Defending Skills
The jab tackle
The jab can be used as a form of delay either to dispossess a player with the ball if the ball is away from the stick or to tempt the player to take their eyes off the ball and possibly lose possession.
- The stick jabs out towards the ball with the left hand and then returns to both hands.
- After the jab the defender returns to the original balanced position.
- The grip on the stick will change slightly, the hands turn, usually palms upwards.
Open side block tackle
Throw the jab, encourage the opponent to “get there head down,” and then put pressure on them to lose the ball. The strongest side to take the ball from is when the defender can tackle on the open side.
- Strong low body position and balanced ready to move
- Left foot forward, right foot back
- Stick on the ground or ‘hovering’ slightly above the ground
- Position of feet and stick make a strong triangle shaped base
- Tackle must be positive and strong with feet balanced
- Stick face angled towards the ball
- The tackle should be timed at the right moment (as ball momentarily leaves attackers stick) initiated by a jab to put player off or as player looses control.
- The defender’s stick should not be flat on the ground as this is a safety issue. The defender could be injured by the attacker as the head is down too low and the attacker could take advantage of this over commitment by using a low lift. Flat stick only when attacker stationary or moving very slowly
