Cycling; Supplement Your Offensive Zone
Attack
(Originally submitted as an article by Greg Siller for Hockey Player
Magazine - www.HockeyPlayer.com)
Attacking
in the offensive zone is a team skill designed to score goals; with the intent
of maximizing high percentage scoring opportunities. An offensive zone attack
is really a two-stage process. The first stage involves moving the puck into
the offensive zone. If the initial attack does not produce a goal or at least a
good shot on net, and you still have possession of the puck, set up the second
stage of the attack. This second stage consists of maintaining the puck in the
offensive zone to initiate a scoring opportunity. One tactic that can be
effectively used to obtain scoring opportunities is called offensive zone
cycling.
Offensive
zone cycling is an excellent tactic designed to supplement existing offensive
zone tactics and strategies through the use of continuous position exchanging.
Position exchanging can occur between two, three, or even all four/five
teammates simultaneously (depending on whether you are playing roller or ice
hockey). In this article, we will focus on three-player cycling in both the four-player
(roller hockey) unit and the five-player (ice hockey) unit. The emphasis of
offensive cycling is keeping players in motion. When used properly, the
constant motion of the exchanging players does three things:
1. It creates confusion. Players exchanging positions confuse defenders by
continually being in-motion. Defenders do not have a chance to set up against a
single attacker due to constantly changing assignments, and this can result in
an attacker becoming open.
2. It creates constant pressure. While the defenders are trying to find a player to
cover, the offensive players move in a coordinated pattern with the center of
that pattern generally being the net. The offensive players move like hungry
sharks, surrounding their victim (in this case the opponent's goaltender),
skating and passing the puck until a good scoring opportunity is created.
3. It buys time. Cycling provides the puck carrier with vacated areas
to maneuver in order to maintain puck possession. By creating and using these
vacated areas, the offensive team (specifically the puck carrier) buys time
until a scoring opportunity develops.
Offensive
cycling is generally initiated by the puck carrier. When the puck carrier
skates with the puck in one direction (clockwise for example), his teammates
will move in that same direction; with each player successively filling the
space created by the player ahead in the cycle.
As
shown in Figure 1 (4 player unit), the puck carrier (LF) begins skating with
the puck in a clockwise direction behind the net. As LF moves, RD fills the
space vacated by LF and RF fills the space vacated by RD. In Figure 2 (5 player
unit), LF moves with the puck, while RF moves to fill the space vacated by LF
and C moves to fill the space vacated by RF. In both cases, the players circle
the net with the intent of setting up a scoring opportunity. This may be a pass
to an open player in the slot, a pass across the crease to an open player at
the corner of the net, or a pass to a point man; each followed by a shot on
net. The cycling continues until a scoring opportunity occurs, when the
attackers attempt to screen the goaltender, deflect the shot, or get any
rebounds that the goaltender gives up.
When working on this particular play during practice,
you should begin with no defenders. Once the attacking team has mastered the
play with no defenders, introduce two defenders and then all defenders. The
coach should ensure that the players movements are coordinated; a key to
offensive cycling.
Offensive cycling is a supplemental tactic. If your
fundamental offensive attack is not working, supplement it with cycling.
|
Figure 2; 3 Player Offensive
Cycling; 5 Player Unit
(Ice Hockey) |
|
Figure 1; 3 Player Offensive
Cycling; 4 Player Unit
(Roller Hockey) |
The Hockey Practice Playbook and Roller Hockey: Skills and
Strategies for Winning On Wheels.