Anticipate the pass

Defensemen should move out to meet their attackman right as they catch the ball, not once they already have the ball. This means defensemen must anticipate when the ball is coming to their attackman and move out to cover them as the ball arrives. As your attackman is catching the ball, meet him with a stiff poke check to his bottom hand to cause him to miss or drop the incoming pass. If your poke check is ineffective and your opponent does catch the ball, you are now in the correct position to defend him.