BEGINNER SHORT HANDED

• The triangle can be played with two defenders high and one defender low (2 up, 1 back - top diagram), vice-versa, or a mixture of both (Rotating Triangle).  

• Playing two defenders up high invites the crease players to shoot, and two defenders low (1 up, 2 back - bottom diagram) invites the shooters to shoot.  In both scenarios, the 2 low or 2 high defenders should have their sticks towards the boards.

• With two defenders low, the “low” defenders need to lock off the “crease players” off-ball, allowing the goalies to come out and challenge the shooters.  On-ball, the low defenders also need to be willing to stand in the shooting lanes and block shots; the high defender essentially plays an east-west 2-on-1, splitting between the two shooters.  This player should be a have quick feet and/or the best athleticism on the team, able to cover ground and change directions quickly.

• With two defenders high, the low defender must be able to deter quick sticks from one crease player to the other (“crease-to-crease”), while also playing “cat & mouse” and communicating with the goalie.  Positionally, they should be shading ("hedging") off-ball in the passing lane wherever possible.  This player needs to be your smartest player, ideally with good hands able to pick-off passes.

• A rotating triangle is a set-play for the defense, which allows them to cover both shooters and both crease players, using a series of slides executed on a “go” call.