Everybody knowstheir assignments in any given game situation. It isanother part of the systematized approach to thegame of hockey.Methods for Playing Various Situations• One-on-One – Skate backward, one hand onthe stick, with elbow cocked next to your hip,blade open to forehand, stick out in frontwithout leaning too far forward (keepbalance), face on-rushing forward and watchhis/her upper body (chest), not the puck. Letthe attacker make the first move. If you overplayhim/her to the inside, his/her onlyoption is to go outside off the shooting angle.Keep your body between the attacker andDefensive Team Tactics | 249