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A Forwards primary role is to
score goals when their team has possession or controls the puck.
Their Secondary role is to prevent goals when the opposition
have possession or control the puck.
If coaches can explain what to do when the opposition have the
puck, and teach them how and when to forecheck and backcheck
correctly, by forcing them to the boards, you are on your way to
a very successful hockey season.
The faster a player goes from offensive to defensive hockey and
vice versa (their Transition Time) the more successful your team
will be at scoring and preventing goals.
Offensive hockey consists of moving the puck under control from
your defensive zone through the neutral zone and into the
offensive zone by setting up a series of 2 on 1 situations. Once
inside the offensive zone, try to create a high percentage
scoring opportunity then shoot the puck at the net.
Remember, Offensive hockey begins the moment anyone on your team
gets possession of the puck and you should move it up the ice in
one of the following manners.
- Pass the puck to an open team- mate who is ahead of you and in
the clear to receive a pass. - Passing is much quicker than
carrying the puck.
- Stickhandle or carry the puck yourself toward the offensive
zone if no team- mate is open for a pass or if you are leading
the rush.
- If meeting a lot of opposition in the neutral zone, just get
over the red line and shoot the puck into the corner or at the
net, then quickly skate in to retrieve it or take it away from
the opposition.
When in possession of the puck in any zone, try to create as
many 2 on 1 situations to get around the opponent and to develop
a high percentage scoring opportunity.
Scoring goals are accomplished by one of the following methods:
- Shooting the puck yourself, NB the entire puck must be over
the goal line to score
- Passing to a team mate in a better scoring position and she
scores
- Tipping or deflecting a team mate’s shot into the net by
changing the puck’s flight
- Getting to a rebound and shooting to score
- Screening their goalie so she cannot see the puck and a team
mate scores
- It shouldn’t matter who scores, this is a team game and
everybody is part of the team. Be a team player and try to help
your team score, but don’t try to do it all by yourself or you
could get labeled “a puck hog” or “a pond hockey player.” There
is no I in team.
Defensive Hockey consists of preventing goals by either
Forechecking in the Offensive Zone or Backchecking in the
Neutral and Defensive Zones. Defensive hockey begins the moment
the opposition gain control of the puck.
Forchecking - in the offensive zone the first or closest player
to their puck carrier must go after her and separate her from
the puck by either stick checking or body checking if allowed to
create a loose puck for your team-mates.
The second closest forward picks up the loose puck and goes to
the net for a shot or looks to pass to the third forward in the
high slot or open defensemen on the point for a shot. This is
commonly referred to as the 2-1 forecheck system.
The better forwards win the foot races and all the battles along
the boards and in the corners for the loose puck. They don’t
wait for things to happen, they make things happen. You must be
assertive/aggressive and want the puck, don’t sit back.
Backchecking -if the forechecking was unsuccessful and their
puckcarrier beats the forecheckers and is leading a rush, the
forwards must quickly peel off and backcheck through the neutral
zone and into their defensive zone by covering the Two wingers
all the way back to their goal line and prevent them from
receiving a pass or going to the net for a shot or rebound. Try
to force the puck carrier and receivers to the outside of the
rink and a bad shooting angle.
The 3 forwards do not just chase the puck carrier, they have
specific defensive jobs to do.
The defensemen should play their puck carrier preferably out
side your blue line.
If forechecking and backchecking are coordinated and executed
properly very few scoring chances are generated by the
opposition and your goals against are very low.
Composition of the lines- lines are composed of 3 forwards each
with different/varying offensive skills. The center is usually
the brains of the operation excelling in playmaking or Passing
skills. She can find an open winger and put the puck right on
her stick blade.
One winger is usually a talented goal scorer with soft hands
around the puck or has a powerful accurate shot. The other
winger must be an excellent checker digging the puck out of the
corners and finding the open man with a crisp pass. She is not
afraid to be first into the corner or to take a hit to make the
play. She is the pit bull on the line.
To be a successful line, all 3 forwards must work together
cohesively both offensively and defensively to be a plus, rather
than a minus line, at the end of the game.
Lanes – There are 3 lanes, Left, Centre and Right. Forwards can
skate up and down the ice in their lanes or criss-cross to get
into the clear to receive a pass or to get away from a checker.
Communication between line mates is essential to know where each
one is going and what the other 2 must do to cover each other’s
lane offensively and defensively. |
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