Contact Help center
Hockey Hockey
HOME Hockey Answers Hockey COACHING Q&A

Thinking about switching to a zone defense in the circle.?

Thinking about switching to a zone defense in the circle.?

Thinking about switching to a zone defense in the circle. We play man to man now and marking seems to be a problem. Any thoughts on zone vs. man to man and any tips for teaching zone defense?

Renee M ToliverCoach, United States of America
ANSWERS
Hockey CoachCoach

man to man or body on body is the best in circle - if your players keep their opponent in the least dangerous position relative to ball. what helps man to man is a sweeper guarding the danger spot, rather than mark up - maybe experiment with this, regards Bruce

Login or Join Now for FREE to post your answer

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1000+ hockey drills
  • create your own professional coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested plans
STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_hockey
LATEST COACHING TRENDS
Scanning and Spatial Awareness: Teaching Players to See the Game

Scanning and Spatial Awareness: Teaching Players to See the Game

The best hockey players in the world do not just react faster; they scan more frequently and process information before the ball arrives. This article explores the science behind scanning, how to coach spatial awareness as a habit, and practical drills that force players to lift their heads and read the game.

April 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
Attacking Circle Entries: Creating Shooting Opportunities in the D

Attacking Circle Entries: Creating Shooting Opportunities in the D

In hockey, you can only score from inside the circle. Getting the ball into the D with purpose and creating genuine shooting chances is the hardest part of attack. This article examines the different types of circle entry, why entry angle determines shot quality, and how to train your team to penetrate the most congested area on the pitch.

April 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
Pressing Triggers: Teaching Your Team When to Hunt the Ball

Pressing Triggers: Teaching Your Team When to Hunt the Ball

The best teams don't just press - they press at the right moment. Here's how to train your players to read the cues.

March 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
VIEW ALL COACHING TRENDS

View more questions

TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM'S SEASON WITH PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED SESSIONS

Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.

JOIN NOW

VIEW MORE QUESTIONS

See the whole archive of questions.

QUESTIONS ARCHIVE

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1000+ hockey drills
  • create professional hockey coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested hockey plans

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

SPORTPLAN USES COOKIES

Sportspeople like cookies too! By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More info

Privacy Policy
We are committed to privacy and support current industry initiatives to preserve individual privacy rights on the Internet. Protecting your privacy on-line is an evolving area and this website will constantly evolve to meet these demands.


Cookies
Some of our web pages utilise "cookies". A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, forexample, to collect information about web site activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recallPersonal Information previously indicated by a web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, includingwhether or not to accept them and how to remove them.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of our website, if you choose to block them some aspects of the site may not work for you. Non necessary cookies are only set when you have given your explicit consent to their use. Such cookies included those set by our statistics package Google Analytics.

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.

More info
Hockey POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
block tackle channelling defence drills drag flick dribbling dribbling drills fitness goalie drills half court press hitting hitting drills hockey indian dribble indoor long corner netball outletting passing passing drills penalty corner posting up press push pass shooting short corner short corners slap hit tackling warm up warm up drills
YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the worlds largest hockey coaching resource for 1000+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT