Crease Play:
The crease attack position should be the highest scoring player on any team. It is a specialist position and also a vital one. You don’t have to be the biggest or fastest player on the field but you probably have to be one of the toughest.
Every second of play, where the ball is in the attacking half, the crease player should be working to get himself and other players open, in a scoring position.
So how and what does he have to do?
There are two main situations that a crease player has to be able to deal with
1) Single Crease man (2-3-1, 3-1-2, 1-3-2)
2) Double Crease man (2-2-2, 1-4-1)
Single Crease Play
The crease defender is usually the first slide in most defensive schemes, so the crease player has to ensure that the Slide is as long as possible, to give the dodger time to make a pass. He also has the responsibility to get open for a feed when the slide defender leaves him. This is done by following the defender who is sliding but getting into a passing lane (Slightly to left or right) so a feed can be made.
Cutting and Picks
The crease attackman should look to make his defenders job as hard as possible, everytime the defender looks away from him to see the ball he should move to try get open.
The crease player is also responsible for setting Picks for Cutters or Dodgers on the perimeter. Once a cutter has gone past the Pick the Creaseman must Roll keeping his eye on the ball and read and react to the position of the cutter. He should move into a space giving the feeder two targets to feed to.
e.g. If the Cutter goes right Creaseman should go left (& vice versa) and if the cutter goes low the creaseman should go high (& vice versa).
If the feed is not made then the cutter should fill a position on the perimeter (Cut & Fill) and the Creaseman should return to the crease ready for the next Cut & Pick.
Garbage Man
The crease player is also the first line of defense after a shot or a save is made. When a shot is taken on goal the crease man should always follow it up in case there is a rebound or the shot is blocked.
It’s important the creaseman has good reflexes and is sharp on Ground Balls (GBs) as there will be opportunities for cheap goals every game if he can get to GBs first.

Riding
If a clean save is made by the Goalie it is the creaseman’s job to stop the quick outlet pass to a breaking opponent. He should stand on the edge of the crease with his stick held up verticvally to block any pass made by the goalie. This will give our midfield time to get back and set up our defence and also to substitute a Long Stick Midfielder (LSM) if necessary.
Fastbreaks
The creaseman becomes a post attackman on Fastbreaks on either left or right post and as such he is also responsible for backing up shots for the opposite side of goal, i.e. if he is on right post he must back up any shots from the left hand side of the goal.

Double Crease: (2-2-2, 1-4-1)
When there is a Double Crease it is twice as important that both crease players work together to be effective otherwise they become easy to cover and actually put the Offense at a disadvantage as two attackers can be marked by one man.
So what does Work Together mean?
Both players must mirror the ball in order to make the slide defenders have a longer distance to slide.
i.e. if the ball is behind goal then both crease players should be on a high crease (8-10 yards above the goal.
If the ball is on the Top left of the goal then both players should be low and to the right of the goal.
The important part is when a pass is made and ball is relocated on the perimeter.
Whichever Crease player is closer to the ball cuts to the crease player furthest from the ball and sets a Pick for Him.
The 2nd crease man now cuts to the ball off the Pick and the Pick man (1st creaseman) Rolls of the Pick and cuts to open space, i.e. opposite to the cutter, thereby giving the feeder two targets to feed to.
Everytime a pass is made the 2 creasemen should repeat this movement, ,man nearest the ball sets a Pick for the man furthest from the ball.
This will make both crease defenders have to communicate and make decisions every time, all in needs is one mistake by the defenders and a creaseman will be open inside.
The other advantage is that both defenders will be occupied defending the Pick & Roll and so will find it harder to cover dodgers which is their main role.

Finishing Inside:
The crease player will shoot on goal from within 5 yards and will not have much time to take a shot as the defense will be looking to recover anytime he gets the ball.
Because of this, the crease player should always
- have his head up looking for a pass
- Have his stick up in the ready position
- Be on his toes ready to make a quick cut
- Have his stick to the outside away from the defenders
- Release a quick shot rather than a powerful shot
- Change plains on the shot each time High-to-Low etc
- Use deception, look high shoot low
- Use hands and wrists to flick a shot don’t need arms & shoulders.
- If there is time throw one fake then shoot in opposite corner

If you have any Questions please ask.