You play the left or right outside back.
In the Seven formation, the strong-side back (puck side) is usually on the bottom. Same job either way: hold your side and don’t get beat to the outside.
Your partner is the wing forward on your side.
For how the backs line up and cycle, see Backs in the 3-3.
Offense
With the puck
- Pass early to your wing forward or the center forward.
- Swim straight or toward your side. Don’t cross the formation.
- Help is in front of you or toward the middle.
- Losing the puck? Force it to the center forward.
- On your wall: swim up the wall or pass off the wall.
- Don’t pass to the swing back.
- Puck in your wall channel: play tight to the wall. If it comes back from the forwards, pass up to the forward, carry up the wall, or hit the center forward at 45°. If you pass to the center forward, chase until the play clears to the other wing.
Without the puck
- Surface backwards.
Supporting a teammate
- Wing forward behind you: surface backwards.
- Wing forward in front of you: trail behind them. Expect a drop-back.
- Center forward with the puck: ready on your side, 5–6 feet away and 5–6 feet back.
- Swing with the puck, and you’re inside: ready 5–6 feet away, 1–2 feet in front.
- Swing with the puck, and you’re openside: support the pass to the forward in front of you.
Defense
- Hold the outside. Don’t get beat wide.
- Don’t let play go down your wall.
- Funnel opposing forwards to the center forward.
- Attack from outside in — unless the puck is right in front of your goal (then all backs go to the corner; positions don’t matter).
- Puck lost in front of you: chase from your side.
- Can’t control it? Force to the center forward or the wall, then surface backwards.
- Openside back when the swing forces play your way: attack hard — you’re the inside back now.
Quick reference
- Surface backwards when you’re not on the puck.
- Pass early to forward or center forward. Don’t pass to the swing.
- Stay on your side. Don’t swim lateral off the wall.
- Contain the outside. Play tight in your wall channel.