The 2-3-1 crease slide gives your defense a simple plan for protecting the middle of the field.

In this setup, the defender in the crease is the hot slide, or first slide. The two slide comes from the opposite side of the field, while the three slide comes from the opposite adjacent defender.

The key is communication and being ready before the slide happens.

The Hot Slide

In the 2-3-1 formation, the defender in the crease is the hot slide.

That means this defender is responsible for making the first slide when the ball carrier beats their defender.

The job is simple:

Be ready to help the ball carrier's defender immediately.

As the ball moves, the crease defender needs to stay ready to slide.

Where Does the Two Slide Come From?

This is the important part of the 2-3-1 crease slide.

Because there is only one defender in the crease, the two slide cannot come from another crease defender.

Instead, the two slide comes from the opposite side of the field.

The training setup uses four corners of the crease area, labeled W, X, Y, and Z.

Find the corner closest to the ball carrier.

Then look at the corner directly across from it.

The defender in that opposite corner becomes the two slide.

The Two Slide Must Protect the Crease

When the hot slide leaves the crease, the two slide needs to be ready.

Why?

Because the offensive player on the crease may suddenly be open.

If the two slide is late, the offense can make an easy pass to the crease and get a quick shot.

So before the hot slide even happens, the two slide should already be watching the crease player.

When the ball is passed, the two slide moves in close to the crease player and helps protect the middle.

Stay Aware of Your Own Player

The two slide has two jobs.

They need to protect the crease while still watching their own player.

This means you cannot completely forget about your assignment.

Keep your eyes on both.

If the ball moves across the crease, you should have enough time to recover to your player as long as you are paying attention.

The X Defender Is Usually Not the Two Slide

One important detail from this system:

If you are defending the player at X, you will almost never be the two slide.

The two slide normally comes from one of the top corners of the defensive setup.

So if you're playing X, focus on your normal defensive job.

If you're playing one of the top corners, pay close attention because you may become the two slide.

Protect the Crease Player

When you become the two slide, your first job is to make the crease pass difficult.

Get in front of the offensive player.

Keep your stick in the passing lane.

If the pass comes quickly, be ready to challenge the catch.

You don't want the crease player to catch the ball and immediately shoot.

The Three Slide

The three slide follows a different rule.

It comes from the opposite adjacent defender.

For example, if the ball carrier beats defender A on A's left side, defender B becomes the three slide.

If the ball carrier beats A on the other side, defender C becomes the three slide.

The important thing is to know which side the ball carrier is attacking from.

Force the Ball Down

The defense should try to keep the ball carrier away from the top side.

Instead, force them down and away from the goal.

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

But defenders still need to prepare for the worst-case situation.

If the ball carrier gets through, everyone needs to know who becomes the next slide.

The Recovery

After the slide, the defense needs to recover quickly.

Make your calls.

Move back into position.

Protect the middle.

If a defender gets beaten, the rest of the defense needs to adjust instead of standing still.

The goal is to sink into the paint and protect the area around the goal until everyone can recover.

The 1, 2, and 3 Slides

The basic order is:

1. Hot Slide: The crease defender makes the first slide.

2. Two Slide: The opposite defender protects the crease and helps after the first slide.

3. Three Slide: The opposite adjacent defender becomes the next helper if needed.

Everyone needs to know their role before the ball moves.