How to Implement a Defensive System

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Roller Hockey
How to Implement a Defensive System
By Jack Brumm
Dec 15, 2005, 13:08

Want some advice on playing defense in roller hockey? How about this: "Good Luck!" All kidding aside, playing team defense in roller hockey is a challenge, to say the least. High scoring roller games are the rule rather than the exception. Develop a defensive plan before your team takes the floor, or prepare to be blown out every game.
A good low-key example happens everyday on outdoor "playground" roller courts all over North America. It usually goes like this: before the first face off, someone says, "I�m playing up" or "I got D." For a playground game that is all the plan needed in order to compete effectively. Adjust the sophistication of your defensive plan according to your team�s competition level. As always, simple schemes work best.

The same defensive strategies used in ice hockey apply to the roller game; however, the differences in surface and game format create the need for a slightly different application of the strategies. Roller hockey is more like European ice hockey than the North American ice game because there is more time and space available to the attackers. The key to successful defense in roller hockey is a disciplined and team-wide commitment to three words, which you may want to write at the top of your defense planning worksheet: Awareness, Position, and Patience.

Awareness
Let�s get the plan started with a quick discussion of awareness. Awareness is a key factor in any team sport. You and your teammates can�t be in the right place at the right time without an awareness of what�s going on in the game. That�s just common sense, right?Then why do so many defensive units consist of four skaters, heads-down, everyone chasing the puck carrier?
Split your awareness between the skater

Roller Hockey is compared to European Ice Hockey.

who is your defensive responsibility and the surrounding game situation. Roller hockey is a fluid game with defensemen regularly caught deep in the opponent�s zone, requiring the forwards to provide a back stop to the play. When the opponent has possession, make sure you always have an answer to these two questions: Do I know my defensive responsibility? Have I neutralized my responsibility? A "no" answer to either question is a major concern, especially for your goaltender. Act on the facts, and keep your head up!

Position
Now let�s consider position. The experts profess all kinds of defensive zone positioning schemes like the "box" and the "diamond," but these plans don�t seem to work in the real world. The real world is composed almost entirely of teams that don�t practice everyday, and they play with their money, not for their money. Make your system simple to avoid confusion; because roller hockey is so wide open, it is often necessary for players to continually switch positions on the fly.
All good defensive plans attempt to accomplish two objectives: 1) Keep the puck out of the middle. 2) Regain possession of the puck. "Zone-to-man" is my term for a simple and effective system that accomplishes both objectives. "Zone" describes the position a player assumes by splitting the defensive zone into four quadrants: low left and right, high left and right. When the attacking team rushes into your own end, the player closest to the quadrant you are near is your man. Now that you and your teammates have picked up your responsibilities, use tight man-to-man coverage. Hence the term, zone-to-man.
This is a "wither on the vine" strategy. The idea is to cut off all options to the puck carrier who eventually runs out of room and is pressured into coughing up the puck on a bad pass or shot. The puck carrier tends to draw a crowd. This system will not work if the puck carrier has options, so don�t give him any. The defenders away from the puck must resist the urge to leave their responsibility to help shut down the puck carrier. This is especially true of forwards who get too deep, which opens up the points.

Patience
Patience makes the whole thing work. There is more room in roller hockey and recovery times are slower on inlines, so don�t commit until you must. The puck carrier will usually find some space, which will give his teammates time to get open. Don�t fall asleep or leave your responsibility. Contain the puck carrier and eliminate his options by staying vigilant.
Here are two final notes. First, make your steadiest player a safety defensemen assigned to stay back. This is the guy who will bail the team out, playing all two-on-ones caused when your offensive defenseman gets burned. Second, get the best goalie available. In roller hockey even a well designed and executed defense gives up good chances.