During the second Boston Night Riders vs. New York City Titans semifinal at MLQ Championships 2018, I noticed a play where Boston’s point defense is able to stop New York’s offense:

To analyze, I have split this play into five sequences.  I mostly will be focusing on the Boston point chaser and the Boston beaters.  

Sequence I

• New York starts the play with three flat top quaffle players and one quaffle player behind the hoops, far on the right side.  The quaffle carrier is the top right chaser.  Boston has bludger control and a point defender quaffle player.  
• The quaffle carrier walks right and forward, protected by their beater.  
• Both Boston beaters shift to the right, anticipating a drive.  
• The quaffle carrier takes four steps left.  The back Boston beater steps flat to their partner.  
• The quaffle carrier sprints right and wide, trying to outrun the point defender.  The point defender follows the quaffle carrier.  
• When the quaffle carrier is in line with the hoops, they attempt three jukes, left, right, left, to get around the point defender.  The point defender follows the quaffle carrier throughout.  

Running to the Right

If the quaffle carrier was able to outrun the point defender, one or both of Boston’s beaters would have to commit to stopping the quaffle carrier.  This would give the New York beater an opportunity to disrupt both Boston beaters.  Then the quaffle carrier would drive to the hoops.

Though the point defender followed, the quaffle carrier was able to pull both Boston beaters to right side of the field.  However, New York did not have a quaffle player near the left hoop to capitalize on the opening.  

Hip Movement

Mathematically, the formula for arc length is s = r Θ, where s is the arc length, r is the radius of the arc and Θ is the angle traveled in radians.  

Because the point defender does not have to move as quickly, they can keep their hips faced more towards the quaffle carrier, than the quaffle carrier can keep their hips faced towards the hoops.  This gives the defender an advantage in changing directions.  

Sequence II

• The quaffle carrier runs back to the front of the hoops
• The point defender steps in and tackles the quaffle carrier to the ground.  
• The armed New York beater pump fakes a throw at the right defensive beater then throws a bludger at the left defensive beater.  
• The targeted Boston beater deflects the thrown bludger with their own bludger then drops their bludger.  
• The other Boston beater pauses to watch their partner pick up a bludger.
• Then they run to the quaffle-carrier to knock them out.  
• The quaffle-carrier passes the quaffle to a teammate before they are knocked out.  
  
• The Boston point defender is called off-broom and is sent back to hoops.  

Tackle Form

The point defender timed their tackle perfectly.  They waited to initiate until the quaffle carrier had enough momentum that they would have had to slow down to change direction.  If they waited too long, the quaffle carrier would build enough momentum to escape the tackle.

Before initiating contact, the tackler leans forward and bends their knees, lowering the center of gravity and falling forward.

Initial contact is made by wrapping an arm around the quaffle carrier’s waist.  At this point of the tackle the goal is to slow down the target so that the tackler can get close enough to link their bodies together.

The tackler is now moving faster towards the quaffle carrier than they are moving away.  The tackler pushes their shoulder into the target.  The tackler straightens their knees, without locking them, raising their center of gravity about the quaffle carrier’s.

The tackler drops their hips and bends their knees, lowering their center of gravity below the target’s.  They pull the target backwards, pulling them off-balance.  As they fall, the tackler makes sure their center of gravity is always beneath the quaffle-carrier’s.  Ensuring the quaffle carrier can’t recover.

After the quaffle carrier hits the ground, the tackler pins them and swipes at the quaffle.  

The tackle is a one-arm variant of the hawk roll rugby-style tackle, used in the NFL.  

Beater Hesitation

If the right Boston beater had not hesitated to watch their partner, the quaffle carrier may not have been able to pass the quaffle before being knocked out, ending the play.  

Sequence III

• The New York right top chaser passes the quaffle to the left top chaser.  While this happens the back Boston beater knocks out the New York keeper, standing to the right of the hoops.  
• The top Boston beater shifts to the left side to guard against a drive.  An armed New York beaters moves in front of the quaffle carrier to guard them.  
• While the previous point defender tags the hoops, another Boston chaser assumes the point defender role.  
• The quaffle carrier runs right and the new point defender steps.  
• New York passes to their right top chaser, the Boston chaser swipes at the pass but misses.  
• After tagging in, the Sequence II point defender assumes that role again.  They tackle the quaffle carrier.  
• While being tackled the New York chaser passes the quaffle to their keeper.  

Tackle Form

As before, the tackler wraps with their arm and pushes their shoulder in.  They drop their hips below the quaffle carrier’s and pull their target to the ground.

Because the quaffle carrier was stationary, this tackle requires more strength.  When the target is moving it is easier to pull them off balance.  

Aside: Beater Hesitation

The Boston beater did not knock out the quaffle carrier, allowing a pass.  Had they made a throw, the play likely would have ended here.  

Sequence IV

• A New York chaser catches the quaffle then immediately passes to their keeper.  The left Boston chaser assumes point defender.  
• The Boston chaser attempts to wrap the New York keeper but is pushed off.  
• The top Boston beater presses forward and fakes a throw at the New York keeper.  The New York keeper backs up.  
• They then walk forward and pass the quaffle to the right.  
• The right top Boston chaser, who made the two tackles, assumes point defender.  
• The quaffle carrier hesitates and is knocked out by the Boston top beater.  

Hesitation

Quaffle carriers are more hesitant to drive when covered by an armed beater than when covered by a quaffle player.  However, the better a quaffle player is at point defense, the closer they get to being treated as an armed beater.  

When the New York chaser hesitates, they are covered by both an armed beater and an excellent point defender.  Part of their hesitation is because they are deciding which is more of a threat.  Also, Boston covers the other New York quaffle players well, making a pass unlikely.  

Sequence V

• As the quaffle carrier is knocked out, they roll the quaffle forward.  
• A New York chaser runs from behind the hoops to retrieve it.
• They pass the quaffle to their keeper.  
• The New York keeper misses a shot due to the Boston beater’s pump fake.  

Takeaways

When defending against a team that is looking to drive to the hoops, good point defense is critical.  A point defender must be able to stop a driver from outrunning them or pushing through them while also giving their beater opportunities to knock out the quaffle carrier.  On this play, New York tried unsuccessfully to both outrun and drive through Boston.  

When playing a team with strong point defense, passing is critical.  New York did not move their quaffle players effectively to open up passes.  Boston’s beaters also provide good pass coverage.  

For an example of using player movement to open up passes see the article:  Single-Play Breakdown: Boston and the Five Zone Pitch.  

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