# Backcheck > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Backcheck > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Backcheck.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backcheck > Source revision: 1278262152 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ice hockey defensive transition play The **backcheck** is an [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey) defensive transition play made (primarily) in the [neutral zone](/source/Ice_hockey_rink). It is a type of [checking](/source/Checking_(ice_hockey)). The purpose of the backcheck is to try to limit the opponent's options as they head up the ice towards the backchecking team's [end zone](/source/Ice_hockey_rink). [1] The backcheck may be initiated by situations such as having lost the puck in the opponent's half of the ice, the opponents having played through the first line of pressure in their own end zone, or having lost a faceoff in the neutral zone. In simpler words, backchecking is when a team loses possession of the puck, typically in their offensive zone, and then chases the opposing team as the opposing team skates down the ice towards the first team's defensive zone. Backchecking is typically done by the forwards on the team, as the defensemen are typically already in position and playing against the opposing team. The purpose of a backcheck is to mainly pressure the forwards of the opposing team, as well as to balance out the numerical advantage the other team may have in an odd man rush, rushes where the number of players are unbalanced, leaving the rushing team with an advantage (i.e. 3 on 2, or a rush where 3 players are trying to score against 2 defending players). An important aspect of backchecking is counting the opponent's players. This is to make sure that the opponents are not gaining any significant numerical advantages on the ice during transition. Failure to adequately count numbers in particular in the neutral zone by the backchecking team most likely leads to numerical advantages by the opponent when, and if, entering the backchecking team's end zone.[2] A proper backcheck leads to significantly less time and space for the opponents during transition, and as such may cause them to turn the puck over, effectively avoiding an end zone entry altogether - if not, then the defensive team will still be well organized following a zone entry by the opponent, and thus a proper backcheck also helps in limiting scoring chances in subsequent play on the ice.[1] Players that are known to excel at defensive responsibilities in all areas of the ice, such as on the backcheck, are normally referred to as [200-foot players](/source/200-foot_game).[3] ## See also - [Neutral zone trap](/source/Neutral_zone_trap) - [Forecheck](/source/Forecheck) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CoachingK_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CoachingK_1-1) ["What Are Backchecking and Forechecking in Hockey?"](https://coachingkidz.com/what-are-backchecking-and-forechecking-in-hockey/). Coaching Kidz. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hockey Backchecking: Responsibilities for Each Player"](https://www.icehockeysystems.com/blog/coaching-tips/hockey-backchecking-situations-and-responsibilities-each-player). Ice Hockey Systems. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Sacilotto, Enio. ["7 Steps to Becoming a 200-Foot Hockey Player"](https://thecoachessite.com/7-steps-to-becoming-a-200-foot-hockey-player/). The Coaches Site. Retrieved 8 September 2022. ## Further reading - Hansson, Roger (2014). ["Backchecking a central part of the ice hockey of today (Swedish)"](https://www.swehockey.se/globalassets/svenska-ishockeyforbundet-hockeyakademin/dokument/kurser2/specialarbeten/etu-2014/backchecking-i-dagens-ishockey---roger-hansson.pdf) (PDF). *Elite Coaching Academy*. Retrieved 8 September 2022. v t e Ice hockey History Leagues Teams Equipment Cooperalls Goaltending equipment Blocker Mask Trapper Glove Puck Skate Stick Tape T-Blades Uniform Helmet Jersey Pants Socks Skate guard Positions Main Goaltender Defenceman Centre Forward Power Two-way Winger Other Captain Coach Enforcer Grinder Pest Rover Rules Arena Awarded goal Face-off Goal Halifax Officials Overtime Penalty shot Rink Short-handed Shot Slot Tuck rule Penalties and infractions Boarding Charging Clipping Cross-checking Delay of game High-sticking Holding the stick Hooking Icing Offside Roughing Tripping Skills Butterfly style Deke One timer Pass Saucer pass Snap shot Wrist shot Levels of play College Junior Minor Minor league Olympic Professional Senior Variations Broomball Fantasy Pond Power‎ Rink bandy Shinny Sledge Special Table Underwater Strategy Analytics Backcheck Breakaway Checking Cycling Dump and chase Extra attacker Forecheck Left wing lock Line Loafing Neutral zone trap Screen Torpedo system Terminology Gameplay 200-foot game Assist Diving Empty net goal Five-hole Full strength Gordie Howe hat trick Michigan goal Point Save Scoring chance Scramble style Shot on goal Skatemill Slapshot Stop Culture Ceremonial first puck Hockey butt Hockeytown Playoff beard Puck bunny Three stars Towel Power Statistics Analytics Arenas by capacity Outdoor games Games with highest attendance Fenwick Point Shot quality In popular culture Films Video games Related topics Broadcasting Fighting Nicknames Violence Misogyny Transgender people Category Commons This ice hockey article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Icehockey-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AIcehockey-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Icehockey-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Backcheck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backcheck) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backcheck?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.