Defense Drill #6A: 4 Corner Checking (“Top-Side Defense”)
- Demo (1 min): Top-Side Defense
- Arrange players in one or both ends of the floor depending on numbers. Have them stationed on their proper floor side, crease and shooter positions. A 5th line may also be added at the point position, if desired.
*Variation #1 (15 min): "1 Corner At A Time." Have one volunteer, or appointed player from each line, start on defense. Coaches can have players turn their "sticks upside-down" the first few reps (Variation #1A - 5 min) to promote staying balanced and in position (no "stick-swinging"); advancing to holding sticks normally and discussing the role of stick-checking (Variation #1B - 5 min), regressing to the offender carrying the ball in their bare hand or holding no ball at all, where helpful (Variation #1C - 5 min).
Each time the coach blows the whistle a different one of the "4 corners" takes a turn playing 1 vs. 1, working either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the horn. After a player plays offense, they then move into the defensive position the next time around; eventually exiting the drill and joining the opposite line on their proper floor side.
The offender’s task is to protect the ball and get to the net for a quality shot from their proper floor side (5 seconds max); in Variation #1C ("no ball") it is to get into the crease in under 5 seconds. Offenders should use “rolls,” “jukes,” “swims,” “bull rushes,” “stutter steps,” “toe drags,” “fake shots,” or any other one-on-one move they can imagine, to try and get around the defender.
*Variation #2 (15 min): "All 4 Corners." Have one volunteer, or appointed player, start in the middle of the defensive zone ready to play defense. This player then goes sequentially from corner to corner, eventually playing 1-on-1 defense against an offender from each respective corner.
Offensive players do not take their turn until the defender is in position, starting once the defender touches the offenders’ gloves with their stick (etiquette).
Coaches can have players turn their "sticks upside-down" the first couple of reps (Variation #2A) to promote staying balanced and in position, advancing to holding sticks normally and discussing the role stick-checking (Variation #2B).
The defender is finished with a corner when the play is done, at the coach’s discretion (whistle). Offenders should alternate between the shooter and crease lines each time through the drill. Continue until every player has had a turn on defense.
Variation #3 (15 min): "Game To 7." To add competition, play a game of lefty’s versus righty’s up to 7 goals (lefty's playing defense against the righty's and vice-versa), with the losing team doing push-ups, sit-ups, planks, body weight squats, sprints, etc. Furthermore, coaches can make it so 2 goals can be tallied on "bounce shots" if they feel like that particular skill is worthy of emphasis.
*The defender has done their job if they force the offender to take a shot from their wrong floor side, or otherwise don't allow the offender to get a quality shot

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