Team Defense: Man Down 40 (Box & 1)
40: Level of Play
“40”(Box & 1) is a combination string and
man to man based defense. The SS will be
man to man on the crease offensive player
and the remaining 4 defenders play a
rotation string based defense
•Level of Play - 40(Box & 1)
40(Box & 1) vs 3-3
40: Set-up
This is a combination of 1 man to man and 4-
man zone rotation defense on a “string”
defense that relies on 1 man covering the
crease whilst four defenders moving in
unison in order to cover the perimeter. Each
player must rotate into a different zone for
which they are responsible.
•Set-up (40 Box & 1 vs 3-3)
40 Box & 1: Set-up
If two offensive players flood that zone then
an adjacent defender must slide over to help.
•Set-up (40 Box & 1 vs 3-3)
40 Box & 1: Set Up (Against the 3-3)
SS
M1/LP
D1
D2 D3
40 Box & 1: Execution
On-ball defenders cover their man hard but
not overly aggressive, trying to get a poke
check in as their man goes to throw a pass.
Crease defender is tight on the man in the
crease. Adjacent players are in the skip pass
lanes preventing these from occurring. The
two backside players are tight to the crease
ready to rotate on a pass…
•Execution (40 Box & 1 vs 3-3)
40 Box & 1: Execution Continued
If an offensive player carries the ball from one
zone to the next, then the original on-ball
defender must “pass” this player onto their
adjacent teammate and recover back to their
zone. If an offensive player cuts, then the
closest defender must go with the cutter until
they can “release them to their teammate”
and then recover back to their original zones.
•Execution (40 Box & 1 vs 3-3 Cont.)
40 Box & 1: Execution Continued
If the ball starts in the top middle of the 3-3,
then M1/LP plays the ball, trying to get a poke
check on the offensive player as they pass the
ball. D2 and D3 are responsible for adjacent
and the skip pass lanes to the low left and low
right offensive players. D1 must be ready to
rotate and converge on either of the skip
players if a pass is thrown.
•Execution (40 Box & 1 vs 3-3 Cont.)
40 Box & 1: Execution (vs 3-3)
M1/LP
D3SS
D2
D1
40: Set Up (Against the 3-3)
It’s imperative that the off ball players pinch to help and are ready to
rotate. Also, players must have their sticks up and in
the “skip” lanes at all times.
40 (Box & 1) vs 1-3-2
40 Box & 1: Set-up
This remains a combination of 1-man to man
and 4-man zone “string” rotation defense that
relies on 1 man covering the crease whilst four
defenders moving in unison in order to cover
the perimeter. The only difference against the
1-3-2 is that the base defenders must be
prepared to play the man at “X” when he rolls
around to push a side.
•Set-up (40 Box & 1 vs 1-3-2)
40 Box & 1: Set Up (vs 1-3-2)
SS
M1/LP
D1
D2
D3
40 Box & 1: Execution
When the ball is at “X” either D1 or D3 will
slide and play the ball, trying to get a poke
check on the offensive player as they pass the
ball. M1/LP and D2 are responsible for the
skip pass lanes to the top right and top left
offensive players. They also don’t want to
leave the wing players free because they are
more dangerous. SS is playing man to man on
the crease. M1/LP and D2 must be ready to
rotate into different zones and D3 must be in
position to play his zone or rotate to the top.
•Execution (40 Box & 1 vs 1-3-2)
40 Box & 1: Set Up (vs 1-3-2)
SS
M1/LP
D1
D2
D3
40 Box & 1: Set Up (vs 1-3-2)
40 Box & 1: Final Thoughts
Man – Down “40” (Box & 1) shuts off the man
in the crease with the remaining 4 men in a
rotation. The keys to this defense, like any
defense, are staying tight, giving up outside
shots, communication and practice. Man-
down units must remember to keep their
sticks up in skip lanes. Besides the man with
the ball, the man in the crease is the next
most dangerous man on the field. All “away
from ball” players must pinch in and be ready
to rotate and provide slide support and help.
• 40 Box & 1: Final Thoughts
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