How to Play Hockey Module 2: Defensive Zone Tactics

by Nathan Leslie

Description

Module 2: Defensive Zone.
This module starts with defensive zone fundamentals.  We explore the zone without the puck, and then with puck possession.  The breakout section is quite extensive, and gets a lot of traffic.  Defensive zone tactics can have subtle variations at higher levels but all systems have common principles.  We’ll stick to the key concepts, but explore them in detail in some of the videos.  This is the module most members spend the most time studying, and revisiting often.  We encourage you to take your time here.

Defensive Pressure
The other team is so good, so how can we stop them from scoring? This module addresses key principles of defensive zone coverage that can be used on novice teams, and NHL teams alike. Not much changes as the level gets higher, the allowable margin of error just shrinks to zero. When you are done here you'll have a more complete understanding of team goals in your own zone.

Defensive Coverage
Understanding these concepts gives us a better idea of how to dictate the play while on defense. Our body position, stick placement, speed and angle of pursuit all affect the offensive players decision making.

Breakouts
We finally got the puck, now how do we get out of our zone? In this module we look at the key principles of getting out of your zone together, which always varies depending on the pressure you are getting from the opposing team. There are a few universally accepted breakouts that have withstood the test of time. We think teaching those concepts is a great place to start in this course.

Complete Course Goals
The goal of this course is to create a progression in learning from A to Z, from Module 1 to 5, but feel free to pick and choose the modules you need the most. Learning the international language of hockey is paramount in expanding your overall game understanding. If you do skip ahead, and hear terms in later modules that you do not understand, we recommend starting back at Module 1 and working your way through the entire set of modules.  We built the curriculum step by step, teaching first the terminology, then explore every zone of the ice, from defensive, to neutral, and on to offensive zone without, then with the puck.  Our final module teaches powerplay and penalty killing systems.  Get started now!

Lessons

Module 2: Defense

1 Module 2 Outline

Module 2.1: Defensive Pressure

2 2.1.1: Steering, Angling, Tracking 3:57 3 2.1.2: Gap Control 2:30 4 2.1.3: Holding the Line 1:54 5 2.1.4: Close Coverage, Closing Gap, Commit, Contain 7:16 6 2.1.5: Forcing to the Outside 3:30 7 2.1.6: Inside Out 3:19

Module 2.2: Defensive Coverage

8 2.2.1: Balanced Defence 6:16 9 2.2.2: Defensive Zone Coverage 5:32 10 2.2.3: Advanced Defensive Zone Coverage 6:14 11 2.2.4: Defensive Controlled Skating 2:57 12 2.2.5: Defensive Side positioning 3:35 13 2.2.6: Man to Man Coverage 4:54 14 2.2.7: Switching 4:20 15 2.2.8: Backchecking 5:55 16 2.2.9: Skill Tip: How to Take a Faceoff 1:19

Module 2.3: Breakouts

17 2.3.1: Breakout Overview 2:41 18 2.3.2: Breakouts: All Positions D-Zone Puck Possession Responsibilities 10:22 19 2.3.3: Breakout: Quick Up 1:49 20 2.3.4: Breakout: Rim Pass 2:54 21 2.3.5: Skill Tip: How to Receive a Rim Pass 1:00 22 2.3.6: Breakout: Wheel 2:54 23 2.3.7: Skill Tip: Defensive Escape: Hang ‘Em on the Post 0:44 24 2.3.8: Breakout: Three Quarter Round 3:17 25 2.3.9: Breakout: Reverse 2:47 26 2.3.10: Breakout: D toD, Over, Partner 3:28 27 2.3.11: Breakout: Controlled, Power Play 12:27

The Coach

Nathan Leslie

Director of Leslie Global Sports

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Become a Hockey Expert Now.

• Do you want to master the tactics of hockey?
• Do you wish you understood the game better?
• Are you tired of endless Youtube & Google searches for hockey tactics?
• Stop!  

My 10 years of professional hockey and 10 years as a hockey development expert and coaching mentor to hundreds of coaches and thousands of players are jam packed into this member site so that you can stop your endless searching.  I have a Masters Degree in Education and have been a teacher.  I believe every hockey coach is a teacher first.  As a professional player in the Swiss A League and other European leagues I really needed to understand the game from the inside out to stay competitive.  Now I have the chance to share it all with you in this course.  To learn more about us visit Leslie Global Sports @ www.lgsports.ca.

More on Nate: 
Nate has a Masters Degree of International Education from Madrid, Spain, speaks German, Swiss German, & French, and played 7 years of professional hockey in Europe. Nate is the owner of Leslie Global Sports and the Director of the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp and recently returned from filming a hockey documentary in Mongolia. Leslie Global Sports & LGS America run hockey camps, skill development, and coaching mentorship programs in Vancouver, Port Alberni, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Whistler, Squamish, Victoria, The Richmond Olympic Oval, Baltimore, New York City, Queens, Washington DC, Queenstown, New Zealand, Budapest, Hungary & Mongolia. In Vancouver, Nate instructs hockey academies at Earl Marriott, Semiahmoo, Britannia, & Sentinel Secondary Schools.  

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