1.     Learn to catch, throw, and shoot RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED.

2.     The more time you play with your stick perpendicular to the ground instead of parallel to the ground the better player you will be.

3.     Move the ball, the less time the ball is in your stick the better player you are.

4.     Move the ball off the ground (when you pick up a ground ball pass it immediately) -- by way of explanation, the team that scores the most transition goals usually wins the game.

5.     Move without the ball -- a corollary to this rule is; dont watch your pretty pass, let the defender do that while you move, when he does then back door your man as he watches that pretty pass.

6.     Move to the ball -- this means; a) move to the ball when you are open on the back side (standing waving your stick only draws defenders), b) move when the D-man is not watching you (you get the advantage on him), and, c) move to any ball that you are receiving.

7.     Look at a spot behind the goalie when you shoot -- it is likely that he will move and if you look at the goalie you will hit him so look beyond him.

8.     Shoot with a quick release (because a slow release lets the goalie see the ball and setup for your shot).

9.     D-men need to have better stickwork than Attack or Midfield (cause that long pole is harder to handle especially in tight situations than a short pole) Note from the Goalieman: KEEPERS NEED TO BE THE BEST STICKHANDLERS.

10. Play D like a boxer boxes (on your toes, moving, countering, resetting, recountering, attacking . . . not just one check and hold)

11. You dont have to take the ball away to be a good D-man -- play good position, stay in the offensive players hands and you can be a big time D-man.