Team Defense: Crease Slide and Adjacent Slide

Team Defense: General Principles

Communication: Team defense starts with communication. Most goals are scored because of

a breakdown in this area of the game. Most offenses do not stand still in one formation. They

create movement to confuse the defense. Teams must communicate vital information about

“slides” and “defensive packages” their in. Communication will cut down on mental errors.

Protect The Middle Of The Field: When above the cage, defenses must prevent their

opponents from getting to the middle of the field. Below the cage, they must prevent them from

getting “topside”.

Dictate Where The Offense Can Go: A good defender plays an aggressive positional style.

Dictating where an offensive player can and can not go will make slides and defensive

packages more efficient and predictable. Breakdowns occur when the offense dictates play.

On-Ball Defense: On ball defense should always start with a poke and a drop step. The

defenders stick should be up field at al times.

Off-Ball Defense: Defenders who are “off-ball” should always stay between their man and the

goal. The exception is when they are “hot” or at sliding position, they should be between the

man and the ball about one stick length away and ready to help.

Crease and Adjacent Slide: Level of Play

It is expected that all 4 Leaf Teams teams install both Crease and Adjacent

sliding defensive schemes. Our general philosophy on defense is “team” and

“slide” conscious man to man. We demand communication and aggressive

physical play out of our teams. Crease Slide should be our standard defense any

time our opponents are using a crease-based offense. We will be sliding out of

the crease. Anytime an offense is using a “zero” set or a non-crease, we will be

sliding adjacent. All teams must be versed in both of these base defenses and

prepared to recognized and implement them when necessary. In Adjacent 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 (Crease and Adjacent)

Crease: Set-up

“Crease” is the base defense for all 4 Leaf teams. The

defense is a “crease-slide” base defense and should be

run anytime the offense has a player positioned on the

crease. If an offensive player is on the crease, then the

slide will come from the defender guarding him. This

player wants to declare he is the slider by shouting

“I’m Hot”. This alerts the other players that they have

help if they get beat by the dodger. This player wants

to stay between the man and the ball, about one stick

length away, so he can effectively slide to the dodger.

•Set-up (Crease Slide)

Crease: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1

M2

M3

D1

D2D3

Crease: Set-up

1. Cover the man with the ball playing fundamental on-

ball defense (M1)

2. Covering an adjacent player getting ready to break

down and play on-ball defense (M2, D1)

3. On the crease ready to slide (M3)

4. Near of or on the crease acting as the “second slide”

for the crease defender if they need to slide (D2, D3).

This player should shout “I’ve got your two” to let the

slider know their man will be covered in the event that

a slide is necessary.

•Set-up (Crease Continued)

Crease: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1

M2

M3

D1

D2D3

Crease: Execution

1. If a midfielder dodges from up top, the on-ball

defender (M1) should take away the middle of the field

and force the man “down the alley”. The defensive

midfielder is to stay on the offensive players back

shoulder and not allow him to roll back and beat him

topside. They should get ready for a “lift” or “trail”

check if their man raises their stick and elbows to

shoot or pass.

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Crease: Execution Continued

2. During the dodge, the crease man (M3) should keep

his “head on a swivel” checking his man and seeing if

the on-ball defender needs help. He needs to identify

himself as “Hot” and then slide when the defensive

midfielder is beaten. The second slide should come

from one of the players on the crease (D2, D3) who are

pinching in on the dodge and ready to help.

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Crease: Execution Continued

3. When the slide occurs, the two players (M1, M3)

should stay on the double team as much as possible to

force a turnover. If the defense doubles the ball the

adjacent player (D1) can push out on their man to

force a tough pass. If the double team does not occur,

the player who was originally covering the ball (M1)

retreats to the crease to find a new man to cover. This

player can cover the crease man or bounce out to

cover a new man.

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Crease: Execution Continued

4. It’s imperative that the defense communicate to

coordinate the coverage. A simple rule of sliding: “If

you slide , you stay” which means the defender that

slides (M3) now covers the original ball carrier after

the pass has been made. The off-ball midfielder (M2)

needs to move and stay on the “same level” as the ball

and dodge. For if the dodger gets within 7 yards to

shoot or pass off to the crease man, he will not be

there to help out if he stayed in his original position 12

yards away.

•Execution (On a Midfield Dodge)

Crease: Execution (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 man.

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 man.

Crease: Execution on an Attack Dodge

1. When an Attackman dodges from behind, the on-ball defenseman (D2)

should force the man one direction (preferably away from his strong hand)

taking away the topside of the field. As he gets to goal line extended (GLE),

the defenseman wants to “close the gate” denying topside and force the

inside roll or roll back to “X”. Crease defenseman (M3) is waiting to see the

back of the attackman’s helmet. As soon as he can, the slide is made.

2. If (D2 and M3) are able to sustain a double team, then the adjacent

defenders (D1 and D3) can press out on their men and prevent an easy

escape pass. The top midfielders (M1 and M2) should slough to the crease

and provide second slides and back up help.

•Execution (On an Attack Dodge)

Crease: Execution (Attack Dodge)

M1M2

M3D1

D2D3

Crease: Execution (Attack 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 man.

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 man.

Crease: Execution Against a Motion Offense

1. At the higher levels, a team will often run a motion

offense. The following defensive response is useful

against a “motion” offense in which the adjacent

players are cutting through to create space for the

dodger. In this instance, the attackman adjacent to the

dodging midfielder is cutting through to the crease. We

want to slide off the cutter with D1.

•Execution (Against Motion)

Crease: Set Up (Motion Offense)

M1

M2M3

D1 D2D3

Crease: Execution (Motion Offense)

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 man.

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 man.

Crease: Execution Against a Motion Offense

2. When a team is running motion and the dodge

originates from behind, we will use a similar slide

package to what we use against a midfielder motion.

As the attackman dodges from “X”, the adjacent

attackman will cut through. Because the attackman is

cutting toward the crease, we want to slide off this

cutter with (D1) rather than coming off the crease.

•Execution (Against Motion)

Crease: Execution (Attack Dodge)

M1M2

M3D1

D2D3

Crease: Execution (Attack 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 man.

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 man.

Crease: Final Thoughts

Crease is our base defense. All teams should be proficient in a crease

sliding defensive package. The keys to the defense are the on ball

player must keep the dodger down the alley if dodging from the

midfield or under when dodging from behind GLE. The defense must

communicate slides and all second slides and all slides should be

made with the body and not with a swing stick.

•Crease: Final Thoughts

Adjacent: Set-up

If the offense does not have a player on the

crease, the defense cannot run its regular

“Crease” package and must, therefore, slide

from the adjacent player. In “Adjacent,” 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 (Adjacent)

Adjacent: Set-up Continued

In “Adjacent” 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 (Adjacent Continued)

Adjacent: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1

D2D3

Adjacent: 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)

Adjacent: 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)

Adjacent: Set Up (Midfield Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1D2

D3

Adjacent: 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.

Adjacent: 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)

Adjacent: 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)

Adjacent Man: Set Up (Attack Dodge)

M1M2

M3

D1

D2

D3

Adjacent 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.

Adjacent: Final Thoughts

Adjacent 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.

•Adjacent: Final Thoughts