Deck hockey, also known as dek hockey, provides all the action and thrills of real hockey without the ice, skates or puck. Deck hockey players compete on rinks covered with plastic flooring, running in normal athletic shoes and using a ball instead of a puck. General ice hockey strategies apply in deck hockey, although deck hockey typically uses only two zones, offensive and defensive, requiring a slight adjustment in some tactics.
Center Breakout
All offensive plays in hockey begin with a crisp breakout from the defensive zone. In a center breakout scheme, the center comes down into the slot to provide an outlet for the defensemen. So, instead of merely chipping the ball out of the zone off the boards, the defender will get the ball in the corner and fire a quick pass to the center in the slot. The center will then carry the ball up the court, either exiting the zone on his own or hitting his wingers with outlet passes.
Forecheck
Once the ball gets dumped into the offensive zone, deck hockey teams need a strong forecheck to regain possession. If the ball gets shot into the left corner, the left winger must go hard into the same corner and pressure the defender into moving the ball. While the left winger establishes the forecheck, the right winger takes position in the slot and the center slides over to cut off the left wing boards. If the defender attempts to go up the boards, the center should intercept the clearing attempt and pass to the right winger for a quick scoring chance. If the defender cycles the puck behind his net to his defensive partner, the right winger must rotate from the slot into the corner to apply pressure, while the left winger drops into the slot and the center races across to support the opposite wall.
1-3-1
Even without a neutral zone, deck hockey teams can apply a 1-3-1 defensive scheme to disrupt opposing offenses. In a 1-3-1, only one winger applies pressure in the offensive zone, while the center, the other winger and one defender hang back and create a picket fence along the center line to intercept clearing attempts. The second defensemen takes position about 15 feet behind the three-man line, offering support where needed and enjoying a nice lead on retrieving any ball that gets shot into the zone.
Give and Go
Even in deck hockey, players need to execute quick give-and-go plays to isolate defenders and create scoring chances. One such strategy in the offensive zone involves one forward, usually a winger, sliding into the corner while the center holds the ball along the same boards. The center chips the ball to the winger in the corner and immediately breaks to the cage, giving and then going. As soon as the winger gets the ball, he quickly fires a return pass to the center, who has jumped into the slot for a quality scoring chance.
References
- Raleigh Street Hockey: 8 Most Common Beginner Mistakes
- The Women's Hockey Web: Hockey Playing Tips
- Schoolyard Puck; Hockey Defense Strategies: Pinching
- The Coaches Site; Guy Boucher's 1-3-1 Trending in Hockey Circles; Aaron Wilbur; May 4, 2011
- Ice Hockey Systems: Center Flow Breakout Drill
- International Dek Hockey Tournament Association: About IDTA
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