The 2-2-2 crease slide gives your defense a clear plan when the ball carrier gets past their defender.

The key is knowing where the one, two, and three slides come from and communicating before the play happens.

The Hot Slide

In a 2-2-2 formation, the first slide comes from the crease.

Because there are two defenders in the crease, either one can become the hot slide.

So how do you know which defender slides?

Draw an imaginary line down the middle of the field.

If the ball carrier is on the left side, defender A is the hot slide.

If the ball carrier is on the right side, defender B becomes the hot slide.

This gives the defense a simple way to decide who goes first.

The Two Slide

The two slide also comes from the crease.

Once the hot slide is identified, the other crease defender becomes the two slide.

For example:

  • Ball is on the left

  • A is the hot slide

  • B is the two slide

If the ball moves to the other side, those jobs can switch.

The two slide needs to stay ready to help as soon as the hot slide goes.

Be Ready Before the Slide

The two slide should not wait until the first defender gets beaten.

They need to already be in a good position to help.

The defender should stay above their offensive player and be ready to move toward the crease.

This makes the slide faster and gives the defense a better chance to stop the ball before it gets to the middle.

The Three Slide

Now we get to one of the most important rules:

The three slide comes from the opposite adjacent.

"Adjacent" means next to the defender guarding the ball.

If the ball defender gets beaten, one defender is the direct adjacent and the defender on the other side is the opposite adjacent.

The opposite adjacent becomes the three slide.

How to Find the Opposite Adjacent

Imagine the ball defender is standing between two defenders.

One is on the side where the ball carrier gets around them.

That defender is the direct adjacent.

The defender on the other side is the opposite adjacent.

That opposite defender becomes the three slide.

Example

If the ball carrier beats defender E on E's right side:

  • D is the direct adjacent

  • C is the opposite adjacent

  • C becomes the three slide

If the ball carrier beats E on E's left side:

  • C is the direct adjacent

  • D is the opposite adjacent

  • D becomes the three slide

Communicate the Side

The defenders should communicate not only that they are the three slide, but also which side they are covering.

For example:

"Three left."

or

"Three right."

This tells everyone exactly where the next slide is coming from.

Clear communication prevents two defenders from making the same move.

Force the Ball Down

The ball defender should try not to get beaten toward the top side.

Instead, the goal is to force the ball carrier down and away from the goal.

This gives the defense a better angle and makes the slide easier.

But defenders should always be ready for the ball carrier to get through on either side.

Don't be surprised by the play.

Know the next slide before it happens.

The Slide Package

The basic 2-2-2 crease slide works like this:

1. Hot Slide:
The correct crease defender slides to the ball.

2. Two Slide:
The other crease defender moves into the next help position.

3. Three Slide:
The opposite adjacent defender slides to cover the next threat.

The defenders behind the slide also need to adjust and protect the open space.

Recovery

After the slide, the defender who got beaten has an important job.

They need to fill the space left by the three slide.

For example, if defender E gets beaten and C becomes the three slide, E needs to recover into C's original position.

The rule is simple:

If you get beaten, recover into the space created by the three slide.

Turn in the direction you were beaten and fill that open space.