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| Tips for Playing
Lacrosse The following articles highlight some general areas of lacrosse and offer tips on how to play them. These points are very general and provide no substitute for adequate coaching and practicing, but can provide a solid foundation for a great learning experience. Although many of these tips are written for men’s field lacrosse (the most common type), some information is valuable to all variations. Face-Off At the beginning of each quarter, and after each goal, a face-off is used to let a team regain possession of the ball. The face-off is arguably a game within the sport, and a good face-off specialist can make or break a team. To become good at face-offs, an athlete needs quick hands, balance, and technique. First, each player’s set-up to a face-off varies. The position of the head of stick in relation to the ball, the position of a player’s feet, and the position of a player’s hands on the stick can all be adjusted with the various techniques one would employ. Experienced face-off specialists can often read another player’s set-up to determine what kind of technique they will employ, so try and make each of your stances look similar. A correct stance will not allow any player to put weight on his hands – not doing this correctly almost always results in a lost face-off. Often, the right hand is placed as close to the neck of the stick as possible, with the left hand somewhere in the middle of the shaft. Almost every technique can be executed from this position. Before the face-off, make sure to line up as close to the ball as possible. This is called “crowding” the ball, and it will make your moves quicker. Remember to crowd the ball on every face-off, because if you crowd the ball on some techniques and not others, the opposing team will begin to read your stance and could set you up for an easy loss. There are many different moves to make, as well as counters to these moves. In this article, only a few will be covered. The most basic move is the clamp. All clamps require the player to stay low and clamp the head of your stick down on the ball, then raking it out for a fast break. A clamp can be shot out to a wingman, or rotated and shot forward for a fast break. If you feel that your opponent is going to clamp down on the ball, use a counter move known as “topping”. Holding the stick, rotate your left knuckles skyward and jab the head of your opponents stick. Careful not to grab his stick or this will result in a turnover. When the clamp is successfully stopped, pivot and hit the ball for a fast break. If you think your opponent is going to use a topping move against you, use a move called a rake. Keep the handle of the stick on the ground, and then with your right hand punch the ball forward underneath your opponents stick for a fast break. Remember to keep all your stances similar so an opponent cannot read you. Likewise, you’ll be trying to read your opponent so you can predict what kind of technique he’ll employ. Firstly, keep an eye on your opponents left wrist. If his wrist is down, he’ll usually clamp. Execute a topping move for possession. Secondly, if his left wrist is up, then he’s either doing a topping move or a raking move. Now, look at the right sidewall of his head. If it’s tilted up, he’ll probably use a topping move. If the sidewall is down then he might rake. Use a rake to beat a topping move and a clamp to be a rake. Offense When on offense, remember to keep all your passes sharp and never make a bad shot. If there is nobody behind the goal, or you are at a bad angle, a bad shot is akin to passing the ball to the opposing team since it will almost always result in a turnover. Although coaches and captains will help you with your techniques and plays during the year, it is the amount of time you put into lacrosse during the off-season that will pay great dividends. All year you should work on your stick skills. That includes cradling, passing, and shooting with both right and left hands. The most important way to improve your shooting is to practice it on your own many, many times. Try employing various techniques to make it more fun: shooting side-arm, after a fancy break, or from various angles. Also, one of the most important things to do is watch lacrosse. Go to college games or watch it on television – watching games will show you how plays develop and how a shot can be formed. With any sport, practice makes perfect. Again, hard work during the regular season is always a must, but players become great by working hard in the off-season. Defense Playing defense requires good stick work and body control, but also effective communication between your teammates. Each coach will employ various calls for defenses in various situations (such as zone coverage, man coverage, or power plays), and all defenders (including the goalie!) must be able to bark out calls or follow them. When in coverage, going after a man is definitely the time a defender can showcase his athletic ability. Defenders should always have a slight bend in the knees, their sticks out in front of them, and playing on the balls of their feet. There is no need to take a step in on a man, especially if you have a long stick, so stay off and stick check. Body checking, regardless of how much fun it is, should only be employed when the attacker takes a step on you, not the other way around! Stepping in on an attacker is almost always a sure way to get beat. Remember, your job as a defenseman is to stop your opponent. The poke check, although one of the first things a player learns, is one of the most important techniques in the game. Keep poking the bottom hand of the attackman and be aggressive! After developing a quick and lethal poke check, work with your defensive coach to develop other stick checks like the “over-the-head” and “wrap-around” checks. With a six foot stick, there may never be a need to body check (except, of course, in loose ball situations). Coaches love aggressive defenders, but over-stepping an opponent will always get you beat. Stay in position, stay in the correct stance, and attack with your stick. Close in only as a last resort. Goalies Goalies are the core of the defense – he has control of the entire defense. Great goalies have excellent techniques and skills, but effective communication and the ability to read an offense is one of the most important things a goalie needs. Constantly talk to your defense and let them know where the ball is. Bark out coverage plays and let the defenders know where to be during fast breaks. Be loud and intimidating – a goalie who has control of his defense is respected by both sides of the ball. Remember to keep your feet shoulder width apart and your hands away from your body. Find a comfort zone where you can make the save from any angle. Remember to practice outlets as well as saves – a good goalie can stop a shot but an outlet play is always needed to get the ball back to the attack. Have confidence in your abilities as a goalie. Master the three parts – communication, stopping the shot, and outlet plays – and remember to always stay positive! Author: Michael Stumpo |