Glenn Clark of the Toronto Rock, shares his expertise on Short Man Defence.

There are a lot of different factors that come into play when trying to execute an effective short man. The first thing that the players need to consider is who do they want and not want to shoot the ball and from which position. It is very important that the players on the floor and the goalie are on the same page and know exactly what each other is trying to accomplish.

There are a few different formations that are used depending on what your team is trying to accomplish short handed. Teams may play a Box, Diamond, Rotating Box or try to overload one side and split two players. Teams should really change their formation depending on the team they are playing. If you have a Gary Gait, Steve Toll or a John Grant at the top of a power play you don't want to play a box where they can get into a good shooting position from the middle of the floor.

As an individual playing on the short man you always want to have your stick in the passing lanes and keep your feet very active. You should be very aware of all the players on the power play and try to anticipate what they are trying to do. Some of the good short man players like a Jim Veltman will often try to fool an offensive player into thinking a man is open and then step into the passing lane and pick off a pass. Playing man short also allows players good opportunities for fast break chances. Getting a goal short handed can really give your team a boost so if the opportunity is there, go for it.