DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Ball control in corner by opposition DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
When opposition has control in corners, proper defensive position by loading up one side of the floor will minimize run and chase game. As indicated (in most cases will be the centre) acts as a support for the D1 pressuring the opposition, the support positions as an arc, visualizing the play the ball carrier will try to make. Acts as a second defensive wall if the opponent gets through D1 or opponent gets assistance from line mate. Always visualize the yellow area as 80% of play area in this circumstance. Wing (left) plays high slot but not goal side of opponent in slot, still in stick reach for pressure/ check - but mobile to pull out of position for point coverage, ball wrap around net and breakout if defense takes ball control. RW always on goal side of point and down boards as indicated.
F F
D2
C G
D1 O
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Penalty Kil setup against “Umbrella” P.P. DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
You will find the eastern teams use an Umbrella setup for most of their power plays. Positioning below is the way to set up against it and how to move in position with the opponent shifting the play. With an umbrella setup, the offensive opposition will tend to try and work one side of the floor. Call from the bench will be a “diamond formation”, it gives defensive players a way of forcing play instead of boxing and giving shooting alleys. The low man (in front of net) will have the issue of covering two low offensive players, best to play the centre, but more to the side of ball play. If ball is played down low to one side the opposite side diamond defense-men drops low to cover cross pass to offensive forward.
O F O
D1
O
C D2 G
O
O If the offensive opponent works the one side and down low, D2 shifts to force low opponent with ball and D1 would shift down to cover Opposition on opposite side of net.
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Penalty Kill setup against “t-cross” P.P. DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
Defending against a “t-cross” power play (used mostly by European minor teams, but now has made its way to Canadian teams the set-up is using the diamond formation. The object by the offensive opponent is feeding the ball back and forth from point man to outside players instead of using one side of floor as in umbrella setup, the offensive opponents carry the play high and then transition quickly to down low at net or into slot. The Slovaks would slide the slot player out to the side in hopes of drawing a defender while the outside opposite player then would take over the slot for a pass and open shot, as this player took over the slot, two opposing players would shift low for rebound. Don’t be fooled and be pulled out of the diamond especially West to East.
O
F O
D1
O
C
O
O D2 G
Watch for slot player to drop while opponent works one side, in this case right side. Slot shifting low tries to draw D1 low so the right side opponent takes the slot position for pass
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK 3 options defensive zone break outs THREE BREAK OUT OPTIONS FROM DEFENSIVE POSITIONING AS SHOWN
U17 THUNDER
OPTION#1 (RED LINE) Side Board Breakout
OPTION#2 (BLUE LINE) Far Board Breakout Using
OPTION#3 (YELLOW LINE) ‘Lob ball’ Breakout
Using same side board of ball control, high forward comes down board to receive short pass from D1, then angle/ centre passes it to breking out Centre, while far winger breaks out high neutral zone.
same side board of ball control, high forward comes down board to receive short pass from D1, then angle/ centre passes it to breking out Centre, while far winger breaks out high neutral zone.
Using same side board of ball control, high forward comes down board to receive short pass from D1, then angle/ centre passes it to breking out Centre, while far winger breaks out high neutral zone.
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Penalty Kill “wall set up” DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
Prior to setting up the box or diamond when the opposition takes the zone, the set up for a defensive stand of our zone is as follows. All for PK players line up on the blue line with the two defensemen on the outside boards and the two forwards on the inside. When the opposition carries the ball near the blue line to gain the zone, the closest FWD pressures and attacks them directly. At the same time the other defensive FWD shifts over to cover the hole. Both Dmen must not panic and hold the line, if they dont, the opposition can pass to an open player sitting on the line and take the zone. If the opponent dumps the ball in the outside defensemen draw back to get the ball and floor it.
O
D2
F
F
G
D1
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Defensemen /opposition corner control in own zone DEFENSIVE POSITIONING Most of this positioning is geared towards the defensemen when the opposition has control of the ball in one of their own corners and are looking to move the ball up the boards. With the formation shown below, as we have mentioned many time we are “overloading” or “cutting the floor into quarters” to force the play and not allow an easy breakout. The defensemen on the board must be placed 7-10 feet in from the blue line to force the ball back in if the F2 opposition receives the ball and breaks out up the boards or a pass to the high winger of the opposition is made. The D1 needs to play off on an angle and in the mid floor slot to cut the floor. They then are ready for a quick break out., but in position if the ball is turned over to our team.
U17 THUNDER
To keep ball in offensive zone without team breaking out, constant pressure from point and keeping the pressure down low by cutting the floor in half with overloading ball side will make it hard for opposition to move ball out.
D1 D2
O
O F
O
C F2
G F
O
OFFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Power Play setup with “Czech T” P.P. OFFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
There are three Power Play setups that will be used. The “Czech T” power play setup was adopted by the coaching staff from the World Championships in 2008. The Czech Republic teams used this setup majority of their power plays. The setup is outlined below. To effectively execute this system, the quarter back is the ball mover to the outside winger/defensemen. It is the outside players that will either feed the pass to the inside forwards or take a shot when there is an alley. The object is to “play pass” one side of the floor and draw the PK team to the outside, you can do this by pulling the two inside forwards out a bit, this allows the far side winger/defensemen to slide into the slot for shot. Other execution is the 2 slot forwards to switch positions causing movement of PK team and or sliding out of slots for open shot and pass. In most cases the PK team will set up against this with a diamond formation.
You may find that because of setting up with two slot forwards the PK team may set up as a box, this in turn will benefit open slot passes
D
F W
D1
C
C
W D2 G
D
OFFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Power Play setup with “Umbrella” P.P. OFFENSIVE POSITIONING One of the most common power plays coaches setup with is the “Umbrella” power play. The umbrella can be transformed to the Czech T power play setup quite easily and visa versa. The umbrella is similar in the way of moving the ball to the outside winger/defensemen. Then transitioning it to a down low feed to the forwards near the net. one forward takes the pass the other down low forward slides into the slot at the same time. PK Teams will defend this with a “diamond” setup. This again will allow a forward to slide into the open slot.
U17 THUNDER
D
F W
D1
C
D
C D2 G
W
OFFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Power Play setup with “2 high” P.P. OFFENSIVE POSITIONING
U17 THUNDER
The most common power plays coaches setup with is the “2 high” or hockey setup power play. The 2 high is used for more point shots from two shooters. Having a centre forward in the slot all the time will create goalie obstruction and a place to feed the ball. PK Teams will defend this with a “box” setup. Majority of the time the PK team will stay in the box formations and not overcommit unless PP does not receive clean passes.
D
D C
F C
W
D1
D2 G
W
OFFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Face off line up/draw-offensive 5on5 U17 THUNDER
D Good zone draw area as long as communicated to line mates
W
C
F
C
OFFENSIVE POSITIONING The main point of any face off is for the player taking the face off to tie up the opposing center on the draw. Forward motion of body into the player with a ball drawback is 90% effective. Tie up the opposing player stick and move ball with feet if a continued battle. All face off set ups should be quarterbacked by the draw player - get players in position before faceoff and make sure they know where you are going with the ball or intention. Unless set up for it, never draw or move ball to back center line. Either draw back or go down board side to winger breaking in.
Dead zone face off draw - unless offensive defensemen are aware of it before the draw.
W
D F D1 G
D2
DEFENSIVE ZONE PLAYBOOK Face off line up/draw-defensive 5on5 U17 THUNDER
C
Good zone draw area as long as communicated to line mates
The main point of any face off is for the player taking the face off to tie up the opposing center on the draw. Forward motion of body into the player with a ball drawback is 90% effective. Tie up the opposing player stick and move ball with feet if a continued battle. All face off set ups should be quarterbacked by the draw player - get players in position before faceoff and make sure they know where you are going with the ball or intention. Draws in defensive zone 95% of the time should be drawn back towards back board, if the opposition lines up with overload in the center floor and no one on the outside boards - a forward side board motion draw for the outside defensive player to move the ball up the boards is allowed (5
D2
D1
D
OFFENSIVE POSITIONING
C
F F W D W G
