“Close the Gate” teaches defenders to use positioning, body leverage, and communication to keep the ball carrier away from the middle. By protecting the gate and keeping defenders connected to the hole, the defense can force outside dodges and create shorter, more predictable slides.
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The basic idea is simple:
Keep the ball outside. Protect the middle. Make the offense work around the defense.
The “gate” represents the path the offense wants to use to get toward the middle of the field and the goal.
When a defender is playing the ball, their job is to position themselves between their man and the gate. The defender uses their body position and stick placement to prevent the ball carrier from crossing into that space.
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