ADM Kids

"Invasion sports" are team games in which the purpose is to invade the opponent’s territory while scoring points and keeping the opposing team's points to a minimum, and all within a defined time period. Hockey falls into this category. Research shows that strategies, tactics and patterns of play have the potential to transfer between these invasion sports. Playing some of these other invasion sports in the offseason can help a player better understand basic concepts of offensive and defensive play when they return to ice hockey.

Some examples of invasion sports include:

• Floorball
• Rugby
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Hockey
• Ringette
• Bandy
• Handball
• Field Hockey

Strategies Common to All Invasion Sports

Offense

• Maintain possession
• Avoid defensive players
• Create space for teammates
• Create space for yourself
• Attack the goal

Defense

• Defend the goal
• Defend space
• Gain possession
• Defensive positioning
• Defensive area coverage
• Predicting opponent's movement

Common Tactics

• To create space while invading your opponent’s territory.
• To contain space while the opposition is invading your territory.
• To use a net, goal or target for scoring purposes.