Here's a summary of this chapter....
Special teams are a subset of a roller hockey team working together to accomplish a
specific task. A special team could be established and utilized specifically to win
face-offs in the defensive zone, to control the game during the last minute when your team
has a lead, or to play against opponents when the two teams are at equal but reduced
strength (such as in a 3-on-3 or 2-on-2 scenario). But most special teams focus on
situations when they have a player (or two) advantage or are a player (or two) short.
Use a power play unit to take advantage of the teams numerical superiority while the
opponent is serving a penalty. The power play consists of the following player scenarios:
4-on-3, 3-on-2, and 4-on-2. The objective of the power play unit is to use your additional
player(s) to move the puck into your offensive zone, maintain possession until a scoring
opportunity can be set up, and score.
Use a penalty killing unit to minimize the opponents numerical superiority and goal
scoring opportunities by using speed, quickness, discipline, and strategy. The penalty
kill consists of the following player scenarios: 3-on-4, 2-on-3, and 2-on-4. The objective
of the penalty killing unit is to keep the opponents to the outside of the slot, force
them to execute bad passes or poor percentage shots, eventually gain control of the puck,
and sometimes even score a goal.
Choosing the right players for your special teams is based on physical and mental factors
and the overall strategy. Physical factors include quickness, agility, skating,
stickhandling, and passing ability, top plus/minus players (refer to your game
statistics), and communication. Mental factors include excellent reading, anticipating,
and reacting ability, determination and desire to either put the puck into a good scoring
position or keep it away from one, and knowledge of special teams positioning. Roller
hockey special teams should not be made up of forwards or defensemen, but should emphasize
a teams' strengths through the right mix of skilled players to get the job done. Don't be
afraid to move players around to take advantage of their specific skills.
Ideally, your power play unit should include a good breakout player, a player with an
excellent shot, and two players who can screen the goaltender and be ready for a
deflection or rebound, as well as stickhandle and pass the puck in and around defenders.
All of these players need to be able to work well under pressure. Try to develop two power
play units because your first unit is not always going to be ready to go when the
opportunity arises. During practice sessions, you may want to mix players from the first
and second units together on occasion and note the interplay.
The penalty killing unit should include one of your fastest players who can forecheck and
backcheck and two additional defenders who are quick, can break up a pass, and have a
strong shot to get the puck out of the defensive zone. It is also important to have
players who are going to react coolly and effectively under pressure. As with the power
play, two penalty killing units should be developed so that they can be switched during a
penalty.