Help switching from forward to defense...

[gxc999 7]

There's a very good chance I'll be on a new team and playing D in C league. Needless to say, I know I don't skate backwards very well and am pretty worried. I know the basic idea of playing defense but am scrambling for ideas/suggestions...

[furlanitalia 1]

Focus on keeping your weight in front of you so you're on your toes when skating backwards. Keep your knees bent and head up. One thing I always focus on whenever someone is coming down on me is to watch they're body and force them to the outside. Don't get caught up watching the puck.

One thing you can try is skating backwards in every warm up just to get your feet used to the different style of motion (especially if you don't have any practice time). Most of basic backwards skating is just continuous C cuts.

[Chadd 916]

At all times:

Communicate with your partner

Don't make the game hard, make it as easy for yourself as you can

In transition:

If you have to give up anything, give up the outside

Never let a guy split you and your defense partner

In your zone:

Don't go chasing someone in the corner unless you know the front of the net is covered

Don't screen the goalie

Don't try and deflect shots with your stick directly in front of your goalie

When you have the puck:

Take the first good pass you see, don't look for something better and hope it will still be there

Use the boards for indirect passes

If you miss a pass, miss it because it was too hard, slow passes will be turnovers

It's better to get a slow shot on net than a hard shot blocked

[furlanitalia 1]

To add to that:

Use the glass to clear the puck if you're panicking in your end. Never up the middle, even if you see a potential pass.

[Chadd 916]

To add to that:

Use the glass to clear the puck if you're panicking in your end. Never up the middle, even if you see a potential pass.

While I agree for the most part if you aren't able to go high and hard off the glass, you are better off going through open ice than forcing it through bodies between you and the blue line.

[furlanitalia 1]

Fair enough, provided you have space to do this and enough power to get it out. I'd rather put a soft shot into a mess on the boards then up the middle and risk it being picked up and taken to the slot.

[gxc999 7]

Good stuff so far guys. Keep it coming!

[dolomaster83 0]

they are all good suggestions.. also to add on to the part where you don't like skating backwards a good skill to learn is to learn to angle. a lot of pros are using this e.g. most of the redwings defense. also being able to skate backwards is also good.. if you do get caught where a guy beats you wide don't just chase he wide. what you can do is cut straight to the close post and he will eventually meet you there or take a shot from a harder spot. I can make a couple videos if you want. but just let me know

[gxc999 7]

they are all good suggestions.. also to add on to the part where you don't like skating backwards a good skill to learn is to learn to angle. a lot of pros are using this e.g. most of the redwings defense. also being able to skate backwards is also good.. if you do get caught where a guy beats you wide don't just chase he wide. what you can do is cut straight to the close post and he will eventually meet you there or take a shot from a harder spot. I can make a couple videos if you want. but just let me know

I can't say no to good videos, go for it!

[dolomaster83 0]

alright when will your new teams season start?

[LivHockey84 0]

I understand your dilemma, i recently have made the switch to D from LW. The main key points i have tried to stay on are:

Always look to make the pass before trying to skate the puck up, it's not your job to score all the goals it's your job to make the plays.

Keep your head up when in your own zone, you are the QB and a good QB always surveys the field before he makes a play.

Never and i mean NEVER leave the front of the net open(even if your guy has the puck down low)....goalies hate this and it's a sure fire way to find your ass on the bench.

Use your voice, communication is one of your best allies in making solid defensive plays.

As far as offense goes...pick and choose your spots for shooting wisely. A well placed wrist shot or slap pass is just as effective of a play(if not better) that a 5 second wind up and blast.

If you have any questions more PM me and I'd be glad to help ya along.

[Chadd 916]

One issue I see pretty regularly with guys that don't skate well, at least not backwards, is to back off and leave too much space for the other team to ramp up their speed. When that happens you either end up backing in all the way to the goalie or getting to the point where you end up going forward, making it much easier to get past you. Not allowing such a big gap actually makes it easier to skate with the man, even if you have to turn and skate with him stride for stride.

Always look to make the pass before trying to skate the puck up, it's not your job to score all the goals it's your job to make the plays.

As far as offense goes...pick and choose your spots for shooting wisely. A well placed wrist shot or slap pass is just as effective of a play(if not better) that a 5 second wind up and blast.

Exactly

When shooting from the point you should be trying to produce rebounds, not blowing it past the goalie from the blue line.

Fair enough, provided you have space to do this and enough power to get it out. I'd rather put a soft shot into a mess on the boards then up the middle and risk it being picked up and taken to the slot.

The assumption is that you have time to take a look and see what is available, never make that play blindly.

[phunky_monkey 6]

Top point is a good one Chadd. Always make sure you can minimise the gap between the players skating toward you and yourself. If you back up too much and give them space, then it not only gives the players time to make a play, but you'll also screen your goalie who will be none too impressed with you.

In a 1 on 1 always look at the opposition players chest, their body will move where their chest goes.

Communication with your D partner is key.

When clearing the puck and going up the boards, ensure you don't bank it off the side too low on the boards, you'll turn it into a point shot.

Don't force a pass that's not there in transition, you'll be punished quickly on a turnover.

Don't take yourself out of position to make a hit.

[gxc999 7]

I spent 45 minutes tonight working on backwards x-overs. I had completely forgotten how hard they are :o

[LivHockey84 0]

Also, always try to force your man to the outside and attempt to get him t make his move by the faceoff circles. Never let him slip between you and your D partners as well.

If you decided to pinch down while in the offensive zone you must be 100% sure about the play no matter what, don't go chasing the puck down in with a doubt in your head cuz 9 times outta 10 your gonna give up an odd man break.

And as far as skating backwards goes, pay close attention to the way a goalie moves in reverse. It's a lesson of economy and motion. You want to skate backwards with the most strength and stability but not waste movement or getting outta balance.

[technophile 0]

they are all good suggestions.. also to add on to the part where you don't like skating backwards a good skill to learn is to learn to angle. a lot of pros are using this e.g. most of the redwings defense. also being able to skate backwards is also good.. if you do get caught where a guy beats you wide don't just chase he wide. what you can do is cut straight to the close post and he will eventually meet you there or take a shot from a harder spot. I can make a couple videos if you want. but just let me know

I noticed one of the US defensemen -- might have been Rafalski, even -- doing this in yesterday's US/Canada game. I hadn't seen that before, it's definitely interesting and I think I might start trying it myself.

Always look to make the pass before trying to skate the puck up, it's not your job to score all the goals it's your job to make the plays.

Conversely, if they aren't forechecking/pressuring you, go ahead and skate it up. At that point they have 5 people covering your 4 teammates, so passing is going to be tough. Skating it up will either result in you getting to the red line (where you can dump it in if they start to pressure you) or them coming after you, at which point passes will open up. Icing the puck is better than turning it over in your own zone, though.

[number21 3]

Great advice here!

I have been playing D for my last 6 games or so and I really enjoy it. If you can, team up with a good defense partner and ask him to give you pointers on the bench.

Something I need to work on is my communication. I am getting better, but need to talk more and keep my ears open for what the goalie is saying!

Also, don't try and be a second goalie, give him space to work. Try and clear the guy in front of the net and don't screen the goal for shots from the point/high slot. I tend to accidentally screen too much - working on that.

I also need to be more aggressive in the corners. We are losing a good D man to a move out of state and another fast D man to a back problem. I really need to step it up. we have two games left before playoffs.

[n3ss 0]

i like to watch videos like these for a little inspiration

[retroXvertigo 4]

Thats some crazy footwork in those videos.

[chk hrd 164]

I spent 45 minutes tonight working on backwards x-overs. I had completely forgotten how hard they are :o

don't worry to much about backwards crossovers, they should just be your first couple of strides to get speed, after that it should be backward C cuts. A good forward is watching your stride and will cut to your opposite crossover side and leave your feet tangled. The C cut keeps your weight balanced and lets you pivot either way. You don't have to skate backwards the entire time either. Learn when to pivot on the guy so you can take him shoulder to shoulder down the outside. Keep your elbos by your side, this gives the illussion of having more gap between you and the other player, it helps sucker them in a little for poke checks or a hand push. Your responsibilities are defense first

[Wilso09 0]

Those videos are awsome!

[chippa13 1844]

Additional crossover comment, you don't want to get caught in a crossover when a guy is coming down on you. A good player will spot the crossover and beat you.

[SirJW 207]

On an odd man rush, play the pass - let the goalie have the one w/ the puck.

[Chadd 916]

On an odd man rush, play the pass - let the goalie have the one w/ the puck.

And prevent the guy with the puck from cutting to the middle.

[IniNew 53]

Additional crossover comment, you don't want to get caught in a crossover when a guy is coming down on you. A good player will spot the crossover and beat you.

So a question then. I always thought reserve cross overs were used for the initial few strides for speed then to adjust positioning horizontally. Should you just use C-Cuts to adjust?