Young players, 5 to 15 years of age, must learn how to score and prevent goals. With the new rules this season, no hooking, no holding, no obstruction or interference, scoring goals has become a little easier.
The tips listed below will help both Forwards and Defencemen score more goals.
A Forwards primary role is to score goals when their team has possession of, or controls the puck. This is called “Offensive Hockey”. Young Forwards realize this and love to score goals.
Their secondary role is to prevent goals when the opposition have possession of, or control the puck. This is called “Defensive Hockey”. Young Forwards don’t know this and it must be explained then taught to them at an early age.
They must come back to help their defencemen in the defensive zone by corralling any rebounds or loose pucks, covering open players and blocking the shooting lanes from the point and the slot area.
If coaches or parents can explain what to do when the opposition have the puck, and teach them how and when to forecheck and backcheck correctly, by forcing the puck carrier to the boards, and covering open wingers all the way back to your goal line, you are on your way to a very successful hockey season.
The faster a player goes from offensive to defensive hockey and vice versa (their Transition Time) the more successful your team will be at scoring and preventing goals.
Offensive hockey consists of moving the puck under control from your defensive zone through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone by setting up a series of 2 on 1 situations. Once inside the offensive zone, try to create a high percentage scoring opportunity then shoot the puck at the net. If it doesn’t go in there could be a big fat rebound just waiting to be shot into the net. Go to the net hard on all point and wingers shots for a rebound.
Remember, Offensive hockey begins the moment anyone on your team gets possession of the puck and you should move it up the ice in one of the following manners.
- 1. Pass the puck to an open team- mate who is ahead of you and in the clear to receive a pass. Passing is much quicker than carrying the puck yourself.
- 2. Stickhandle or carry the puck yourself toward the offensive zone if no team- mate is open for a pass or if you are leading the rush.
- 3. If meeting a lot of opposition in the neutral zone, just get over the red line and shoot the puck deep into the corner or at the net, then quickly skate in to retrieve it or take it away from the opposition with aggressive forechecking.
- 4. When in possession of the puck in any zone, try to create a 2 on 1situation to get around the opponent and then develop a high percentage scoring opportunity. Cut to open areas to receive a pass and get a quick shot on net.
Scoring goals are accomplished by one of the following methods:
- 1. Shooting the puck yourself. NB 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.
John Shorey
Author “Hockey Made Easy” – Canada’s Best Instruction Manual
