What is a system in hockey?
David Perry
Updated on July 11, 2026
A hockey system is a set of tactics that define how a team plays. It can be set plays or a style that determines what a player's duties are at any given point in the game.
What are the different hockey systems?
The three most common systems are the strong-side overload, zone coverage/box+1 and man-on-man coverage. Unlike other aspects of a hockey system, defensive zone strategies are not really implemented in a “one size fits all” approach anymore.
What are the 3 types of hockey?
Air hockey is played indoors with a puck on an air-cushion table. Beach hockey, a variation of street hockey, is a common sight on Southern California beaches. Ball hockey is played in a gym using sticks and a ball, often a tennis ball with the felt removed. Box hockey is a schoolyard game played by two people.
How many forechecking systems are there?
That's why today's post is a lesson in hockey systems, specifically forechecking. There are five forechecking strategies NHL coaches will generally employ. The most conservative forecheck is the 1-4, also known as the trap.
How does the hockey point system work?
Teams earn 3 points for regulation wins, 2 points for overtime wins, 1 point for overtime losses, and 0 points for regulation losses. There are no ties. Here there are points for overtime losses, but this is balanced by awarding an extra point for winning in regulation.
19 related questions foundWhat does GF mean in NHL standings?
GF – Goals for – Number of goals the team has scored. GA – Goals against – Number of goals scored against the team.
What is GF in hockey?
From NHL.com, this is the Western Conference teams ranked by points. GF=Goals For. GA=Goals Allowed.
What are 4 goals in hockey called?
Scoring four goals in a hockey game is much less common than a hat trick. If a player scores four goals in a single game, it is sometimes referred to as a "Texas hat trick." This term is less commonly used than a hat trick, and its origins are uncertain.
What is forechecking and backchecking?
The main difference between a forecheck and a backcheck is the location of the players on the ice at the time. Forechecking occurs in the defensive zone of the player carrying the puck, while backchecking occurs in a transitional space, as the player with the puck moves towards their offensive zone.
Why is hockey called hockey?
The name hockey likely comes from the French word hoquet, which is a curved shepherd's hook. A french ball and stick field game called 'hoque' would be brought to England, where it would sometimes be played on ice.
What is Masters hockey?
Masters Hockey is the format of hockey where players play in age group sides from over 35's right through to the over 80's. There are a variety of ways to get involved in Masters hockey as a player, depending on your level and the amount of time you have to play. You can find out more in the sections below.
What country invented ice hockey?
Its true origins are murky. But Canada, beginning in the 19th century, gets credit for modernizing—and popularizing—the game we know today. The origins of ice hockey may date to stick-and-ball games played during the Middle Ages or even ancient Greece and Egypt.
What are the 11 positions in hockey?
Parents Guide to Field Hockey: Knowing the Positions
- Forwards: You can find forwards in between midfield and the opponent's goalie. ...
- Midfielders: Midfielders, also known as halfbacks, must be able to play both defense and offense as they are considered to be multi-taskers on the turf. ...
- Fullbacks: ...
- Sweeper: ...
- Goalie:
What is wheel in hockey?
To wheel is a term often used in the phrase "turn and wheel", meaning turn and go—either skating full force or to turn and fire a clapper. Wheelhouse is refering to when a player turns to fire a slapshot and the puck is perfectly positioned in comparison to the player's stance so he can fire a laser.
What does forechecking mean in hockey?
The forecheck is an ice hockey defensive play made in the offensive zone with the objective of applying pressure to the opposing team to regain control of the puck. It is a type of checking.
Is back checking illegal in hockey?
Illegal checking
Charging, hitting from behind and boarding are examples of illegal hits. "Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner.
What is the hardest position to play in hockey?
It is said that goalie is the most difficult position to play within Ice Hockey, and one of the hardest to play in any sport. The main objective for a goalie is to keep the puck out of the net, and with a great one, they can control the game and greatly influence their team's confidence.
What's a poke check?
Definition of poke check
: an act or instance of attempting to knock the puck away from an opponent in ice hockey by jabbing or thrusting at it with the stick.
What is the 7 hole in hockey?
'Six and Seven Hole': the six and seven holes are relatively new terms to identify the areas under either armpit of the goalie. Goaltenders who hold their trapper high or blocker further out to the side of their body are said to have six and seven holes.
Why is it called 5 hole in hockey?
According to Merriam-Webster, “The concept of the five-hole likely originated with Jacques Plante, NHL goalie and author of the 1972 book On Goaltending. Plante numbered five 'holes' in the net that goalies needed to protect: four at the corners of the net, and the hole between the goalie's legs.
What is the icing call in hockey?
Icing is when a player on his team's side of the red center line shoots the puck all the way down the ice and it crosses the red goal line at any point (other than the goal). Icing is not permitted when teams are at equal strength or on the power play.
What is Corsica hockey?
Corsica Hockey is a provider of statistics, predictions and betting resources for the informed hockey fan! Our predictions are generated by sophisticated machine learning algorithms fuelled by the most advanced statistics found anywhere.
What does row mean in hockey?
The points reward is the same-two points-but winning in overtime is considered a "better" win and is tallied in a column labeled "ROW," an acronym for "Regulation and Overtime Wins." When the regular season ends, it is not uncommon for two teams to finish with the same number of team points in the standings.
Why is hockey 3 periods?
Before 1910, they used to play 2 halves of 30 minutes each. But at the end of each half, the ice was so rutted and covered with snow that it slowed the game way down. So they changed it to 3 periods of 20 minutes each to give them a chance to clean the ice one more time. It also gave the players more time to rest.