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Defense
Tips
- Don't rush
an attack man after he has caught the ball. If he is receiving a
rather long pass and you are sure you can reach him before the ball,
go after him, checking his stick and hitting him with your body.
- As a pass
is made to the man you are playing, move out to cover him as the
ball is moving to him, so that you are in position as he catches
it. Don't wait until he has caught the ball, and then move out on
him.
- Never take
a step into a man while playing him on defense.
- Once the
attack man has the ball, worry him plenty by poke checking, etc.,
don't give much chance to look over his field, make him worry about
you. Don't force or rush him however. There is a big difference
between worrying a man and forcing or rushing him. Make the attack
make the first move.
- When not
poking at the man with ball, keep your stick a little above the
height of your attack man's shoulder. Don't ever carry it at your
side, KEEP IT UP!
- When your
man hasn't got the ball, always play slightly to the ball side of
him, so that you gain a step as he cuts toward the ball. If he cuts
away from the ball, the pass must go over your head which leaves
you in good position to intercept or check.
- When your
man hasn't got the ball, stand sideways to the man and ball. You
must use split vision watching both man and ball.
- There must
be plenty of talk on defense, this is important. The following are
the most important examples: a) The man on each side of the ball
must let the man on the ball know if he is-backed up. b) If a man
leaves to back up he must let the defense know he is leaving, so
that they may shift. c) The man playing the ball must holler, "I've
got-the ball". d) If a man cuts, the defense man playing him
should holler "man cutting" so that he alerts the rest
of the defense for a possible switch. e) If a switch is necessary,
both men call "SWITCH".
- If a man
leaves to back up on a dodge, the whole defense slides a man, leaving
the man farthest from the ball open.
- Only in extreme
cases, should the defense man on the crease leave to back up. Example:
To stop a play that would end up in a score.
- Never cross
your feet while playing an attack man unless you are forced to run
to keep up with him.
- Never throw
a ball just to get rid of it.
- Always scoop
a loose ball. Never draw it. If there is a crowd, go through and
either kick it or scoop it up.
- When you
check, make your check short and hard, making your check across
the man's forearm and following through with your body. Never raise
your stick high to check.
- If a man
dodges you, keep after him. You should catch him as your backer
comes in from the front.
- Never pass
a ball across in front of your goal.
- If you are
after a loose ball, but your attack man is ahead of you, press him
hard if you cannot come up with the ball, but don't give him the
opportunity to go around you.
- After the
man you are playing throws a ball, step back two steps quickly and
be ready for a cut. Also always look in the direction of the ball
as you drop off. Don't turn your back on the ball.
- As the man
you are playing starts a pass, check across his arms, but don't
step in.
- A. If the
ball is out front, and your man is behind the goal, play on the
pipe of the cage on the side of the goal your man is on. B. If the
ball is behind the goal and your man is behind also although without
the ball, go behind with him.
- If you ever
switch, STAY WITH THAT MAN until your team gets the ball or you
have to switch again.
- Whey clearing
the ball, as you catch the ball, circle away from your stick side
if you are moving in to receive the pass.
- Never let
an attack man clamp your stick. If you are on the crease on a screen
shot, stop it or catch it, if you can't do either then move so that
your goalie can see it.
- Once the
other team has cleared the ball, all defense men must drop in fast,
RUN HARD --THIS IS ONE TIME YOU CANNOT LOAF.
- On clears,
make all passes sharp, away from the (attack man) and, as a general
rule, to the nearest open man.
- On a clear,
when making a pass to a man who is coming in to meet the ball throw
at his face, so that he catches the ball in front of him, making
it hard for a (attack man) to check him.
- If the ball
is rolling toward the midfield line, NEVER ALLOW your attack man
to beat you to the ball. Be alert, use your stick to goose the ball
to teammate. Don't let the attack man clamp your stick or lift up
so ball goes under and through. Remember, if the ball is 5 yards
away or less you can use your body for position. Don't hit from
the rear and don't go offside.
Tips For Attackmen
•
Make your defense man play you and you alone every second you are in
the game. Keep moving all the time so that he must center his attention
on you an not be in position to help out his fellow defense men.
•
In moving the ball around the circle, make all passes sharp, short,
and to the outside, away from the defense man.
•
Make feed passes hard.
•
When you have the ball, never stand still - keep moving all the time
- if necessary run backwards and forwards - but keep moving. When you
are ready to make a pass, take one step back quickly and move.
•
All feed passes must be thrown directly overhand or directly underhand
- not sidearm.
•
Always move to meet every pass, and circle away from your defense man.
•
When you have the ball, be constantly faking passes - keep your defense
man's stick moving.
•
When in possession of ball, make the defense man play your stick - watch
his stick - the position of it will determine the direction of your
feed and the type of dodge you might try.
•
Take pains to make every pass good.
•
Never make a pass to a man who is covered just to get rid of the ball.
•
If an attack man is being ridden hard and can't dodge or get away -
the nearest man on each side goes to help him.
•
On all long shots, a man must be on the crease.
•
On every screen shot the crease man should check-up on the defense man's
stick, and immediately face the goalie, so that he is ready to bat in
a rebound.
•
After receiving a pass, as the ball moves around the outside, look first
at the man who threw you the ball to see what he is doing, then at the
crease.
•
If you receive a pass after cutting and haven't got a good shot, hold
onto the ball.
•
Place all shots, usually for a far corner, and shoot hard. When within
five yards of the goal, the shot should be for a top corner.
•
After picking up a loose ball, turn and face the crease immediately.
If nobody is open, move in fast until you are picked up.
•
Don't dodge if there is an open man. Don't hold the ball long unless
you are planning a dodge. Keep it moving with quick, short passes.
•
Always be in position to back up shots and feeds. When a cut is made,
or a shot is taken, the whole attack must play a part, moving to be
in a position to backup a pass or a shot. Control the ball!
•
Never try to dodge when men are in position to back up.
•
Never try to force in, with the ball or by a pass, if the defense is
drawn in. Pull them out first.
•
Never stand so close together that one man can cover two attack men.
•
When there is a loose ball on the ground, go after it fast and hard,
you must have the ball!
•
Always keep your field balanced in order that you stay in better position
to back up, and give your teammates space to work in.
•
Shoot plenty, but only if you feel you have a good shot.
•
Always have one, preferably two, men behind the goal to back up shots.
•
Time your cuts, don't cut if the man with the ball is not watching or
not in position to pass.
•
Make full cuts - go through and out - don't cut at half speed or hang
around the crease after your cut.
•
Zig your cuts, fake left - go right, fake right - go left. Don't always
run at the same speed, change of pace is a very effective method of
getting open.
•
After the ball has been cleared, if you have a wide open opportunity
to dodge, do it, or if you are sure a man is open, pass to him, otherwise
settle the ball down and let your attack get set up. Remember, after
a clear the wimpy midfielders will need time to catch their breath.
Middies rest on offense, not defense, Control The Ball!
•
Every man on the attack should try at least two dodges every game. Learn
at least three different types of dodges.
•
When you lose the ball, ride it. The close attack must ride and ride
hard until the ball is past midfield.
•
Don't rush at a man when riding - particularly behind the goal. Force
him to pass - force him in the direction where there is help. Talk all
the time and run hard. The success of an attack depends on their riding
ability and their desire to have the ball.
•
Always remember that teamwork is the key to a good
attack.
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