Defense

[HockeyDad41]

When does the position of defense start to become a focus in youth hockey? I've heard it referred to as the 2nd most neglected position in youth hockey. I never see the coaches working with the defense on their positions the way I see them work with the forwards.

[luckyEPDad]

When does the position of defense start to become a focus in youth hockey? I've heard it referred to as the 2nd most neglected position in youth hockey. I never see the coaches working with the defense on their positions they way I see them work with the forwards.

More detail please. What are you looking for that is missing?

[HockeyDad41]

When does the position of defense start to become a focus in youth hockey? I've heard it referred to as the 2nd most neglected position in youth hockey. I never see the coaches working with the defense on their positions they way I see them work with the forwards.

More detail please. What are you looking for that is missing?

First off, no controversy here, I was thinking about it and there are a lot of experienced hockey people here so I thought I would ask.

I see mostly individual skill development at the age my kid is at(squirt), which is fantastic, I also see some time spent on defensive zone breakouts and neutral zone regroups, a little bit of the goalie getting shots and movement in front of the net, but I never see any coaching of the two guys standing on the blue line or in front of the net.

Thanks.

[observer]

For me, this is a big deal. Organizations often have roving goalie coaches and I believe should have D specialist coaches too. Some youth organizations develop wonderful D players and others do not. It seems a lot of coaches have experience as a forward but fewer are former D players. If the coach has a D background more D principles seem to be taught but often it seems it doesn't get the focus it should. Top end D players, youth and HS, are fun to watch. Someone has done a good job coaching D specifics and techniques with those players.

[Educator29]

There are a number of coaches who think working on a "break-out" is working on defense. as the coach matures and developes they begin to understand that when your team has the "puck" in the defensive zone you are know technically on offense. Many Younger levels do not emphasise angeling, gap control, etc. some of that is due to the younger minds do not have the ability to undertand gap control as they do when they are older. This was a very important factor when USA was discussing the Checking - vs - non checking for the PW age player. However, body position, elimintating space read and react are all crucial when teaching over all defensive play. Through the years I have seen a a number of coaches do a very good job teaching some of these concepts. but on the other hand I have also witnessed the coach penalize a player and put them back on defense for lack of hustle or offensive skills. Young level coaches do not need to emphasize the "breakout". the "breakout" is an end result, alot of technical and tactical skills need to be focused on first.

[MnMade-4-Life]

When does the position of defense start to become a focus in youth hockey? I've heard it referred to as the 2nd most neglected position in youth hockey. I never see the coaches working with the defense on their positions they way I see them work with the forwards.

More detail please. What are you looking for that is missing?

First off, no controversy here, I was thinking about it and there are a lot of experienced hockey people here so I thought I would ask.

I see mostly individual skill development at the age my kid is at(squirt), which is fantastic, I also see some time spent on defensive zone breakouts and neutral zone regroups, a little bit of the goalie getting shots and movement in front of the net, but I never see any coaching of the two guys standing on the blue line or in front of the net.

Thanks.

*WARNING: this post may contain rash generalizations and or incomplete/ incoherent babbling. I am NOT talking about your kid, you, your wife, or anything else you want to troll about.

Despite my continued efforts when I was a lad ... defense just isn't sexy. The only time they are noticed on the ice by the majority of hockey fans is when either 1) HD41 Jr made my kid leave his jock at center ice, or 2) Mini-Made-4-Life stands up HD41 Jr on the blue line. Otherwise ... most people are watching the net.

Typical ... when is the last time you went to a HS/college/pro game and focused on the defensmen? Hell, I never have.

I'm not saying this is right, it's just human nature. Same reason we all messed around with the hot crazy chick at the bar.

Personally, defense is the foundation. Build from the backend (goalie) to front (defense THEN offense). That is how I was raised on the ice, and remains my philosophy to this day. Now, spend too much time on defense ... put too many skilled players on defense ... parents will (and have in my experience) accuse a coach of playing "not to lose" instead of playing "to win."

friggin hockey parents ...

[nahc]

Could not agree more. Defensemen are pretty much left to fend for themselves. Most practices are breakouts, powerplays, etc.. No fundamentals on angles, corner physical play, defense in front of your net, "coming down the slot" on offensive opportunities, defenseman skating breakouts, just plain high and low defense in your own end.......even the defenseman camps to date have been pretty disappointing..........there is a HUGE need out there for defenseman training.......

[jancze5]

If the team is lucky enough to have a coach that played DEF, then the D gets taught, otherwise it's all O and skills from what I've seen. Agree with the poster...don't forget your goalies who get minimal to little of anything unless the parents pay a private coach...goalies should play at a reduced rate

[DMom]

We've been very lucky to have had guys who played defense coach our oldest, but we've also had the opposite. Nothing more frustrating than for a kid to be taught the 'golden rules' of defense and than be told to 'cover the guy on the 2 on 1 that you think is going to shoot'. The kid butted heads with that guy all season and it is one of those times when we gave him permission to NOT listen to his asst. coach. Well, not really, we told him to talk to the head coach and ask him what he wanted him to do. That's all it took, after that no one got yelled at for playing the pass. Listening to fans screaming at kids to 'play the body' during a 2 on 1 or a 3 on 1 makes me a little tense sometimes. I believe most goalie's appreciate being able to play the shot with the confidence of knowing they don't have to play the backdoor too.

Defensive camps I think assume the kids come in with some groundwork, but in truth most of them need to be untaught the things they've learned.

[57special]

Defense and defensive play simply isn't emphasized at the younger levels. When people say "skill development" they usually mean skating, stickhandling and shooting, and to a far lesser extent, passing. Playing good D doesn't appear to be a "skill", but a quirk.

Funny how that quirk becomes very useful during playoff games when a solid D pair consistently stops the other teams 3 on 2's, or a forward hauls ass backckecking and prevents a shot during a breakaway.


I think the kids need another Bobby Orr to come on the scene to make playing D "cool" again.

[SalaryCap]

Defense and defensive play simply isn't emphasized at the younger levels. When people say "skill development" they usually mean skating, stickhandling and shooting, and to a far lesser extent, passing. Playing good D doesn't appear to be a "skill", but a quirk.

Funny how that quirk becomes very useful during playoff games when a solid D pair consistently stops the other teams 3 on 2's, or a forward hauls ass backckecking and prevents a shot during a breakaway.


I think the kids need another Bobby Orr to come on the scene to make playing D "cool" again.

I think HD41 could be our Bobby! He's cool!

[mackjogger]

any opinions on Man 2 Man defense at pee wee squirt and mite level?

[USAhorrorstory]

Could not agree more. Defensemen are pretty much left to fend for themselves. Most practices are breakouts, powerplays, etc.. No fundamentals on angles, corner physical play, defense in front of your net, "coming down the slot" on offensive opportunities, defenseman skating breakouts, just plain high and low defense in your own end.......even the defenseman camps to date have been pretty disappointing..........there is a HUGE need out there for defenseman training.......

You make a valid point. the Defensive side of the game is never a hot topic in regards to in the season practice plans or hockey training in the summer. However, when it pertains to summer hockey camps shouldn't the focus be more on skill development regardless of position. In order to become an effected hockey player, one must develop the puck skills (shooting, skating with heads up, stickhandling) and a unique quality that is not quantifiable hockey sense (seeing the ice and how certain plays develop)?

In addition, when we are mentioning youth development the focus should be on skill development and overall understanding of the game. Not how to take someone's head off in the front of the net.. my own tangent. One of the most disregarded elements of the game in my opinion is angling... Whether or not we are talking about how to properly angle an opponent with a hit or making indirect passes against the boards. Not to mention proper technique when delivering a check (hands down, leading with the shoulder). I feel as though that angling can be a tough concept to practice ( based on the idea that if we are running a breakout drill or two on one drill that coaches stress direct passes). In the end some hockey players have that internal sense of geometry and some do not.

[jBlaze3000]

A lot of people don't realize it or believe it, but your defensemen NEED to be some of the most skilled players on the team. It's hard to convince the Mite/ Squirt parent of this but by the time you get to the PeeWee level your defensive players had better the best skaters on the team.

[farmington14]

A lot of people don't realize it or believe it, but your defensemen NEED to be some of the most skilled players on the team. It's hard to convince the Mite/ Squirt parent of this but by the time you get to the PeeWee level your defensive players had better the best skaters on the team.

I agree they have to be good but not possibly the best. More importantly to be good D they need to have good vision and overall be smarter hockey players. They see the game from a different perspective and I believe the good ones develop a greater, deeper understanding of the game. Move a good forward back to D, most will look like lost puppies out there. Defense is a selfless position as well, forwards can make mistakes all game long and only good hockey minds will take notice, a D makes a mistake and the whole arena notices, even the casual fan that doesn't understand the game!

[BBgunner]

As a former forward who now coaches Defense I completely agree with this post. I have coached at the pee wee level and now bantam level and can say without a doubt that defense is overlooked at squirts/mites. Simple technique issues of skating backwards properly even is missing for defense at pee wee regardless of a, b1, b2, or c level. And while I agree with the ADM developing skills at a young age and not working systems I think the skills of playing defense and reading plays and space is necessary to begin at those levels.
I do however disagree with the lack of sexiness for the position or that no one watches them. I think that is the most scouted position in the world. No player can get higher accolades then a defenseman and is more sought after in high school, junior, and college. Defensemen are the ones who see everything on the ice and when a kid can learn to read plays and feel plays he will be a great player with skills that may not be as strong as forward number 67 but he will get picked over that forward every time.

[1998puck]

I saw in the Burnsville Thanksgiving tournament that Blaine Pee Wee A had a defenseman that could skate the puck well with good hands play awsome defense positioning and hockey smarts. I talked to a Blaine parent and they said the Blaine HS defensive coach is working with the kids. I think he was #4 for Blaine. wish more HS coaches would help there future players

[jBlaze3000]

Blaine Pee Wee A had a defenseman that could skate the puck well with good hands play

You say it like its a rare thing!

[Neuuman]

A lot of people don't realize it or believe it, but your defensemen NEED to be some of the most skilled players on the team. It's hard to convince the Mite/ Squirt parent of this but by the time you get to the PeeWee level your defensive players had better the best skaters on the team.

I agree they have to be good but not possibly the best. More importantly to be good D they need to have good vision and overall be smarter hockey players. They see the game from a different perspective and I believe the good ones develop a greater, deeper understanding of the game. Move a good forward back to D, most will look like lost puppies out there. Defense is a selfless position as well, forwards can make mistakes all game long and only good hockey minds will take notice, a D makes a mistake and the whole arena notices, even the casual fan that doesn't understand the game!

I agree - defensive play is important. But honestly, who can look at a squirt player and say "oh, he's going to be a defenseman (or forward)" Do people out there have a crystal ball telling them how big or small these players are going to be when they're 18? Take Taylor Cammarata - do you think he'd be where he is if he'd been pidgeon holed as a defenseman when he was 8? Why not teach them skills at a younger age (I think 9-10 years old qualifies as a younger age). As they mature (as peewee's and bantam's) then start assessing what position will best maximize the skills they have? IMHO