Master the Backdoor Exit, Drop-Step Defensive Exit with Alex Woodall
Master the Backdoor Exit, Drop-Step Defensive Exit with Alex Woodall | USA Lacrosse Magazine
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Master the Backdoor Exit, Drop-Step Defensive Exit with Alex Woodall
Fri Jul 24 2020 | Matt DaSilva | Pro
MLL
PHOTO BY MASON PERRICONE
This article appears in the July/August edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, a digital-only publication available exclusively to US Lacrosse members. Join or renew today for access to this 96-page edition, which includes immersive and interactive features as well as video tips from professional players. Thank you for your support!
Virtual training is all the rage these days. Whether through Zoom, YouTube or Instagram, the resources to connect players and coaches despite their physical separation have surged. US Lacrosse even established a digital emporium, Lax at Home, loaded with drills, at-home workouts, stick-skill exercises, e-learning and development opportunities to keep members active and connected during the pandemic.
For more than a decade, US Lacrosse Magazine has provided the platform for some of the sport’s top players to share tricks of the trade. We went next level for this digital-only edition. Seven elite professional and U.S. national team players put on a clinic for our cameras at US Lacrosse’s Tierney Field in Sparks, Md. These next several pages are chock full of tips and drills for youth and high school players, including embedded videos.
We are here to help you get ready to get back on the field. For more ways to train on your own, visit uslacrosse.org/lax-at-home. Next up in our digital-edition how-to series is Alex Woodall.
Note: Faceoff rules vary by level of play and not all of these tips will be legal at every level.
Alex Woodall
Towson ’19 / MLL Philadelphia Barrage / NLL New York Riptide
Backdoor Exit
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1. Clamp the ball
Winning the faceoff starts with a quick clamp.
2. Get to tripod stance
Stand up and lift the butt end of your stick with your eye and nose over the ball. This is a triple-threat position from which you can exit forward, backward or backdoor.
3. Cock back top wrist
This will keep the ball nestled in the back of your stick.
4. Swing leg through
Seal off the defender.
5. Add a fake
Drag the ball forward to lure the defender in that direction before exiting backdoor.
Drop-Step Defensive Exit
1. Assume the position
As with any exit, you must first win the clamp, get to your feet and form the tripod stance.
2. Drop step
With your left leg, take a big drop step, using your stick like a kickstand.
3. Exit backward
Drag the ball straight to your left foot and pop it up between your shoulders.
4. Swing your back leg through
Seal off the defender by keeping your back to him
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Triangle Passing Drill: Backdoor Cuts
/in Passing and Catching Drills, Practice Drills & Games /by Ryan Wallace
This simple variation of the classic Triangle Passing Drill is a great way to get your players’ heads up and feet moving. “Backdoor Cuts” are a simple move every player needs to know to get open for a pass. This drill works on moving without the ball, leading passes, and catching and throwing on the run.
Like the basic Triangle Passing Drill, this variation is easy to set up and doesn’t require much space on the field. A “Backdoor Cut” (or “Back Cut”) is just the opposite of a “V-Cut”- one more easy way to get open to get the ball.
THE DRILL:
Figure 1. Set up 3 cones in a triangle. The cones should be roughly 10 to 20 yards apart from each other. You can shrink the distance if necessary, depending on your players’ stick skills.
Put all of your players in a line behind one of the three cones. Be sure to mix offensive and defensive players together. Everybody on your team needs to be able to run, catch, and throw with both hands.
If you have more than 20 players at practice, create multiple sets of cones to ensure your players get the maximum repetitions in your drills. There’s no reason your players should come to practice to stand around waiting in line.
PRACTICE TIPS:
- Switch directions halfway through the drill- move the ball clockwise, catching left-handed and throwing left-handed.
- Time Your Drills for your players’ age and attention span. Move on to something else once a drill or game becomes unproductive.
- Move towards the ball– “Attack the pass in the air.” Move towards the passer to shorten the distance and stay in front of the Defense.
- Stick in the outside hand– Beginning players need to practice both hands equally. Keep the stick protected, away from the defender.
- Challenge your players- add a second ball into the drill to keep things moving quickly and keep your players focused.
VARIATIONS:
- Add a defensive player at each cone. Make the Backdoor cuts and V-Cuts actually work against light coverage.
- Put the cones closer together for Quick Stick passing and even more reps. Try 5 or 10 yards apart.
- Ground balls– Get your players used to picking up ground balls and passing at lightning speed.
- Dodges– Use this same setup to practice the Roll Dodge, Split Dodge, etc. Make your move then move the ball quickly.
