Winger playing defense

[qmechanic 17]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

[trained_seal 0]

Well, as a defenseman myself, I do my best to evade the winger covering me to get open for a shot. However, in your case I would ask your coach what to do. Some coaches have different systems, some may want you to stick to your assigned person (the D-man in your case) or cover an area. So I would ask him in practice what he wants you to do.

Usually, if he's dropping that low, close to the goal, one of your D-men or center should pick him up, I would at least get as low as your coach lets you. But talk to him first, just to make sure you're on the same page.

[SuperMan3 1]

What I do is shadow the D, always think 1 step ahead of him to try and break up a potential play, when I play D, I usually wait until the F is really focused on the play and not me, and sneak in from the point.

[-brady2 0]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

well there is no point of you staying behind your point man because you are definetly not going to block a shot or ruin an opportunity from behind him, unless your coach is looking for a breakaway out of it I wouldn't see why he would tell you to stay at the top of the circle in that situation if I understand it correctly.

[Chadd 916]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

Chances are the coach would want you to stick with your man. The best way to know for sure is to ask; "Coach, this guy keeps pinching down low, what do you want me to do?"

[qmechanic 17]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

Chances are the coach would want you to stick with your man. The best way to know for sure is to ask; "Coach, this guy keeps pinching down low, what do you want me to do?"

I asked my coach during the game and he told me to stay in my zone. But I didn't like that very much, which is why I brought up the issue in this forum. It wasn't just me; several of my other teammates (wingers) also complained that they wanted to follow the man in, rather than staying high.

[qmechanic 17]

* duplicate post *

[oggy_3 0]

I know when my coachs says stay in your zone and the D is coming down to the net, The actual zone is until the hashmarks. So if the D goes to pinch to the front of the net your zone would be to the Hashmarks and if the D goes deeper, get your defensemens attetion to watch the opposing D.

[Jarick 5]

My team watched it dozens of times and went from really bad to not embarrassing.

Basically, as a winger, you want to cover your point. You don't want to go below the circles (that's the defense/center's job), or stray over to the other boards (that's the other winger's job), since it will leave your point man open for a shot. Unless they don't play positional hockey, in which case you might be best just shadowing that defenseman.

[-brady2 0]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

Chances are the coach would want you to stick with your man. The best way to know for sure is to ask; "Coach, this guy keeps pinching down low, what do you want me to do?"

I asked my coach during the game and he told me to stay in my zone. But I didn't like that very much, which is why I brought up the issue in this forum. It wasn't just me; several of my other teammates (wingers) also complained that they wanted to follow the man in, rather than staying high.

There is no point to stay behind the pointman, i'd be following him in and keeping him somewhat off-balance, you are doing nothing if your at the top circle and hes 3 feet behind you about to receive a pass.

[Chadd 916]

I just played in a tournament this weekend. In two of the games, while my team was in our defensive zone, the opposing defensemen kept rushing into the play, especially when there was a scrum near the net. I play wing and my coach always tells me not to get any deeper than the top of the circle, but I really felt like I should follow my point in. What do you guys think? Is my coach right?

The only thing I could think of doing was maybe tying up the point's stick and backing off when I get too deep.

Chances are the coach would want you to stick with your man. The best way to know for sure is to ask; "Coach, this guy keeps pinching down low, what do you want me to do?"

I asked my coach during the game and he told me to stay in my zone. But I didn't like that very much, which is why I brought up the issue in this forum. It wasn't just me; several of my other teammates (wingers) also complained that they wanted to follow the man in, rather than staying high.

You should never be following the man in. If you're doing that, you already lost position and aren't going to do any good if he gets the puck quickly. You should always stay between your man and the net/puck. I try to play about two sticks away from my man when I play wing and covering the passing lane as much as possible. If you get too close, it will encourage him to try and get by you and if you back off too much, he's going to have time and space should he get the puck.

All of that said, do what your coach tells you when you're playing for him. Once you move on to another team, do what that coach asks. He may be seeing something you are missing or may be worried about about someone rotating into the space created when you go low in the zone. He may be expecting your defenseman to spring you for an odd man rush. Doing that once or twice will usually get their guy to stop crashing the net.

[-brady2 0]

Should I clraify following your man in as staying with him to the net?

[NuggyBuggy 0]

You don't want to go below the circles (that's the defense/center's job), or stray over to the other boards (that's the other winger's job), since it will leave your point man open for a shot.

His point man is already in below the circles, and - unless the OP is below the circles with him - already open for a shot. The winger's job is usually to cover the guy at the point, not cover a spot 6 feet behind the guy who pinched two seconds ago. Now if the latter is really what the coach wants you to do, then my advice is - do it, but make sure you understand why he wants you to do it.

[chippa13 1844]

It all depends on how the coverage is working. Staying home and staying with the man can both be right depending on how your team works the defensive zone coverage.

[biff44 0]

If it is a tournament team, then you are not going to be able count that much on the other players knowing their roles. So if I were guarding a Dman and he is driving to the slot, I would go with him! Espcially if the Dman leaving the point was not replaced by another player.

As someone said above, you should be between him and the goal the whole time. But sometimes you get surprised--and lifting his stick or hiting him just when he is about to shoot can be just as effective.

What is really the downside to following him in? Losing the chance for a breakaway. As opposed to letting an uncovered shooter in the slot?

[chk hrd 164]

a big thing is communication with your team mates and what is going on in the game. If my team is up or even I'm going to follow him in. If it's late in he game and we are loosing I'm going to follow him down a little and let the center know he's coming in hopes of getting a break out and od man rush. Everyone needs t be on the same page during the entire game so it's critical that everyone talks.

[Chadd 916]

What is really the downside to following him in? Losing the chance for a breakaway. As opposed to letting an uncovered shooter in the slot?

If the other team is running a rotation, you could leave the point open. As a coach, I used to watch how the other team defended various plays and then try to find a way to take advantage of their reactions. This is one situation that we took advantage of regularly. Running a zone defense is very difficult to do properly, because everyone has to be able to read the play and decide for themselves what they should do.