defensive zone (dz) · web viewother tips 17 supporting drills 17zone situational diagrams18...

North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association – Hockey Playbook

TOC \o "1-3" Defensive Zone (DZ).......................................................................................................................................................................... 2DZ Coverage - 5 on 5 play in the zone................................................................................................................................................................................... 2DZ Face Off Alignment.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7DZ Breakout – now we have the puck!................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Neutral Zone (NZ) – Defensive Coverage.................................................................................................................................................................................. 8NZ back check.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Neutral Zone (NZ) – Defensive Coverage.................................................................................................................................................................................. 9NZ fore-check above the dots................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9NZ face off alignments............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Offensive Zone (OZ)......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12Penetrating the OZ and puck possession.......................................................................................................................................................................... 12The regroup, lose possession and regain it in neutral zone..................................................................................................................................... 14Puck possession, now your ready to score...................................................................................................................................................................... 15OZ face off alignments............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Other Tips............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17Supporting Drills............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17Zone Situational Diagrams........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18Recommended Reading................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20


Defensive Zone (DZ)

DZ Coverage - 5 on 5 play in the zoneDefensive-zone coverage is a strategy used to eliminate the amount of scoring opportunities surrendered to the opposing team. A well-executed D-zone coverage will allow your team to maintain their composure while under assault from the attacking opponent. There are many different variations of D-zone coverage that can be used (man-on-man, zone, swarm, etc.) but the easiest coverage to introduce to young players is a standard zone coverage system. NVMHA uses a combination of man-on-man and zone coverage – players need to read the play and will sometimes switch and follow.

With the standard zone coverage system, each player is responsible for guarding his designated area. Players must understand that they will be required to constantly be aware of their surroundings, even if they are not directly engaged in the play. This could entail aggressively pressuring a puck carrier who enters their zone or maintaining defensive body position against an opponent who is not near the play.

General rule when on the defensive:

Protect middle of the ice all the way down, keep teams outside of the dots - this way we are controlling their options


Defensive zone areas

Imagine a vertical line down the middle of the ice splitting the crease in equal halves from behind the net to the blue line. This will separate the designated area of the left forward and defense from the right forward and defense. Now, imagine a horizontal line across the ice splitting the in-zone faceoff circles in half. This will separate the designated area of the forwards from the defense. The large oval coverage area belongs to the centre, who must assist both the defense and wingers.

Defensive zone terminology Before we begin, there are a few terms that must be defined. A “Strong-Side” player refers to the players on the lateral half of the ice where the puck is located. Conversely, a “Weak-Side” player refers to the players on the lateral half of the ice where is not located.

General D-Zone Concepts:

When in doubt protect the house (get back to your spot in the house)

Stick on ice or on puck (pressure) when checking Get into shooting lanes, in front of blade of stick

not body Stay square between your check and the net, be

within a stick length of your check at all times When engaged in a puck battle stay off the boards

(never touch either side of boards)

D

D

CL

R


Strong-Side Defense (D): In this basic zone coverage, the primary responsibility of the strong-side defense is pressuring any puck carrier that roams within their zone ranging from below the faceoff dot to the middle of the crease. They must pressure, contain, and stall their opponent while keeping their eyes on their chest and maintaining defensive side positioning with as tight a gap as possible.

Weak-Side Defense (D): The weak-side defense must keep a strong net-front presence by controlling the opponent’s stick, playing physical, and maintaining defensive side positioning. When the play moves into a corner the vertical line shifts so that the weak-side defender territory increases from the middle of the crease to the near post. If the opponent moves away from the net front area to the high slot, the weak-side defense must stay in their shooting lane by taking a few strides in their direction. The defense will work together sharing the strong-side and weak-side duty as the play changes sides. Communication between the defense pair is crucial during D-zone coverage.

D-Zone Defense Tactics

Stay square between your check and the net Stick on puck or on ice when not checking If puck at point D is fronting offensive player in

front of net with stick awareness (understand where his stick is - left or right)

Must be willing to block shots If puck is inside the house maintain inside position

on check and tie up loose sticks Any puck scramble pucks are cleared to the

corners or wall, not up the middle If puck is behind the net, D responsibility is to seal

the post first and pursue the puck once its past the post


Centre (C):

Without a doubt, the centre plays one of the most critical roles in the defensive zones. Centres must be able to support the defense and their puck battles below the goal line without over-committing where one pass could beat both players. The centre must also be prepared to switch sides of the ice as the play moves from corner to corner. They are equally responsible for assisting the winger gain possession of the puck along the boards and clearing the puck from the zone. Players that are cognizant of this responsibility and embrace this role will achieve much greater success as they move into higher levels of hockey.

D-Zone Centre Tactics

Pick up the extra forward down low Support D in corners, act as third D Support any corner scrums a D is engaged

in, on both sides of the ice. Stays within a stick length of his check

Does most work in D-Zone


Strong-Side Winger (R or L):

The primary responsibility of the strong-side winger is covering the opposing team’s strong-side defense by maintaining solid defensive side position. This means that they must always be between their man and the goal. The strong-side winger must stay off the boards taking away the pass from the corner to the strong-side defense. They are also encouraged to break up any play that crosses into their territory such as a high cycle. A responsible winger must also be prepared to block point shots when their defense gains possession of the puck.

Weak-Side Winger (R or L): The primary responsibility of the weak-side winger is to cover the weak-side high slot area thereby securing the middle of the ice. By having their head on a swivel, they will learn to follow the play while still maintaining defensive position on the opposing weak-side defense. In the event that a pass does get through to their point man, the weak-side winger must be ready and willing to block shots. When the play switches sides, the wingers must communicate

* Keep in mind that these zone boundaries should not restrict players from crossing the line to make an informed hockey decision. They are merely put in place to offer guidance and education to young hockey players.

D-Zone Winger Defense Tactics

Primary responsibility is their D Secondary is to help with anything down

to the hash marks, unless retrieving a loose puck (100% chance to get it)

Approach D from the inside out to prevent D to D pass

Head on a swivel, understanding where the puck and your check are

Stay off the wall to prevent passes to the middle

Always be on the inside position of the D


DZ Face Off Alignment

DZ Breakout – now we have the puck!


Neutral Zone (NZ) – Defensive Coverage NZ back checkFirst back checker is always pressuring the puck to allow D to stay up in the playWeak side D in the middle of the ice, hinged slightly D should always be in the same zone as the puck


Neutral Zone (NZ) – Defensive Coverage NZ fore-check above the dots

Scenario 1 – forcing the puck up the wall on strong side (black arrows) Puck is on offensive LD stick in D-to-D set-up.

Defensive positioning (black) for offensive LD pass to RW (red) RW is strong side winger who should come inside out on the LD trying to force the puck up the wall. RD is strong side D and should be positioned on the red line between the faceoff dots. LD is weak side D and should be positioned in between bottom of circle in middle of ice. LW is weak side winger and is positioned on red line in between the faceoff dots C is on defensive side of opposing team (closer to our net) and will mirror the other C

TipsEngage in this fore-check anytime puck is above the dots or any D to D transition in the NZ

Objectives Protect middle of ice Maintain puck to the outside

of the ice

Tactics Angling inside out to force

puck up the wall


Scenario 2 – transitioning when puck goes D to D (green arrows) Offensive LD (red) has the puck and moves it D to D

Defensive positioning (black) for offensive LD to RD pass (red) RW comes down and pressures “inside out”. On this play he will tight turn facing the puck and sprint back

up weak side with stick in the lane until he gets to the red line LW will anticipate as puck is moving D to D and move down from the red line with and inside out

positioning to try to force the puck up the wall LD will slide up to red line to between the dots RD will slide back to defensive support in the middle of the ice C will remain locked on the defensive side of the offensive centre


NZ face off alignments


Offensive Zone (OZ)

Penetrating the OZ and puck possession We would like a puck possession first mentality by controlling the puck over the OZ blue line and not necessarily dumping the puck in. When carrying the puck in do it with speed and ask yourself if you think you can beat the D:

If yes, drive hard to the net from the top of circle protecting the puck and keeping your feet moving to the slot area

If noo Carry puck to circle and tight turn back up ice and look for pass / shot optiono Carry puck wide and look for pass option or shoot puck to goalie’s far pad to create a reboundo Carry puck wide and behind the net, being patient with the puck and waiting for team mates to

get into position

Its important for players to understand when to dump the puck in and how to dump in with purpose and be able to retrieve the puck back. The 3 situations where you’re going to dump the puck in are shown below. The key to understanding these situations is having your head up:

1. You’re outmanned 2. You’re under pressure from the D and have no immediate play (he takes away your time and space)3. You need to change


Retrieving the puck – key points Try and dump the puck into either corner Communicate and understand your role in the play In the corner first forechecker pressures hard on an inside out angle

trying to force the puck up strong side wall Second forechecker comes in support and reads off first forecheckers

execution (younger players will support from faceoff circle to protect middle and be in position to pressure the wall, older players will force the puck up the wall and rely on the D to hold the line)

Once the puck is dumped in to the corner there are 3 options1. 1st forechecker retrieves puck or engages in battle with D, 2nd forechecker

supports down low (a stick or 2 away from battle)2. If puck moves up strong side wall, 2nd forechecker tracks the puck with D pinching down the wall in

support and 3rd forward covering for strong side D on blue line 3. If puck goes D to D on weak side

2nd forechecker pressures D to D pass on an inside out motion trying to move puck up the wall (do at full speed to eliminate D time and space).

High forward slides over taking away any pass up the middle. Weak -side D pinches down if puck gets all the way around to half wall and high forward covers D 1st forechecker now

tight turns facing the play and reloads back to a high supporting position

Dump & retrieve tips

Keep puck away from goalie and behind the net Prevent goalie from playing puck

or disturbing the forecheck Don’t allow D to get behind the net

with full control

Execute forecheck with purpose by forcing D team into certain areas of the ice using proper angles and stick position


The regroup, lose possession and regain it in neutral zone The Regroup, 2 types Basic, split the ice in half

(support the puck) Advanced – stretch the ice,

wingers on the wall

Defenceman tip: D-to-D pass Always have your head up

during the D-to-D play (receiving, stickhandling or passing)

To develop this skill at home try passing to yourself off a wall while keeping your head up


Puck possession, now your ready to scoreKey points when gaining possession in the OZ

- Puck support – establish an offensive triangle, preferably on ½ of the ice

- In order to create time and space players have to be moving – this can be established through a cycle or puck movement with player rotation

- Cycling o The goal of the cycle is to create defenders to move allowing for

more seams to be created for shooting or passing lanes and get pucks and penetration to the net. Its ineffective is just cycle the puck and stay on the outside perimeter.

o Other benefits of cycling include allowing players to lose checks and become open

o Comes from a triangle formation usually with player on hashmarks on the wall, a player in support down on the goal line and a high forward in the slot.

o If the player on the hashmarks starts with the puck moving towards the point and trying to maintain puck possession below the ringette line the player from the goal line will move up in support and call for the cycle

o The player in the slot will fill in the goal line role down low as all players move and the player who was on the hashmarks and cycled the puck will fill into the high slot

o When cycling the puck players should always move the puck on the board side down to the supporting player who’s moving upwards in support

Back-check tips1st back-checker Tracks puck carrier and pressures puck once he gets within a stick length. This slows down other teams attack, and forces them to do something (ideally dump the puck so we get possession) and allows our other forwards to catch up to the play.

2nd back-checker Tracks through middle of ice and supports 1st back-checker (like centre supports the D)

3rd back-checkerTracks back to zone as hard as possible and takes away the high option in our zone


o Players should also recognize the defensive positioning of the defending team (i.e. if defender is behind you, you should not cycle puck down but rather maintain possession and cut to the net for a shot). If player is parallel or above you is an ideal time to cycle puck down towards boards to supporting player.

o The progression from this 3-man cycle would be a 4-man cycle where the strong side defenceman would be utilized as well.

- If the defenders are playing strong man-to-man coverage on the cycle and penetration to the net or lanes are not opening up, this is where you need to change the point of attack (change the side of the ice). o One way to do this is utilizing your defence by moving the puck up to the point, going D-D and

spreading out the defenders. Now the puck is on the opposite side of the OZ forcing defenders to spread out more.

o Another way is to hard cycle behind the net by rimming it behind the net where the weak side forward would pick up the puck behind the net and either use the net to gain some time and space with the defender or switch to the opposite side of the ice where the weak side D would come over and support him until the other players transition over

- When trying to create offence some key point are

o Getting pucks to the net

o Hitting the net having a net front presence, and

o Being able to retrieve loose pucks off rebounds

- When cycling communicating to your team mates is key:

o Cycle (player and puck movement)

o Down low (below the hash or goal line)


o Walk (to the net), off the wall

o Point

OZ face off alignments

Other Tips

Understanding what the other team is doing and how to adapt to it

Supporting Drills


Zone Situational Diagrams


OZ fore-check (1)Puck pressured up the wall

OZ fore-check (2)D makes D to D pass behind net


Recommended Reading

Saul Miller – Hockey Tough

http://www.saulmiller.com/books.html#01

defensive zone (dz) · web viewother tips 17 supporting drills 17zone situational diagrams18...

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