Hockey system · by BenchIQ
1-2-2 Forecheck
A structured containment system that sends one forward in and keeps four players above the puck. F1 pressures the carrier and steers him toward one wall without fully committing. F2 and F3 form a layer across the top of the zone — the strongside forward sits on the wall lane, the weakside forward covers the middle. The defensemen hold the blue line behind them. Rather than winning the puck deep, the goal is to force a predictable breakout to one side and take the puck at the wall or in the neutral zone.
The full breakdown is in the BenchIQ library
Every step diagrammed and animated, with coaching points — plus hundreds more drills and systems you can copy, edit and build into practice plans.
Coaching points
- F1 contains but doesn't commit all the way to wall.
- F1 job is to remove one side of the ice.
- If F1 over-pursues and gets beat, the layer behind F1 is defending a 5-on-4 in transition.
- Everyone shifts to F1's side.
- The whole structure slides with the pressure.
- Strongside F2 owns the wall.
- Don't commit too soon, to make the outlet look available (think contain).
- F2 reads to pressure on the outlet pass.
- Stays above their Winger.
- Weakside F3 protects the middle.
- The whole system dies if the puck gets to the middle of the ice.
- The whole system dies if the puck gets to the middle of the ice.
- D stay patient and hold the line. Fewer pinches than a 2-1-2. Their job is to defend the stretch pass and keep the play in front.
- Sell patience to your team. Players will want to chase. The turnover comes later and further from the net.
- This is a containment and trap forecheck to preserve a lead or defend against a strong defensively skilled breakout team.
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