The defense positions in hockey are vital to guarding the offensive players and stopping the opposing team from scoring. Playing defense in hockey means doing whatever it takes to keep the puck from going in your net. Defensemen fight when they...
Hockey is one of the most popular sports in North America, and is widely regarded as Canada's national pastime. But this game---which is played on ice---features many hazards of play, such as a fast-moving, solid puck, blades on the bottom of...
As a field hockey defender, you're one of the last barriers between the opposing attack and your goal. That means you'll often make crunching challenges or heavy hits -- and need a stick that can stand up to such treatment. You should experiment...
Playing defense in hockey requires all-around talent. A defenseman's first responsibility is to stop the opposition from getting scoring opportunities. A defenseman also has to carry the puck out of the defensive zone and then move it into the...
As in soccer and lacrosse, hockey demands that the goalkeeper constantly communicate with the defense. Top goalies such as Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins win championships based on smooth direction of defensemen. If you are coaching youth or...
A hockey defenseman has many jobs to perform as part of a hockey team. The primary duty of a defenseman is to keep the puck out of his own zone and prevent scoring chances from the offense, but that isn't the whole story. Defensemen must clear...
Shadowing is an aggressive form of hockey defense. Effective shadowing is a difficult task, especially against today's very skilled puck-handlers and shooters. A shadowing hockey player has to be alert at all times because one mistake can mean a...
Hockey is a fast-paced, high-energy sport that requires both aerobic and strength fitness levels that far exceed many other sports. It's a dangerous sport too. Most professional hockey players don't have any of their own teeth and are constantly...
Like the defense in many other team sports, particularly basketball and hockey, defense in lacrosse is twofold: Every player has individual roles, assignments and objectives when competing against another player, but each player is also part of a...
A hockey goalie is vital to his team's success. When the Boston Bruins captured the 2011 Stanley Cup, the team won four rounds of playoffs and three seventh games along the way. Goalie Tim Thomas recorded seventh-game shutouts over Tampa Bay in...
The standard hockey rink size is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. Over the course of every game, centers, wingers and defensemen are likely to skate over the entire ice surface. Hockey is a fast-moving sport, but positioning comes into play on the...
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...
When it comes to field hockey, the defensive team works to keep the other team from scoring. One of the ways defensive players do this is by tackling the ball. If you have a mental picture of a football team dog-piling the offense, think again....
Playing goalie in hockey requires superb reactions and excellent positioning, in addition to quickness, skating ability and an understanding of the game. A good goalie can keep his team in a game when it is getting outplayed by its opponent, and...
Even when his team is being outplayed, a great goalie can keep his team in the game by finding a way to keep the puck out of the net. A goalie must be a great athlete who can react quickly to fast and powerful shots, and must know the opponents'...
The goalie is the last line of defense in ice hockey. While a good team will provide defensive help from the forwards and the defense, the goalie's responsibility is to keep the puck out of the net at all costs. This is done by having the correct...
You stand out in every way -- from the territory you cover to the equipment you wear, to the intricate artwork on your mask, to the pressure you have. An ice hockey goalie is the last line of defense between an inch-thick puck and 24 square feet...
No matter how much skill your hockey team possesses, you will not win many games if you cannot get the puck out of your own zone. Clearing your zone effectively allows you to transition from defense to offense, which prevents goals against your...
Icing is called in a hockey game when a player has the puck and fires it from his half of the ice, past the opposing goal line and a member of the opposing team touches the puck before a member of his team. When a team gets called for icing, the...
While many young hockey players dream of scoring goals and becoming offensive stars, it is the defenders in the game that usually take their team to the next level. Focusing on defense is not glamorous or exciting, and many players would rather...
A front line defenseman in hockey is one of his team's best and most important players. Players in hockey are often categorized by their ability level. The best forwards on each team are known as "top 6" forwards, while the best defensemen on each...
The goalie's glove in hockey plays a primary role in the defense of the net. Many shots at the net--particularly those at high speeds--tend to lift off the ice and into the air. This makes it more difficult for the goalie to block the shock with...
The role of goalkeeper is of critical importance in the sport of field hockey. The last line of defense for a team, the field hockey goalkeeper must be able to save shots on goal. The goalkeeper should also have the ability to communicate and form...
The area underneath the hoop in a game of basketball is like the line of scrimmage in football; it has a constant stream of physical contact, which is why it's usually populated by the biggest guys in the game. While the guards zip around the...
Icing rules in hockey prevent a player from taking possession on his side of the center ice red line and passing the puck past the opposing end line. When a player ices the puck, one of the two linesmen working the game -- not the referees --...
Football and hockey both require rigorous training and discipline. Professional athletes often continue with their training programs during the off-season to maintain their physical fitness, so playing these sports can be a year-round commitment....
Hockey is a fast-paced team sport that is played on the ice with two teams attempting to score against one another. If you are an offensive player, you don't want to tie up defenders in front of the net because it makes your shots more difficult....
The only permanent position in field hockey is the goalie. The other players divide into three basic categories: attackers, midfielders and defenders. While all three play defense, the defenders in field hockey work to keep the ball out of their...
Every sport uses penalties to promote fair play and minimize unfair advantages. When it comes to free hits in field hockey, the umpires use their discretion and interpretation to determine the penalty. Typically, an umpire awards a free hit when...
A field hockey defense must control the opposing team's offense. Communication and positioning are paramount when building an effective field hockey defense. Learn how to play field hockey defense in this video.
A field hockey midfielder is the quarterback of the team, and must advance the ball from the defense to the offense. Learn how to play midfielder in field hockey in this video.
Tackling in field hockey is essential to having a strong defense, and there are subtleties that a defender must know when attempting to tackle without being penalized. Learn how to tackle in field hockey in this video.
For a field hockey offense to score, their attacking must be better than the defense's tackling. Speed and accuracy are essential for an effective field hockey attack. Learn how to attack in field hockey in this video.
