This document provides coaching tips for teaching defense in hockey. It emphasizes that the sole objective of defense is to keep the puck out of the net. It recommends focusing first on individual skating skills, then teaching players to think strategically by always outnumbering the puck and cutting down space. The final step is to teach players to recognize common defensive patterns through various drills.

1. Teaching Defense

2. What’s are our
objectives?

3. We only have one objective
Keep the puck
out of the net.

4. Limit opponent to
lowest risk option

5. Lowest risk option
We have the puck.

6. “They beat us because
our kids don’t know
position.”

7. really means...
“Our skills weren’t as
good as theirs.”

8. Step 1.
Focus on skills.

9. • Forward Skating
• Backward Skating*
• Lateral Agility
• Transitions
(Face the Flag, shadow drills, etc.)

11. Step 2.
Trust your players to
think.

13. • Checking = Defense
• Always outnumber the puck
• Cut the ice in half
• Head on a swivel
• Don’t hesitate. Just do it!

14. Step 3.
Teach your players to
recognize patterns.

15. •1 on 1 • 2 on 3
•2 on 1 • 3 on 4
• 3 on 2 • 1 on 2 in the
corner
• 1 on 2
• 1 on 3

16. •Focus on skills.
• Trust your players to think.
• Teach your players to
recognize patterns.