03-Dec-2008, 03:32 PM
Practicing defence is difficult to do outside of a game setting, or without someone constantly shooting on you.
Try different movement speeds, different positions of men (standard vs reverse, big holes vs small holes). Pay attention to when your 2-bar switches over to the other man, or when it crosses over your goalie rod.
Always be aware of which hole(s) you're leaving open, so that you can close it down at a moment's notice. This also makes sure that you feel like you're in control of what's happening - even if the forward scores, they should only score where you are making them score. This is a huge psychological thing. And when they do score, don't be disappointed - use that opportunity to take note of where they shot, whether it was at your men or at the hole, what position your men were in, whether they shot when you were moving or when you weren't, how long it takes them to see, register and shoot at a hole, and what man they were shooting next to (the 2-bar figure or the goalie figure...some people have psychological/mechanical issues with shooting around one or the other). Take every goal as a lesson opportunity, and not a frustrating let-down. This is not a complete list. Talk to me tonight and I'll see if I can illustrate some stuff/show you more.
Try different movement speeds, different positions of men (standard vs reverse, big holes vs small holes). Pay attention to when your 2-bar switches over to the other man, or when it crosses over your goalie rod.
Always be aware of which hole(s) you're leaving open, so that you can close it down at a moment's notice. This also makes sure that you feel like you're in control of what's happening - even if the forward scores, they should only score where you are making them score. This is a huge psychological thing. And when they do score, don't be disappointed - use that opportunity to take note of where they shot, whether it was at your men or at the hole, what position your men were in, whether they shot when you were moving or when you weren't, how long it takes them to see, register and shoot at a hole, and what man they were shooting next to (the 2-bar figure or the goalie figure...some people have psychological/mechanical issues with shooting around one or the other). Take every goal as a lesson opportunity, and not a frustrating let-down. This is not a complete list. Talk to me tonight and I'll see if I can illustrate some stuff/show you more.