Man-on-Man Low Zone Coverage

Objective: Below the tops of the circles it's man-on-man: every defender owns a body, and no one gets lost on the cycle. Setup: Five defenders each matched to an attacker: D1 on the corner carrier, D2 fronting the net, C on the high slot, wingers on the points. Execution: On the puck going low, matchups lock: your man is your man through picks, exchanges and the cycle — you travel with him. D1 defends the carrier stick-on-puck, body between man and net; C never lets the slot man touch a puck facing the net. Trigger for a switch: a called pick where two attackers cross INSIDE ten feet — defenders call 'switch' early and exchange, never chase through. Coaching points: Use it when: opponents kill zone coverage with motion — man-on-man makes their motion irrelevant. What beats it: picks and speed differentials — a slow D locked on a fast forward is a mismatch; coaches must match assignments to feet. Sticks and eyes: see your man AND the puck; lose sight of either and you're beaten.