LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 18, 2004 This year i started to play defense. I had been playing left wing for 4 years but i decided to try d. I am doing very good and holding the puck in the offinsive zone but am having trouble in my own zone i find my self hurring my passing because i do not want to loose the puck. Also are there any drills or tips on taking the body Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 18, 2004 work on acceleration, closing the gaps and learning what are contain and pressure situations. This should help you take the body as well as practice and overall balance drills. With the passes try and keep your head on a swivel talk to your partner and goalie constantly so they are always helping you out. When I play D everyone within the first 3 rows hears me everytime I'm on the ice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SB39 2 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 To help you take the body, when you got a guy coming in one on one or something, completely forget the puck. Get super low and get ready for some contact. Also, not as helpful of a hint, just get into the whole hitting aspect of the game mentally, and you will automatically start to prepare for it somewhat. Trust me, D is the way to be.PS blocking shots is fun too and makes your goalie and coach LOVE you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 1 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 Here are a few hints from me, another D:- I can't stress the "forget the puck" comment enough. More often than not when I look at the puck in a one-on-one, I get burned. Best thing for me is to watch his hips. This way you don't get faked by upper body dekes. Just put your stick into his direction and chances are you'll touch the puck. But don't look for it.- Beware not to go behind the net too much. The opposing team can't score from behind the net (except for the Michigan move maybe). Good teams will send their wingers behind the net with the puck because it gets the Ds out of position. Just let them go and concentrate on the strong side post and the slot.- Practice your balance and backward skating. You have to be skating backwards nearly as fast as you skate forwards. Balance and overall strength are needed to clear the net/slot off parking forwards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 The biggest problem new defensemen often have is being mesmerized by the puck! Often you will see a Dman standing by the net, watching the puck handler, totally ignorant to the forward 5 feet behind him ready for the one-timer. You have to be always aware of the pucks location, but seldom can you spare more than a glance at it, as you should be swiveling your head all around looking for players that your goalie is not covering!Another problem is the Dman not letting the goalie do his job, and the Dman doing his. On a 2on1, usually (until the very last split second) the Dman takes the guy without the puck, allowing the goalie to not worry about a pass.Another problem is Dmen leaving the backdoor open. When the goalie is way off to one side of the net, and all the action is over there, be really careful about a point streaking down to the open backdoor of the net.Beware of flopping on the ice. Sure there are sometimes you are overwhelmed, but do not just dive down onto the ice in desperation. A good forward will thank the Lord that you just took yourself out of the play and pass to an open man for a quick goal.Here are a few systems ideas:http://home.comcast.net/~InfoCoach/Hockeysys.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 Another thing, it is better to tie up a players stick than to tie up his body. The best forwards can still easily get off a shot even though you are mauling him in the crease! If you can not quickly clear him out, tie up that stick.If he is a big guy and you are a little guy, do not think that you have to haul him around. Sometimes you can get your stick under his butt and two handed quickly lift. It throws him off balance enough that he can not get the shot off but does not require a lot of force. Remember, against big guys gravity is your friend!Also, beware the guy that they send in to stand in the crease and tie you up while another guy waltzes in to score. If you are spending all your time manhandling a guy in the crease, that is not good. You can whale away at the guy, but keep your eyes on where the puck is coming from first! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 And another thing, it is very hard for a forward to score from the far side of the blue line. So, don't let him over it! Very often you see a pair of inexperienced Dmen skating backwards and stopping 5 feet beyond the blue line to make their stand! WRONG! Make you stand right at the blue line. Often you can delay the forward with the puck just long enough to make his team mate go offsides.Also, practice getting that puck out of the zone quickly! If you can not get a clear pass to a team mate, lob that puck up high enough so it gets over any opponent at the blue line, but learn to do it WITH SO LITTLE ENERGY that it never makes it all the way down to the other end of the ice for icing! If your forwards are fast, they can forcheck their way into stealing the puck back in the other end. A great move when the poo is hitting the fan in your end! A Dman needs to be able to lob the puck, forehand or backhand. Make sure you have that skill down cold! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 thank you guys so much. IS it ok that i like to skate the puck because i am a very good puckhandler and alot of the time my forewords are doing somthing dumb and hiding on the sides of the d fense so i just go is this fine? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 Skating the puck is fine, and is often the best way to get a passing lane open, with the following caveats:Get to the red line or their blue line and dump it in. You have to get your forwards working as part of the offensive team.Never stickhandle the puck if you are the last guy back in the zone! Tooooo Dangerous! Pass it out instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 ok thank you this well help my game alot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hip check 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 Work with your partner to become a tight tandem - be outlet passes for each other, support the weak side for him if he's with the puck carrier. Think Scott Stevens and Scott Neidermeyer - a nice balance between them, but they help each other out. That's lots of time spent playing together, talking on and off ice, etc. Oh, Scott & Scott have a pretty good goalie to help out too! ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2004 ok i played my first game with the new tips and we played on of the best teams in the leauge. I got 2 assist many shots on goal. And they did not score once when i was on the ice only one kid got around me the whole game 2 thank you so much for all the help Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2004 Good job! Another move every Dman should have is the ability to clear the puck "high and hard" off of the glass. It has to be hard enough to get by the opponent at the point. When the pudding gets deep, it is a good way to give your team a breather. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2004 ok ill keep that in mind next time i get into trouble in my own zone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cavs019 710 Report post Posted October 24, 2004 Positioning is key!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mickz 107 Report post Posted October 27, 2004 Biggest problem I find about playing D is experience. I know skills are important too, but experience is just as important. A defenseman has to know when to pinch, and when to retreat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted October 30, 2004 i only pinch when i have like at least and 85% chance of getting the puck lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freq019 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Yeah I'll pinch if I know my partner is covering for me or if we're down by a few goals I'll pinch regardless because we need to start something but typically if my partner is covering the middle and I think I can get the puck I'll go in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Once you make a decision, go 100%. If you change your mind you will always get burned. Sometimes a bad pinch can work out well if you go hard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freq019 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Once you make a decision, go 100%. If you change your mind you will always get burned. Sometimes a bad pinch can work out well if you go hard. That's true I've seen guys go but then stop and they end up getting burnt large, Ok I'll admit it I've done it too, but you're right if you go hard enough you can disrupt the pass even if you get to the puck and maybe force a turnover. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDE3 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Great sequence of posts on defence...should make all d'men read these.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 are there any tips on if the puck leaves the zone to waste time before dumping or passing so your team can get onsides the only one i know of is skating along the blue line or skating slowly backwords Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Back up, look for your partner to be back. If he is, send it back to him and start to regroup. Your coach should work on that in practice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 definately take your time, look at your D partner as an option. If your REALLY under pressure, you could consider a pass to your goalie. Really just make sure to keep calm and make smart decisions. Back up and/ or laterally and make full use of all of the ice around you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LetsGoWings13 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 thanks everyone who posted this well help me a ton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
