You play the middle. Go to the puck. Keep the attack moving — pass to the wings, drop on drives, or link with the wing backs when the play needs to shift.
For the center forward’s area and spacing, see Forwards in the 3-3.
Offense
With the puck
- Pass to whoever has the better shot. If no pass, shoot.
- Stay between the wing forwards — don’t swim outside them.
- Look forward to a wing first. If that’s closed, look flat to a wing back.
- You can pass to wing forwards or wing backs. Don’t pass to the swing back.
- Short passes only — more than about six feet, keep the puck.
- Don’t leave the puck without a play: pass or leave it for a back in support.
- On the wall: move the puck to a forward and get off the wall.
- If you lose the puck, lose it in the middle.
Without the puck
- Surface toward the direction of play.
- After passing to a wing forward, surface forward and chase.
- After passing to a wing back, surface with the play. If you left the puck for the back on your side, surface in front of them.
- If you lose the puck backward, surface backward to stay close.
Supporting a teammate
- Back behind you: get ahead of the puck, in the middle, within passing distance.
- Back in front of you: get in front of them.
- Swing back with the puck: be ready for the pass.
Defense
- Own the middle and the opponent’s backfield.
- Sit just behind the play. When your backs free the puck, you’re there to pick it up.
- Let the wings control the wall and funnel play to you.
- Don’t collapse to the wall — you’ll block your wing forward or wing back.
- Wings will drive defenders to you. Be ready.
- Nobody goes down the middle without a challenge from you.
- Puck behind you (toward the goal you’re defending): backpick from the middle. Break up their stack. Don’t let them stack behind the puck carrier.
- Don’t gamble on steals and open the middle. Stay home.
Quick reference
- Go to the puck. Distribute from the middle.
- Pass to the open player. Don’t pass to the swing.
- Stay between the wings. Short passes.
- On defense: control the middle, don’t collapse to the wall.