INTERMEDIATE SET PLAYS

9A. Double - "Up-Picks"

• The crease players start tight to the crease and the shooters start wide; near the mid-boards.  Once all players are in position, the point player passes to the strong-side shooter and cuts the middle. 

• This pass "triggers" the on-ball crease player to leave for an east-west up-pick at their respective shooter positions; with the off-ball picker leaving one second later and doing the same thing; the point player circles around the net to the crease position during this time.  Both shooters will have to engage, coming off of the mid-boards towards the prime scoring area as the picks are coming (ideally one after the other).

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  The strong-side shooter comes overtop of their pick for a shot (Option #1), swing passes to the weak-side shooter coming overtop of the off-ball pick a second later - timing - (Option #2), with the strong-side picker now possibly open rolling to the net (Option #3).  

  If none of these options are open, the weak-side picker may also be open rolling to the net (Option #5), as may be the point player who is now at the crease position and looking for a quick stick (Option #4). 

  Note:  Several swing passes may also be used prior to initiating this play, ideally leaving two players open at each shooter position, as a result of two well executed picks.

  VARIATION

  • Variation:  This play can also be run with the point player passing to the weak-side shooter first instead of the strong-side; in which case the point player cycles directly to the strong-side crease position, becoming Option #2 as a back door quick stick option; while Option #3 is the strong-side shooter and Option #4 is the weak-side "roller."

• Note:  This is a common set-play within the Mid-Board Cycle offensive system, commonly referred to as a "stall" in terms of a play name. 

9B. Double - "Up & Down Pick" 

• The point player passes to the strong-side shooter and then cuts the middle; the strong-side shooter passes to the weak-side shooter, who passes to the weak-side crease player. 

• Once the point player gets to the top of the crease, the strong-side crease player leaves for an east-west up pick at the shooter position and the weak-side shooter leaves for a down pick at the weak-side crease position, while the point player goes around the net. 

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  • The weak-side crease player runs up to the mid-board soft spot and passes to the strong-side shooter coming overtop of the pick (Option #1), the strong-side crease player who rolls to the net (Option #2), or to the point player who is now left at the vacant crease on the strong-side (Option #3).