tips courtesy of “Hockey Made Easy”

Scoring Goals Are Accomplished By One Of
The Following Methods:

#1-Shooting the puck yourself. The entire puck must be over the
goal line to score

#2-Passing to a team mate in a better scoring position and he scores

#3-Tipping or deflecting a teammate’s shot into the net by changing
the puck’s flight and direction

#4-Going hard to the net to get to a rebound then shooting to score

#5-Screening their goalie from just outside the crease so he 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
gains control of the puck.

Forwards must learn why, when, where and how to forecheck and
backcheck at a young age to be a successful two-way player.

Forechecking- in the offensive zone the first or closest player to their
puck carrier must go after him and separate him 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 situated in the high
slot or to an open defensemen on the point for a clear shot.

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, go for the puck.

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 to
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 simply chase the puck carrier; they have
specific defensive jobs to do. The defencemen should play their
puckcarrier preferably out side your blue line.

If forechecking and backchecking are coordinated and executed
properly the opposition generates few scoring chances and your
goals against will be very low.
 
These are but a few offensive and defensive tips to help young male
and female forwards play their position correctly and will help them
score and prevent goals if executed properly. Whether you’re 5 or 55,
these same offensive and defensive skills are required to be an
effective 2-way forward for scoring and preventing goals

tips courtesy of “Hockey Made Easy”


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