Select Team Defense: Near Man

Near Man: Level of Play

“Near man” is a base defense for all Trilogy

select-teams. The defense is an “adjacent”

based sliding defense, and should be run

anytime the offense DOES NOT have a player

positioned on the crease.

•Level of Play (Near Man)

Near Man: Set-up

If the offense does not have a player on the

crease, the defense cannot run its regular

“Crash” package and must, therefore, slide

form the adjacent player. In “Near-man,” all of

the slides will come form the player closest to

the ball. This defense requires players stay

“tight” and making “stretching out” or putting

pressure on the ball difficult as this will

increase the length of slides…

•Set-up (Near Man)

Near Man: Set-up Continued

In “Near Man” the slide will come from the

player towards whom the offender is dodging.

The second slide comes from the next

adjacent player and the third slide comes

from the defensive player adjacent to the

second slide and so on. All defense players

are considered to be “on a string”, meaning

that when the slide-man “goes”, everyone

else must respond accordingly.

•Set-up (Near Man Continued)

Near Man: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1

D2D3

Near Man: Execution

If a midfielder dodges from up-top, the on-

ball defender (M1), should take away the

middle of the field, forcing their man “down

the alley”. Forcing them down the side

decreases their shooting angle and will force

a long-pole to slide instead of another short

stick. After the slide occurs, the next adjacent

defenseman should slide across the crease to

cover for D1’s man…

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Near Man: Execution Continued

The farthest defenseman (D3) wants to cover

for the second slide by getting to the crease

so he can help where it is necessary. The off-

ball midfielders (M2 and M3) want to stay on

the same level as the ball and get down the

backside. If the ball-carrier rolls away from

pressure and throws to one of their men,

then M2 and M3 can recover back up-top.

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Near Man: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1D2

D3

Near Man: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

Once he’s slid, the slider wants to remain on the

double-team. If recovery is necessary, the previous on-

ball defender wants to recover to the crease and

find another mark.

Near Man: Execution On an Attack Dodge

If an attackman dodges from behind, the on-

ball defenseman wants to deny the GLE and

force an inside roll so the backside

defenseman can perform a “COMA” (COMe

Across) slide. The COMA slide comes from the

adjacent defenseman on the opposite side of

the crease. When this slide occurs it is

essential that the top midfielder get down the

backside and cover the vacated attackman…

•Execution (On an Attack Dodge)

Near Man: Execution On an Attack Dodge Continued

The remaining midfielders M2 and M3 want

to get to the middle of the field so they are in

a position to help. The adjacent defenseman

can provide initial support by faking a slide

(FIZZ) to thwart the dodge. This defensemen

must not get out of position or lose sight of

his attackman or else he’ll be vulnerable to a

back-door cut. ** If the defender gets beaten

topside, then the first slide comes from the

ball-defenseman. The second slide comes

from the midfielder.

•Execution (On an Attack Dodge)

Near Man: Set Up (Attack Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1

D2

D3

Near Man: Set Up (Attack Dodge)

After he slides, the slider will stay on the double-team. If recovery is necessary, the previous on-ball defender will recover to the crease

and find a new mark.

Near Man: Final Thoughts

Near Man is an important defense to know

and understand in the event that a team does

not have an offensive player on the crease.

The keys to this defense remain the same 1)

on ball player MUST keep dodgers down the

sides (if dodging from the midfield) or

“under” (when dodging from the attack 2) the

defense must communicate all slides and all

second slides, and 3) all slides should be

made with the body and not with a swinging

stick.

• Near Man: Final Thoughts