Back check at full speed until you have someone covered when coming back to your zone. Back checking at full speed is simply the complement of attacking at full speed. Don't be a one direction hockey player.

When back checking, pick up the most open man without the puck. If the puck is in your area, it may well be appropriate to go after the puck carrier. However, the players without the puck are often the most dangerous. Often it is most effective to let the defenseman take the puck carrier and to take away passes by covering the other open forward.

Put out a full and honest effort on each shift, and then get off the ice. Maximum effort and short shifts have proven to be the most desirable at all levels of hockey.

Push the puck in the offensive zone or get a whistle when you or anyone on your line is tired. A tired line is most vulnerable - it is seldom productive to play tired. It's always more desirable to take a whistle in the defensive zone than to defend it without legs.

Always attack with the puck. Don't make it easy for the other team to catch you from behind. A pressured attack is much harder for a defenseman to cover and results in more 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 situations.

Move the puck up ice with passes to line mates ahead that are open, and then move quickly to join the rush. Don't force passes to covered line mates ahead. Skating the puck up the ice is the slowest alternative.

Get into the habit of shooting when in the slot area unless an obvious pass is available. It is seldom productive to stickhandle further once in the slot, unless to gain a better angle on the goaltender or let line mates move in for rebounding. Extra passes look good but often take away scoring chances. The key offensive strategy of hockey is to get shots from the slot. When they are available, they should be taken.

Always use a wrist or snap shot when shooting from the slot. Quickness and accuracy score from the shot; slap shots do not provide either.

Move away from the net when a teammate has the puck behind the opposition goal line or wide and deep on the boards, and move toward the net when your defense or high forward has the puck in a shooting position. It is easier to remember to "move out when the puck is inside and move in when the puck is outside." The tendency is to move up close to the net when a teammate has the puck in the corner or behind the net. However, up close is where most of the congestion and close coverage is. A high slot position will result in more opportunities for clear shots. When a defenseman is in shooting position, on the other hand, moving to the net creates the best screening of the goaltender and also puts players around the net for rebounds. There are some details to be worked out by individual coaches, but the basic concept is important.

Take specific care not to go offside when attacking in advantage situations (i.e. 2-on-1, 3-on2). While it is seldom good to be offside, it is critical to complete a 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 situation as many times as possible each game. It is best to be conservative going over the blue line in these situations.

When throwing the puck into the zone, shoot it to the opposite corner or off the end board when it will come out at a difficult angle for both the goaltender and defenseman to handle. Shooting the puck at the goaltender or around the boards gives control to the opposing goaltender - who can easily feed a defenseman or wing.

Don't tie up with an opposing player when your team is shorthanded. The odds of scoring get better as fewer players are involved in a power play situation (i.e. 4-on-3 is better that 5-on-4).

Don't retaliate from checks or infractions, whether legal or not. Part of the forward's job is to take checks and keep playing. Retaliation often results in a penalty, and referees often miss the initial infraction.

Communicate with your line mates and other teammates. It is one of the most important parts of teamwork. Don't ever communicate with opposing players - it seldom is of value and exposes your emotions.

Constantly practice your weakest skills. Get away from the habit of just shooting when you have free time in practice. Other skills are more important. If you do shoot, practice while moving.

Get as much time as possible to practice stick handling and other individual skills as well as scoring skills. Learn to be a good all around player - defensively as well as offensively.