The 10 Man Ride – Everyone’s Doing It, Should You?

The 10 Man Ride is a strategy that involves pressuring the opposing team’s clearing attempts. This has become very popular in recent years. Mainly because of the ability to force turnovers and create scoring opportunities. In a 10 Man Ride, all ten players including the goalie actively participate in the ride. A traditional ride typically keeps the goalie in his net and has the ten clearing players clear against nine.

The 10 Man Ride begins with the goalie leaving the crease and picking up the closest player. The players on the defensive team then aggressively pursue the opposing team’s ball carrier. They attempt to force turnovers before the ball can be cleared into their offensive end.

The 10 Man Ride is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can be very effective when executed correctly. If you have an athletic advantage this ride could work extremely well for your team. Against more skilled teams this ride can expose you for some easy goals.  The key to a successful 10 Man Ride is coordinated communication and teamwork. Every player on the defensive team must work together to pressure the ball carrier and prevent successful clearing attempts.

The 10 Man Ride involves several key principles, including:

1. Pressure: The defensive team must apply pressure to the opposing team’s ball carrier and prevent them from making successful clearing attempts.
2. Communication: All ten players on the defensive team must communicate effectively and work together to pressure the ball carrier and cover their respective assignments.
3. Patience: The 10 Man Ride is an aggressive strategy, but defenders must also be patient and not over-commit, as this can create openings for the opposing team to exploit.
4. Recovery: Defenders must be prepared to recover quickly in the event of a failed ride, as they will be out of position and vulnerable to counterattacks.

The 10 Man Ride is an effective strategy, but it also carries risks. If the opposing team is able to break the ride, they may have a significant advantage in transition. This can give up easy scoring chances. As such, the 10 Man Ride is typically reserved for critical moments in the game. Some teams use this ride exclusively, but many save it for specific moments. Bucknell is famous for their 10 Man ride, as well as the College of Wooster and Albion College.

UNC 10 Man Ride Vs. Lafeyette:

Here are the general steps for setting up a 10 Man Ride:

1. Goalie initiates the ride: When the opposing team’s goalie has the ball, the defensive team’s goalie leaves the crease to pick up an attackman. The attack then pressures the goalie with the ball, forcing him to make a quick decision on how to clear the ball. This Frees One Close Defenseman to Roam the midfield line to pick up a loose offensive player.
2. Attackers pressure the ball: The defensive team’s attackers apply pressure on the opposing team’s defenders, who are typically positioned down in the corners or near the midfield line. The attackers may use body checks or stick checks to force turnovers or prevent successful clearing attempts.
3. Midfielders and defensemen drop back: The defensive team’s midfielders and defensemen drop back to cover any potential open players on the opposing team. This allows them to protect their own goal while still applying pressure to the opposing team.
4. Communication: Communication is key in a 10 Man Ride. All ten players on the defensive team must communicate with each other and work together to pressure the ball carrier and cover their respective assignments.
5. Recovery: Defenders must be prepared to recover quickly in the event of a failed ride, as they will be out of position and vulnerable to counterattacks.

Michigan 10 Man Set Up:

How to clear against a 10 man is something we will pick up in a later article.