The "highway"

Defence or offence principles.
THis diagramm shows how we did get it. when we started 10 years ago
At that time side subbing was not done at the pool side but on the gool side.



As you can see there is three distinct NO_PLAY-AREAS. We (the dutch selection at that time) "never play in these areas as such play only favours the opponents and their scoring and defence possibilities.
(so was written in a single a4 paper we did get at that time) Adn also was written like this in the 2000 hobart manual)

After a time the side subbing was placed at pool side. so we did chanch the "highway" And some "non playing areas"(Tilburg)

This diagram shows in main headlines how we (tilburg) think.
(The "non playing area"before the gool is splitt in 2 areas.)

1-The 3 meter zone is the mean non playing area. and when the puck is in that area it must go out as fast as possible.TO the side/corner, (to have a small flicking area to the gool.) A opponent that can flick can easy flick the puck inside that area inside the gool. (like a penalty)

2.The 6 meter zone is the second line. Inside that line its important to have the puck outside it. Because flicking to the gool became a possibilitie. But when having the puck its not the most importan thing to get it to the side wall. like by the old "highway"but as far as possible away from the gool. even if it mean break out straight forwards.(if the weakpoint off the offencive team is on that point.

3.The non playing attact area by the side subbing place of the opponent is a non going area. Its to easy for the opponent to sub/replace a player when you passed a player there. and have a fresh/new player by doing that in front off you.

A non playing area will not say we do not play out there. when the opponent with the puck is there, we are also there.
but when we can deside were to play we try to avoid the non playing areas.

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When you are good, then you are not bad..

Sven, for your #2 going at the defense, straight up the pool from inside the 6M, usually results in an immediate attack on that player by a relatively rested opponent, a probable stop, and the opposition swimming the puck back into the 3M. While your guy is swimming the puck out of the 6M you usually have backs that are surfacing after a series of big effort stops so going right at one of the freshest opponents in the pool surely isn't the smartest approach. Your red arrows at the top of the 6 should aim out to the side more.

There are exceptions to everything except when dealing with 'there are exceptions to everything' so I know at times it will work to go straight up pool. But in what looks like a suggested method of operations that shouldn't be suggested.

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

I agree with you. about the 3 and 6 meter lines
And that its an exeption...to go that way.(red arrows)

But there is nothing wrong when you tell your players to use the weak points iff they can from the opponents. And i really like it iff they break out in a straight line away forwards when possible.. and not automaticly swim to the other corner and so keep the pressure on the defence. So its good to tell them its an option when you get the puck in the 6 meter line. But indeed you must tell its an exeption and the dangers you told here, you must tell that also.

Thats why i ended that line with the words
"if the weakpoint off the offencive team is on that point."
If the fresh players from the offencive team are there its not the weakest point.

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When you are good, then you are not bad..

...any particular reason why the wee arrows pointing to your oppositions goal veer outwards and aim for the corners of the bin rather than the center of the goal svensy? is that a typo or is it a special tactical ploy?

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it's more polite on the grating than on the subs bench

if im not mistaken im sure benson mentioned to me a couple of years ago that,
a forward should drive the puck to the opposite side of the oppositions bin so that as the defence puts pressure on you,you will end up pushing it into the centre.
but if you drive it into the centre then the defensive pressure will probably push you wide on the other side of their bin,thus covering their bin and forcing the puck into the back wall.

benson,can you remember this,or could you advise us on this ?

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top of de mornin to yeh

Something like that... If you swim for the near corner of the goal bin the puck almost always ends up on the back wall. If you swim for the far corner of the goal bin you offset the defence's positioning, create space and open a wider window for attacking the goal.

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It's not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose.

I like the "high-way" diagrams Sven and it's the first time I've seen a diagram with the side-subbing taken into account.

The commentators at the worlds often mentioned that the womens and juniors teams in particular tended to play near the sub benches to enable quick subbing! I found that annoying (insulting?) as we never discussed that as an intentional play. Have any of you used this as part of your strategy? Really?

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Off Half-Backs Rule

Used?? or been berated by the coach for not implementing it? Well both actually. Not as an out and out strategy but something to keep in mind. Look they've had a man in the sin bin for 5 of the last 6 minutes lets really make the push to the far wall away from the sub box.

As well, when possible clearing the puck, one might prefer to swim to the sub-box side. That way your teammats are all clsoer to get fresh subs in shile its stalled on the wall, then you can pop up into the sub box right from teh bottom.

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An aquifer is a water bearing layer of rock or soil. Aquifers are separated by impermeable layers of rock or clay called an aquitard. Aquitard, however may sound a bit offensive to some, and therefore we will be changing the name to Aquachallenge.

i'd be more flattered lena, if they thought you were more intelligent than the other teams!

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it's more polite on the grating than on the subs bench