diff --git a/src/config/constants.ts b/src/config/constants.ts
index d64fd63..ab1ba92 100644
--- a/src/config/constants.ts
+++ b/src/config/constants.ts
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export const CLOSE_RANGE_SHOT_SPEED_MULTIPLIER = 0.6; // Close-range shots have
 export const GOALIE_RANGE = 3;                       // meters - how far goalie moves from center
 
 // Collision avoidance constants
-export const THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS = 4;            // meters - radius to detect approaching opponents
+export const NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS = 4;       // meters - radius to detect nearby players (threats, teammates, etc.)
 export const EVASION_ANGLE = Math.PI / 3;            // radians (60 degrees) - angle to turn when evading
 
 // Tackle constants
diff --git a/src/entities/Player.ts b/src/entities/Player.ts
index fd6f2a4..68ee4f9 100644
--- a/src/entities/Player.ts
+++ b/src/entities/Player.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ import {
   TACKLE_COOLDOWN,
   TACKLE_FALL_DURATION,
   PLAYER_ACCELERATION,
-  PLAYER_DECELERATION
+  PLAYER_DECELERATION,
+  NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS
 } from '../config/constants';
 import { CoordinateUtils } from '../utils/coordinates';
 import { MathUtils } from '../utils/math';
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
   // Debug visualizations
   private debugTargetGraphics?: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics;
   private debugLineGraphics?: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics;
+  private debugDetectionCircle?: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics;
 
   // Direction indicator
   private directionIndicator!: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics;
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     if (DEBUG) {
       this.debugTargetGraphics = scene.add.graphics();
       this.debugLineGraphics = scene.add.graphics();
+      this.debugDetectionCircle = scene.add.graphics();
     }
   }
 
@@ -323,10 +326,10 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Update debug visualizations (target position and path line)
+   * Update debug visualizations (target position, path line, and detection circle)
    */
   private updateDebugVisuals() {
-    if (!DEBUG || !this.debugTargetGraphics || !this.debugLineGraphics) return;
+    if (!DEBUG || !this.debugTargetGraphics || !this.debugLineGraphics || !this.debugDetectionCircle) return;
 
     // Convert target position to screen coordinates
     const targetScreen = CoordinateUtils.gameToScreen(this.scene, this.targetX, this.targetY);
@@ -335,6 +338,7 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     // Clear previous debug graphics
     this.debugTargetGraphics.clear();
     this.debugLineGraphics.clear();
+    this.debugDetectionCircle.clear();
 
     // Draw line from player to target
     const lineColor = this.team === 'home' ? 0x0000ff : 0xff0000;
@@ -356,5 +360,9 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
       targetScreen.x - markerSize,
       targetScreen.y + markerSize
     );
+
+    // Draw near player detection circle (always visible in DEBUG mode)
+    this.debugDetectionCircle.lineStyle(2, 0xff00ff, 0.3); // Magenta circle with lower opacity
+    this.debugDetectionCircle.strokeCircle(playerScreen.x, playerScreen.y, NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS * SCALE);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/systems/behaviors/offensive/PuckCarrierBehavior.ts b/src/systems/behaviors/offensive/PuckCarrierBehavior.ts
index df3dc46..f4535b4 100644
--- a/src/systems/behaviors/offensive/PuckCarrierBehavior.ts
+++ b/src/systems/behaviors/offensive/PuckCarrierBehavior.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ import {
   SHOOTING_ANGLE_THRESHOLD,
   CLOSE_RANGE_DISTANCE,
   CLOSE_RANGE_ANGLE_THRESHOLD,
-  THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS,
+  NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS,
   EVASION_ANGLE,
-  DEBUG,
-  SCALE
+  DEBUG
 } from '../../../config/constants';
 import { MathUtils } from '../../../utils/math';
 import { CoordinateUtils } from '../../../utils/coordinates';
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ export class PuckCarrierBehavior extends BehaviorNode {
    * Returns evasion target if threat detected, null otherwise
    *
    * The player will maintain evasion as long as an opponent is:
-   * 1. Within the threat detection radius (close proximity)
+   * 1. Within the near player detection radius (close proximity)
    *
    * Once an evasion direction is chosen, it persists until the opponent
    * leaves the threat zone to prevent direction flipping.
@@ -127,13 +126,9 @@ export class PuckCarrierBehavior extends BehaviorNode {
     const goalY = 0;
     const toGoalAngle = Math.atan2(goalY - player.gameY, opponentGoalX - player.gameX);
 
-    // Draw debug threat zone circle
+    // Draw debug line to goal (circle is now rendered by Player class)
     if (DEBUG && debugGraphics) {
       const playerScreen = CoordinateUtils.gameToScreen(player.scene, player.gameX, player.gameY);
-      debugGraphics.lineStyle(2, 0xff00ff, 0.5); // Magenta circle
-      debugGraphics.strokeCircle(playerScreen.x, playerScreen.y, THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS * SCALE);
-
-      // Draw line to goal
       const goalScreen = CoordinateUtils.gameToScreen(player.scene, opponentGoalX, goalY);
       debugGraphics.lineStyle(1, 0x00ff00, 0.3); // Green line to goal
       debugGraphics.lineBetween(playerScreen.x, playerScreen.y, goalScreen.x, goalScreen.y);
@@ -149,7 +144,7 @@ export class PuckCarrierBehavior extends BehaviorNode {
         const distanceToOpponent = MathUtils.distance(player.gameX, player.gameY, opponent.gameX, opponent.gameY);
 
         // If opponent still in threat zone, maintain the evasion
-        if (distanceToOpponent <= THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
+        if (distanceToOpponent <= NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
           const evasionAngle = evasion.side === 'left' ? toGoalAngle + EVASION_ANGLE : toGoalAngle - EVASION_ANGLE;
           const evasionDistance = 20;
           const evasionTargetX = player.gameX + Math.cos(evasionAngle) * evasionDistance;
@@ -200,14 +195,14 @@ export class PuckCarrierBehavior extends BehaviorNode {
       const distanceToOpponent = MathUtils.distance(player.gameX, player.gameY, opponent.gameX, opponent.gameY);
 
       // Debug: Draw all opponents in threat zone
-      if (DEBUG && debugGraphics && distanceToOpponent <= THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
+      if (DEBUG && debugGraphics && distanceToOpponent <= NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
         const opponentScreen = CoordinateUtils.gameToScreen(player.scene, opponent.gameX, opponent.gameY);
         debugGraphics.lineStyle(2, 0xffa500, 0.6); // Orange circle
         debugGraphics.strokeCircle(opponentScreen.x, opponentScreen.y, 12);
       }
 
       // Check if opponent is within threat zone
-      if (distanceToOpponent <= THREAT_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
+      if (distanceToOpponent <= NEAR_PLAYER_DETECTION_RADIUS) {
         // Calculate angle from player to opponent
         const angleToOpponent = Math.atan2(
           opponent.gameY - player.gameY,