some Tactics questions (Middie)

[pantherLax]

First of all, i play middie.
I read on the forums that on defense to keep poke/lift checking, move feet, harass them, etc.
But whenever i go to check them during a 1v1 situation i usually get beat.

1) Should i just not check since i get beat and let them come to me? Am i supposed to be checking to get their stick or to get their ribs, stomach area?


Next, on offense, my summer league is really unorganized so its like a pickup game. I usually just cut to the crease looking for a feed, but it rarely comes. But after i cut, im not sure what to do.

2)Do i stay in the crease or do i run back to where i cut from or what?

Thanks

[LoyolaMiddie878]

ok man

Number 1 -- if the player you are guarding is faster than you, you can't take any chances on getting burned. play conservatively. make sure you stay in front of him and every now and then give him a poke check to the bottom hand, especially when he's passing or shooting. DON'T LUNGE! i guarantee you that 99% of the time you lunge at someone they will just move around you and beat you.

Number 2 -- your offense either does or should have some sort of triangle offense. these triangles should be constantly rotating. when you cut through the other two middies should rotate towards the direction you cut from and you should be able to come back up to the top to fill in the open space.

i hope these made sense / were helpful.

[ohlax51]

If you are a shortstick, stick checks should be your last resort. All you need to worry about is keeping good body position and you will be a good defensive mid.

[AusLax234]

yeah, cz if hes close enough for u to lift his bottom hand or poke him, then u should be pushing him. poke especially is for long poles

[motolax415]

maybe the reason you keep getting beat is because you settle into on spot and plant your feet to check, so it becomes harded for you to keep with the guy if he just sprits off. Try to keep moving during times like this by boucing from foot to foot like a boxer

[TheKOB]

If you're standing there and he's running at you, the problem is that he's built up a head of steam and you're not moving yet.

1st try to take away his dominant hand by forcing him down an alley and make sure he doesn't turn back. Then, when he tries to take a shot, get him in a hold and try to lift his stick. The main thing is to make sure he doesn't roll to the inside because then a) he won't have any pressure when he takes his shot because you'll be on his back and b) he'll have a better angle on the inside.

Also, remember that you play defense with your feet, not with your stick. You've got a shortie so you don't have that cushion you'd have when playing d with a long pole. Basically, checks are secondary to having to move your feet and good reaction time. You may have to play a bit of catchup and do some agility drills and practice drop stepping.

[DO IT BIG]

if you go for a poke check, make sure you also do a drop step to give you a little more reaction time.

[pantherLax]

Thanks guys, you all really helped, ill put everything into use.

I also have another question.
When the opposing team is clearing the ball, i cover the closest middie near me. Is that good? or should i just sprint back to my side and try to help not giving up a fastbreak.

Also on clearing, if thier middie is trying to run it up the field and its just me and him around the middle of the field, do i wait for him to come to me and play him or should i run to our zone and cover him like in a normal situation?

[DO IT BIG]

Thanks guys, you all really helped, ill put everything into use.

I also have another question.
When the opposing team is clearing the ball, i cover the closest middie near me. Is that good? or should i just sprint back to my side and try to help not giving up a fastbreak.

Also on clearing, if thier middie is trying to run it up the field and its just me and him around the middle of the field, do i wait for him to come to me and play him or should i run to our zone and cover him like in a normal situation?

i think a lot of that depends on your speed. Im not exactly sure though.

[CnSLax3]

As a middie you should just try to hold him ( not literally) leave it to the D-man to strip the ball, just keep pushing him out and when he passes, if your desperate, you could try a can-opener on him.

[pantherLax]

i think a lot of that depends on your speed. Im not exactly sure though.

Na i dont think thats it cause im not slow at all, im not the fastest but in sprints on my team im about the top-middle of the pack.

[Riot]

My summer league is sounds like it's the same as yours. We usually don't even keep scores. What I do is just cut to the crease, if I don't get a pass, I cut right back out and almost always get the ball when I come back out. I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do, but it gets me the ball a lot.

[JohnHoppetyHop]

Thanks guys, you all really helped, ill put everything into use.

I also have another question.
When the opposing team is clearing the ball, i cover the closest middie near me. Is that good? or should i just sprint back to my side and try to help not giving up a fastbreak.

Also on clearing, if thier middie is trying to run it up the field and its just me and him around the middle of the field, do i wait for him to come to me and play him or should i run to our zone and cover him like in a normal situation?

1. when the opposing team is clearing (this is just in my experience and opinion) you should be covering the closest middie to you so that he does not become an outlet for a clear or be able to get a pass from the clearing team. you should call out the number of the middie you're covering so that your team does not end up double teaming a guy and leave a player open for a clear.

2. on a clear if your facing a middie in the middle of the field you shouldnt be playing him from so far out since if you get beat it'll be a very long slide for the defense. you should drop back and play him from just outside the box.

[TheKOB]

Thanks guys, you all really helped, ill put everything into use.

I also have another question.
When the opposing team is clearing the ball, i cover the closest middie near me. Is that good? or should i just sprint back to my side and try to help not giving up a fastbreak.

Also on clearing, if thier middie is trying to run it up the field and its just me and him around the middle of the field, do i wait for him to come to me and play him or should i run to our zone and cover him like in a normal situation?

Clearing is something that the team should do as one, so it all depends on your team's tactics....are you running a zone ride or man to man? Do you have a certain player jump the ball?

Basically though, during a ride your team will want to A)keep the ball out of the sticks of the shorties as much as possible (which means locking off) and B) forcing the long poles and goalies to make as many cross field passes as possible (which means jumping the ball when the poles get too close). If you can lock off your guy do it, but don't pass up the opportunity to jump the ball or cover two guys if they get too close (especially when they try to make a long pass to 'em).

[CnSLax3]

Not to jack this thread but what is a good tactic for middies playing crease, I usually just stand their hardly moving because im not sure what to do?

[TheKOB]

You have to move. A lot of teams slide from the crease, so the more you keep him occupied, the less he can concentrate on where the ball is and get a good slide. Also, make sure when you move, you move anywhere but towards the ball. You want to make sure that you leave enough room for the ballcarrier to dodge and get a good shot off. With each pass to the outside, try and cut opposite where the ball is (example, if the ball is top right, you want to cut towards the bottom left of the crease). When you cut, do kind of a reverse V cut so that you cut towards the ball and then away at an angle. Also, if your man slides, you could follow him at an angle towards the ballcarrier's ball side. That might serve to make it hard for a second slide to get to you in time before you get off a shot, and also give the ballcarrier an outlet pass.

If you are going to just stand there, you might as well put a screen on the goalie. Basically, you stand just outside the goal crease facing the ball. It's illegal to face the goalie and try to block his eyes, but try to anticipate where he is in the goal and stand between him and the ball.

Overall though it depends on your team's play and what they're running.