Substitution box: the area on the side between the two teams.  This is where substitutions need to take place for players running on and off the field.

Faceoff X: the X on the midfield line where the faceoff takes place

Faceoff Wings: the two lines that run parallel to the sideline  that are between the restraining lines.  This is one player from each team will line up and battle for the ensuing faceoff.  The offensive wing is to the left of our faceoff man and the defensive wing is to the right.  We’ll adjust our positioning on the wings based on the face-off match up.

Restraining Box: An area that surrounds the goal that is outlined on the field and represents the offensive zone for the offensive team.

The Alley: An unmarked area on the field that runs parallel to the sideline and is inside the restraining box and is typically where midfields dodge.  You’ll hear the term “alley dodge.” An alley dodge is typically done to cause a slide from the defense and get them out of position.  On defense, this is the area where we want to keep offensive players because it’s outside the middle of the field.  You’ll hear us say “keep them in the alley” when we’re on defense because we don’t even want to surrender the middle of the field.

Goal Line Extended: Usually referred to as “GLE” – the unmarked line that runs parallel to the face of the goal.

The Hole: the unmarked area directly in front of the goal that is roughly 5 yards wide and 8 feet long, extended from GLE.  We always want to ensure that we are protecting this area on defense.  In an unsettled situation or ground ball situation, we should yell a kid’s name and for them to “protect the hole” which should signal to that player to stand 3 yards in front of the goalie and act as an extra layer of defense.  When we lose position to a good offensive team, we also want our midfielders to spring to the hole and then matchup with the other team from the inside out so we protect against any cheap goals.

Ball Down: when the ball hits the ground

The Crease: the area surrounding the goal that is marked.  Offensive players cannot run through the crease, defensive players can run through it while on defense, but not while clearing the ball.

Clears: When we gain possession of the ball in our defensive end and attempt to move it to our offensive end.  Each team should designate a “clearing middie” on each midfield line who we want to carry the ball up the field.  When clearing, we want to carry the ball towards the middle of the field, not up the sidelines.  We also want to make passes towards the sidelines and not the middle of the field.  This way, if the pass is incomplete, we have a settled defensive possession instead of an unsettled one.

Defensive position: A player needs to bend at the knees and keep a low center of gravity.  When engaging with the offensive player, the defensive player needs to keep his hands together on the stick when pushing on the offensive player.  If the hands are too far apart, this is a cross-check and a penalty will be called.

Riding: When we lose possession in our offensive end, we go into what is called a “ride.”  The primary riders are attackmen and their jobs are to check the other teams players to gain possession back.

Poke Check: When we’re on the defense, the poke check is always the first check we should throw.  The poke check is simply sliding the stick through the hands in a poking motion while aiming at the offensive player’s bottom hand or stomach.  This will elicit a move from the offensive player which we will react to.

V Cut: An off-ball move by an offensive player to try and get open.  The offensive player pushes into the defensive player and quickly breaks away (ideally towards the player with the ball).

 

Penalties

Loose Ball Push: this penalty occurs when a player is pushed from behind and neither team has possession (the ball is on the ground).  The team who was pushed receives possession when this foul occurs.

Push with Possession: this penalty occurs when a player is pushed from behind and they have possession of the ball.

Cross Check: this penalty occurs when a defensive player is playing defense on the ball and uses the shaft of his stick to push on the offensive player.  A defensive player must use his hands (while holding his stick) to push on an offensive player.

Hold: when a defensive player holds the offensive player with his stick and restricts his movement for more than a second or two

Warding: when an offensive player raises his arms or hands to push the defensive player out of the way

 

Coaching Phrases

Yellow: is what our coaches will yell when we are on offense and we want to settle the ball to maintain possession and have the boys get into position for an offensive set.

Hands to Hips: This is a phrase meant to remind the defensive player to attack the gloves of the offensive players and when the two players are close enough, to push on the offensive players hips to drive them out of position.

Turn him: a phrase we will use when we are the riding team and we want our players to make the player with the ball turn his back to try and force a double team and regain possession.

Good time: we will say this to a player when we have possession of the ball and we believe it’s a good time to dodge to the goal to either shoot or create a slide and pass

Wheels/Leg It: this when we want the player with the ball to run up the field into our offensive zone.  We usually yell this when we are clearing the ball.

Spin it/Move it: this is when we are on offense and we want the boys to move the ball around to tire out the defense and maintain possession.

Clear Through: we will say this when we want the players directly in front of the player with the ball to move out of the way by cutting through the offensive zone to take his defensive player out of the way of the player with the ball.

<Name> You’re hot or You’re go: this is a defensive slide term we’ll begin introducing the kids when they get into the 3/4 grade level.  This means that the designated player is responsible for sliding to the ball in the event the on-ball defender is beat.

***DO NOT YELL “YOU’RE HOT” TO YOUR SON WHEN HE HAS THE BALL – this confuses him and disrupts what we are trying to coach to the boys***

Stay upfield: a defensive term that we’ll say when instructing the defensive player to try and keep the