Tips for Attack

1. Make your defender play you and you alone every second you are in the game. When off-ball, keep your feet moving all of the time so he must centre his attention on you, by moving in-out and up-back.

2. In moving the ball around the perimeter, make catchable passes; your passes should be sharp, short, overhand, and to the outside, away from the defender. No “Rainbows”!

a. Step-Catch-Roll Away-Step-Throw

b. Step-Catch-Square Up-Split-Step-Throw

c. Step-Catch-Step-“Slice” Throw

d. Step-“Spike” Catch-Step-Throw

3. Make feeds and passes crisp and overhand and move towards the player you are passing to; don’t fade away from the player and throw. Put it where your teammate can catch it – it is the passers responsibility to make the catch easy.

4. When you have the ball, don’t stand still, protect your stick – keep moving all of the time – change speed (C.O.S.) and direction (C.O.D.) – and keep moving.

5. Always move to meet passes coming to you and then circle away from your defenseman – unless there is enough space to split | slice | spike.

6. When you have the ball, work on faking passes – it will keep your defender’s stick moving and delay slides to you.

7. When in possession of the ball, make the defender play your stick – feel and know where he has his stick – the position of it may determine the direction of your feed and the type of dodge you may attempt.

8. Never make a pass to a man who is covered just to get rid of the ball.

9. If a fellow offensive player (attackman) is being played hard and can’t dodge or get away from his defender – the nearest man on each side goes to help him. Be an adjacent help, move your feet … Bust Adjacent!

10. On all long shots, the closest attackman(s) should crash the crease for a rebound.

11. On every screen shot the crease man should check-up on the defender’s stick, and immediately face the goalie, so he is ready to catch & shoot or bat in a rebound. 

12. Learn to be aware of all your options when receiving a pass and do it an advance of getting the ball; know the offense and where your teammates should be and/or are moving. Give and go’s and off ball cuts may be open right away. Work to time off ball cuts in a manner in which you anticipate where the next pass is going to time your cut.

13. If you receive a pass after cutting and do not have a good shot, pull it out, and do not force the bad shot. Move it, balance up and/or reset the offense.

14. Place all shots in an open spot and shoot to score. Do not shoot just to shoot or simply throw it at the goal, and do not wind up to shoot inside shots, learn to be accurate and know where you want to shoot. Usually a high stick should shoot the ball low. Off stick side at the hips is another good location to try and aim. Shoot hard and finish your shot with your bottom hand ending on your top hand’s elbow. This will ‘dial’ your shot to the location of which you have aimed.

15. After picking up a loose ball we want to move it quickly to an adjacent player-we typically want to move it 2 passes. No adjacent help? Look to move your feet to the net if possible, forcing someone to play you. While moving to net, quickly look at all your passing options and when under pressure on a loose ball, always look to move it quickly to an open man and have him make the play.

16. Don’t dodge if there is an open man. Don’t hold the ball long unless you are planning a dodge. Keep the ball moving with quick, short passes; don’t be a “black hole”.

17. Always be in position to back up shots and feeds, especially back side. When a cut is made, or a shot is taken, all attackman must play a part, moving to be in a position to backup a pass or a shot. Control the ball and value possessions!

18. Never stand so close together that you allow one defender to cover two attack players.

19. When there is a loose ball on the ground, go after it fast and hard, you must have the ball! Tough, aggressive, hard nosed players usually get noticed; be a great ground ball player. Pick it up and move it!

20. Always keep the field balanced for you to stay in better position to back up, and give your teammates space to work in.

21. Shoot plenty, but only if you have a high % shot … attack players should have higher shooting and/or scoring percentages!

22. Always have one man behind the goal or moving behind the goal to back up shots. Learn and know the offensive rotations and specific attack responsibilities with each offensive formation.

23. Time your cuts; don’t cut if the man with the ball has his head down, is not watching or not in position to pass.

24. Make full cuts and be ready to receive a pass on your cut with your stick and head up, see the man with the ball – go through and out – don’t cut at half speed or hang around the crease after your cut. Slow cut when needed!

25. Zigzag your cuts, fake left-go right, fake right-go left; make your defender turn his head one way and go the other. Don’t always run at the same speed, changing speed and direction is a very effective method of getting open.

26. After the ball has been cleared, know when to push it; if you have a wide open opportunity to dodge, do it, or if you are sure a man is open, pass to him, otherwise, settle the ball down and let the offense get set up. Remember, after a clear the midfielders will often need time to catch their breath. We expect our midfielders to rest on offense, not defense, must know when to slow the pace down and Control the Ball; remember, although we want to play fast, we don’t want to be in a “hurry” on offense!

27. Every attack player should try at least two dodges every game, know what you can and cannot do (work on it in and out of season). Be prepared and know what the defense is going to try to do (their slide packages and schemes) each game via video study and use it to your advantage. Learn at least three different types of dodges. All dodges should incorporate change of hands, speed and/or direction. Know where the slide is coming from and move the ball to your help, don’t allow yourself to be double and in some cases triple teamed.

28. When you lose the ball, ride and ride hard; have the mentality you are going to get the ball back. Our attack must ride and ride hard until the ball passes the midfield. This is not a time to swing your stick, it is time for you to move your feet to play good, solid defense. Work hard and be a good riding attackman, put the effort in; you don’t ride hard, you won’t play nearly as much or in some cases, at all!

29. Don’t rush at a man when riding – particularly behind the goal. Break down, stick on his hands, play/lift his hands and force him to pass – force him in the direction where there is riding help. Converse all of the time and run hard. The success of a great attack unit depends on their riding ability and their desire to have the ball.

30. Always remember teamwork is the key to a good attack. Know your teammates and their specific strengths. The better teammate you are, the better player you are!

31. As a general rule, the attack should not be lined up right on the midfield line waiting for the ball. You will never be able to set up a fast break properly. Unless instructed otherwise, set up on the timeline and know you can always move up to midfield if the defense needs help clearing the ball or there is a ball overthrown to your half of the field. We need to ensure we are an outlet in transition and are able to set up for every fast break opportunity!

32. No excuses for not being in position for easy goals; lazy players won’t play and if you’re tired/winded, come off the field to catch your breath!

33. Know the defenders you are playing every game, video study/game plan. Is he big or small? Fast or slow? Does he drop step or come at you? Does he time his stick checks or wait and throw only a few? Always try and notice where his stick head is at all times. Do your homework, watch video on your own, take notes and study the players you will be playing against, and listen to the coaches scouting reports!

34. Know the goalies you are playing every game, video study/game plan. As soon as he steps on the field, take notice if he is a lefthanded or righthanded? This will tell you what hip to shoot off (off stick side hip) or what low corner to shoot at (off stick side corner). Is his stick position up or to the side when waiting for a shot? If he holds a high stick most of the time, try not to shoot high.

35. Remember when you decided to play attack, you signed up for the glory of scoring and with it take a beating by the defense. Rarely, if ever, do you get a chance to give back what you are taking. There is never an excuse for swinging your stick and taking penalties when you play attack! Be tough mentally and physically, take the beating and enjoy your goals and assists. No penalties from attackmen!