Block aim. Build repeatable team defense using clear roles. Pressure, Support, Balance. Use these roles to protect the danger zone, steer play to safe zones, and apply back wall rotation when the puck is on the defending back wall.
- Pressure. The closest defender to the puck. Applies controlled pressure. Forces direction. Does not over commit.
- Support. The defender backing up Pressure. Picks up flicked pucks. Back picks a curling attacker. Closes the gap if Pressure is beaten.
- Balance. The other defenders. Protect the danger zone first. Filter into Pressure or Support as the game changes. Relieve active players as they run out of air.
- Importance. Name roles early. Pressure makes the attacker react. Support covers the reaction. Balance protects the next threat and relieves the active players.
- Support behind Pressure. Support stays behind shoulder. Ready for flicks, rebounds, and broken tackles.
- Support in front. Pressure pinches or back picks. Support sits in front to pick up curls and stop the attacker turning back inside.
- Danger zone. The high risk scoring area in front of the goal. Protect this first.
- Safe zones. The wall and corner on the defending side. Use these to contain and reduce scoring threat.
Run 10 to 12 minutes per drill. Keep reps short. Reset often. Name Pressure, Support, Balance before each rep.
- Purpose. Build role clarity and spacing. Train the handover between active players and the balance players.
- Numbers. 3 defenders vs 2 attackers, half court. Start simple, then increase tempo.
- Start. Puck starts central. Coach calls roles before the rep. One Pressure, one Support, one Balance.
- Task. Pressure forces direction. Support covers flicks and curls. Balance holds danger zone and fills the next role when someone exits.
- Win. Defenders win by forcing to a safe zone, stopping progress, or winning the puck cleanly without opening the danger zone.
- Coach watch. No two defenders on the puck. Support stays connected. Balance stays goal side and does not drift into the wall chase.
- Purpose. Train Support positioning based on attacker response. Behind for flicks and breaks, in front for curls and turns.
- Numbers. 2 defenders vs 1 attacker, then 2v2 if clean.
- Start. Attacker starts with puck on a lane line. Defenders start set. Coach calls “Support behind” or “Support in front” for the rep.
- Task. Pressure forces direction. Support takes the called position and must win the attacker’s reaction, flick, curl, or back pick.
- Win. Defenders win when Support successfully collects the reaction and the danger zone stays protected.
- Coach watch. If Support is behind, do not get level. If Support is in front, do not get dragged past the attacker.
- Purpose. Make the space choice obvious. Protect danger zone first. Contain on wall or corner.
- Numbers. 3v3 half court.
- Start. Puck starts outside the danger zone. Mark the danger zone and the corner safe zone.
- Task. Pressure and Support steer the puck to wall or corner. Balance stays responsible for danger zone. On turnover, exit cleanly away from danger zone.
- Win. Defenders win by forcing a wall or corner containment, then regaining possession and moving the puck away from danger zone.
- Coach watch. No collapse into the wall. Someone always owns the middle and the front of goal.
- Purpose. Maintain continuous pressure on the defending back wall and contain in the corner safe zone using a 3 way rotation.
- Numbers. 3 defenders vs 2 attackers on the defending back wall.
- Start. Puck starts on the back wall. Set roles before the rep starts.
- D1 forces. D1 goes down and drives the puck into the corner safe zone until air runs out.
- D2 relieves. D2 is already set low and takes over as D1 exits.
- D3 covers. D3 stays up, protects inside, and prepares to be next down.
- Exiting defender recovers and rotates behind the next defender, then becomes top cover.
- Rotation stays continuous. D1 → D2 → D3 → D1. No gaps.
- Game. 4v4 half court, conditioned.
- Condition. Defense scores 1 point for a forced safe zone containment. Defense scores 2 points for a back wall rotation hold that ends with a clean exit.
- Coach control. Stop for role confusion, two defenders chasing the puck, danger zone left open, or gaps in back wall rotation.
- Prompt. Reset roles. Pressure, Support, Balance. Then restart.