Defense on the Roll

Defense on the roll
By Wayne Anderson
Oct 30, 2001, 07:16

A defensive player’s skills often go unnoticed throughout a game, and sometimes even throughout an entire season. In roller hockey, with the emphasis on offense, most players abandon the defensive concepts and adapt to the glorious offensive style. But the truth is that in roller hockey the two-way player is the player most teams really want.

This article will address some of the simple, basic concepts we need to grasp in order to be a good defensive player. So let’s brush off the cobwebs, and put our playing brains in a defensive mode.

 The basics of good “D”

Some of the basic traits found in a successful defensive player are; good backward skating techniques; the ability to protect the middle of the surface; good use of their stick; good containment skills; dependable front-of-the-net coverage, and good passing techniques.

Obviously, to play good defense a player should have good backward skating techniques. The “C” cut should be the stride of choice for all players who skate backwards. Just as in basketball, you are taught not to cross your feet while defending the player with the ball—you do not want to use crossover strides while skating backwards.

The main reason is because when you cross over your feet, you are committed to at least one more step in the direction you are crossing over to. Therefore, a good offensive player—when they see that you are committed one way or the other—will immediately change direction and go around you. Enough said.

Another stride that will help players pivot to cover the corners is the “Mohawk Turn.” This is a pivot rather than a turn. You execute the pivot from a backward gliding stance. You then lift the leg in whichever direction you wish to go, and point the foot toward that direction. You then place that foot down, while at the same time doing a “T” push with your gliding foot. This maneuver is used mainly to propel yourself into the corners of the rink.

The way we protect the middle of the rink is by forcing our opponents (especially the puck/ball carrier) to the outside (toward the boards). Once the puck carrier gains the middle of the offensive zone, he/she has too many options available. So you want to force the puck/ball carrier to the outside and take away their skating surface and, unless they’re wearing anti-gravity boots, they will need to stop skating or lose the puck.

Camouflage it

Once you take away their skating space, the next thing is the effective use of your stick. This means using a stickcheck to knock the puck/ball away from the offensive player. The first big mistake that a defensive player can make is to show the puck/ball carrier the full length of your poke, or stickcheck. After all, a known quantity is always easier to defeat than an unknown one.

Hold your stick at your side, near your hip. Then, at an opportune moment, release the full length of your stick, hopefully surprising your opponent.

To practice good containment skills you need to do one-on-one drills inside of the faceoff circles. Learn how to go around a player’s body when they are trying to protect the puck/ball, and be tenacious. Never let up, and above all never get “caught up” with the game around you and forget about the coverage in front of the net.

Always keep your body in between the opposition and the net. That way, if you’ve “fallen asleep,” at least you will have a chance to block the shot.

One more skating skill that needs to be mentioned is the change of direction. It does no good to pokecheck the puck away from the opposition, then not be able to change direction and go get it.

Defensive players also need to keep in mind that they must have an attitude—a philosophy. And that is that when we have the puck, we must think defense before offense.

Accept the role, and do the best job you can. And you just might find yourself the most valuable player on your team—and the one who’s sent out in critical situations.

Next month we will talk about responsibilities and techniques during one-on-ones, two-on-ones, and coverage during four-on-four and five-on-five play.

Wayne Anderson is Managing Director of Huron Hockey’s roller hockey schools.

This first appeared in the 07/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
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