Hockey 4-1 System / Set Up Russia

I wrote earlier about the Swedish 2-2-1 set up and quite aggressive forecheck, if you then look at the World Champions in hockey Russia, you find almost the opposite, very defensive 4-1 or V set up. When the forecheck is started they have almost a 2-2-1 set up, that is transferred to a wall or trap when they stop the attack from the opposite team. Not maybe fully transferrable to floorball, but I hope this post still will create some thoughts outside the box…

Russia 4-1 system, set up, tactic in Hockey / Floorball

Hockey Formation / System / Tactics

In the International Hockey Coaching Training, during the World Championships in Sweden, we also had the opportunity to listen to the Swedish National Hockey team coach, before each game.

Before the game against Russia, the team formation or system was discussed. Earlier Sweden have been playing 2-2-1 with defined or static roles, and with the mindset of putting pressure when the timing is correct. Since the statement “when timing is correct” can create confusion, he system has been changed, and the valuing part of “when it’s correct time” has been removed. Today Sweden play 2-2-1, but player 1 in top will always put pressure and the roles are flexible, the most offensive player will take the role of being P1 and the player that puts the pressure imediately, the other forwards will then adjust and take the two other roles P2 and P3.

Evgeny Malkin Russia, NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins against Sweden IIHF WC
Evgeny Malkin Russia (NHL Pittsburgh Penguins) vs. Henrik Zetterberg Sweden (NHL Detroit Red Wings)

 

Hockey set up / system 2-2-1, 1-2-2, 1-3-1 and 2-1-2

Hockey game systems and hockey set ups like 2-2-1, 1-2-2, 1-3-1 and 2-1-2 are basically only visible when the hockey team has lost the puck and changed from attack to defense, or are just changing from defense to attack, that will say in a fast counter attack in a hockey game.

I will add a few examples of the different hockey set ups, such as 2-2-1, 1-2-2, 1-3-1 and 2-1-2. The set ups can be played in many ways, for example, offensive, defensive, and right or the left-weighted.

Systems can also vary depending on the hockey team, coaches, players, their competence or skills level and their given roles, so for an example a 2-2-1 hockey set up found on this page does not need to be the same as how all hockey teams and coaches will play the 2-2-1 set up, these are just my examples.

Images are marked with green areas, the plan is to win the puck primary in that area. Red areas represent dangerous or game system / design / set up weaknesses.

I will also add various openings / break outs in hockey, or the small golden details which will help you break the different hockey systems, if you can’t wait you can purchase the drills 😉