Select Team Clears: 43, Sideline

43 Clear

43 Clear: Level of Play

“43” is suitable for teams of all skill levels. It is

very effective because the dominant ball-

handler is a midfielder. 43 will be our base out

of bounds, dead-ball clear.

•Level of Play (43 Clear)

43 Clear: Set-up

Four defensive players want to spread across

the field about 5 yards in from the endline.

M1 picks up the ball wherever it goes out. The

goalie wants to be adjacent to the midfielder

inside of the restraining box. The two

defensemen, D1 and D2, align themselves in

the other two positions. In this scenario, they

start outside of the restraining box about 5

yards inside the sideline...

•Set-up (43)

43 Clear: Set-up Continued

The other three player set up across the

midfield line with the last defensemen, D3

next to the box, M2 in the middle of the field,,

and M3 away from the box. M1 should be an

athletic midfielder who is comfortable with

the ball in his stick so he can “leg it out” if

necessary.

•Set-up (43 Continued)

D1

D2

M1

G

M3

M2

D3

43 Clear: Set Up

43 Clear: Execution

If only one player guards M1, then he should

run past them and try to clear the ball. If

someone slides to them in the open field then

they should look in that direction for an open

teammate. If M1 gets past this first man, then

M2 and M3 should go over the midfield line

to stretch the defense. If M1 throws to D3

and he goes over with the ball, then M1 must

stay back…

•Execution (43 Clear)

43 Clear: Execution Continued

If two players cover M1 initially then he

should throw the ball to the Goalie (or D1/D2

if G is covered) who then walk the ball up the

field. When the goalie (or D1/D2) has the ball,

M2, M3 and D3 should go over the midfield

line. If one of them is covered by an

attackman then they should be wide open. If

all three of these players are covered, then D3

should immediately go back onside…

•Execution (43 Clear Continued)

43 Clear: Execution Continued

As soon as D3 is back onside, M1 needs to cut

over the middle of the field, and over the

midfield if necessary, to get open for a pass

form the goalie. If M1 is still not open then

M3 and M4/D3 need to act as “partners”.

Only one of them can over the line at a time.

The other has “on-side responsibilities”…

•Execution (43 Clear Continued)

43 Clear: Execution Continued

**Advanced coaches can substitute a fourth

midfielder at the box for D3 to avoid having a

defenseman carry the ball.

**If the goalie gets pressured as he walks up

the field, he may need to throw to D1 or D2,

who can make the same appropriate reads

and passes.

•Execution (43 Clear Continued)

D1

D2

M1

G

M3

M2

D3/M3

43 Clear: Execution

The goalie wants to locate the player, M3, M2 or

D3/M4 who is located by an attackman. This player

should be open once they’ve crossed the midfield line. If

all three of these players are covered, then D3 M3 needs to get back onside and M1, wants to cross the midfield

line and get open.

43 Clear: Final Thoughts

The 43 will be the base out of bounds, dead-

ball clear used by Trilogy. The most important

aspect of this clear is the wing players (M3

and D3/M4) must be mindful of where the

other is. If the ride forces the defense to

throw cross field passes, whichever player is

on the weak side needs to recover across the

midfield line to provide “onside” insurance.

• 43 Clear: Final Thoughts

Sideline

Sideline Clear: Level of Play

Sideline is a more advanced clear because of

the coordinated movements required, but it’s

very effective if the clearing team

understands how it operates. Instead of

making several passes like other clears, it only

takes 1-2 passes for this clear to succeed.

•Level of Play (Sideline)

Sideline Clear: Set-up

This clear should be employed when the ball

goes out of bounds on the sideline between

the restraining box and the midfield line. If it

goes out of bounds below the restraining box,

the 43 should be used. In “Sideline” M1 starts

with the ball where it goes out of bounds. M1

should, again, be athletic and capable of

carrying the ball under pressure so he can

“leg it out” if necessary…

•Set-up (Sideline)

Sideline Clear: Set-up Continued

D2 lines up approximately 7 yards behind M1

around the restraining line and acts as an

outlet for M1 if necessary. The goalie lines up

in the middle of the field around the

restraining box. D1 lines up across from D2 on

the opposite side of the field. D3 lines up at

the midfield line, inside of the wind face-off

line about 5 yards inside the sideline. M2 lines

up on the offensive side of the field, 3-5 yards

from the restraining line.

•Set-up (Sideline Continued)

D1

D2

M1

G M3

M2

D3

Sideline Clear: Set Up

Sideline Clear: Execution

In essence, this is a 3v2 clear. M3 starts on the

offensive side of the midfield line so the

opposition must cover him with a midfielder.

That leaves 2 midfielders responsible for M1,

M2 and D3. If M1 has only one player

defending him, then he should run by this

player and clear the ball himself. D3 should

cut over the midfield line to create space for

M1 to dodge. M2 must wait for D3 to come

back onsides before he goes over the midfield

line…

•Execution (Sideline Clear)

Sideline Clear: Execution Continued

If M1 is covered by two players, he should

first look for D3 breaking over the midfield

towards the center of the field. If an

attackman covers D3, he will be open for a

pass…

•Execution (Sideline Clear Cont.)

D1

D2

M1

G M3

M2

D3

Sideline Clear: If M1 is Double Teamed

If an attackman covers D3 he should be open right

away. If a midfielder covers D3, then M1 wants to

throw the ball to the goalie (or D1 who then makes a

cross field pass to D2 if the goalie is shut off).

When the goalie has the ball M2 breaks over the

midfield line looking for a pass from the goalie. If M2 has an attackman guarding him, then he should be wide open.

If M2 is not open then he should get back onsides, and as soon as

he does, M1 is free to go over and should be open because the opposing midfielders are on M2,

M3 and D3 (who are all not open). D3 wants to make sure he

is in the middle of the field leaving plenty of space for M1.

Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts

Sideline should be used in all dead-ball

situations when the ball is above the

restraining line. When using sideline, it is

imperative that M3 make certain that he is

covered by an opposing midfielder. He wants

to be in the offensive zone, but still be above

the restraining line…

• Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts

Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts Continued

If the other team covers M3 with a

defenseman, he must alert his teammates of

a 10-Man ride. M3 and the attackmen

covered by the other team’s goalie must find

an open space and be an outlet for their

teammate.

• Sideline Clear: Final Thoughts