Creating 1:1 advantages as the Attacker

Hockey and lacrosse are becoming sports based on speed and skill. New rules are encouraging players to be more creative than ever before. This is leading to more opportunities to beat defenders 1:1. Gone are the days of dumping the puck in at the blue line – toe drags are welcome.

Even though the games are opening up, the odds are not in the offensive players favor while trying to beat a defensemen straight up. Try to dodge in the wrong situation and you will find yourself watching the ball go the other way.

The good thing is their are certain situations that give the attacker the upper-hand. They are the same in both sports and when you can identify these subtle hints you will start having more success beating defenders.

Gap Advantage

Defensemen are taught to keep a good gap when a player is approaching them. The idea behind this is to maintain a consistent distance from the attacker that protects them from getting beat with speed and is close enough to close quickly. When a good gap exists, it is difficult to beat someone cleanly. Now an exposed gap, this we can work with.

An exposed gap is when the defender is too close or too far. This puts the attacker at a big advantage if they know what to do with it. If the gap is too close, speed to the outside is your answer. If the gap is too far – cut backs, change of direction and using the defender as a screen are the options.

A good way to create these gap advantages is to change speeds. Speed up to push the defender back and then slow down to expose a gap that is too big. Slow down to pull them into an exposed small gap and then turn on the jets.

Over Committing

Along with good cap, defenders are taught to let the attacker make the first move. To stay centered. Doing so makes the attacker commit to a move which allows the defender to react properly without getting beat. This is another opportunity to create an advantage because we can make the defender think we made our move, make them commit and then change again.

One example to create this is selling that your are going to shoot. When the defender sets up to block the shot or poke check, you can pull the puck around them and continue to the net.

Defenders overcommit on their own as well. Think of coming down the field on a fast break and the bottom defender slides too early leaving the attack open. That is an example of over-committing. Take advantage of it.

Turned Hips

Try running to the right but have your hips turned to the left. It is impossible. So pay attention to the defenders hips. Once they turn, they have committed.

Your goal should be to “turn” the defender. This means to get them out of their defensive posture. On the ice it would be to get the defender to pivot to skating forward. On the field it is to get the defender to break their defensive slide into a run. Once they get moving in that direction you can use their momentum against them by changing directions quickly. This will cause them to have to turn their hips complete around to stay in front. Giving you the step you need to beat them.

In short – create an exposed gap, force the defender to commit and then turn the hips.