What are the essential lacrosse dodges every player should know. How can you execute a split dodge effectively. Why is the drive, bounce, and re-drive dodge crucial for offensive players. When should you use a change of speed dodge in lacrosse.
Understanding the Importance of Dodging in Lacrosse
Dodging is a fundamental skill in lacrosse that can make or break a player’s offensive capabilities. It’s not just about making predetermined moves; it’s about reading the defense and adapting to gain an advantage. The primary goal of an offensive player is to move towards the goal, while defenders aim to push them off course. Mastering various dodging techniques can give players the edge they need to create scoring opportunities and maintain possession.
Why is dodging so crucial in lacrosse? It combines athleticism, stick work, and footwork to help players:
- Create space from defenders
- Open up passing lanes
- Generate clear shooting opportunities
- Maintain momentum during offensive plays
The Five Fundamental Lacrosse Dodges
To become a versatile and effective lacrosse player, it’s essential to master these five fundamental dodges:
- Change of Speed Dodge
- Split Dodge
- Stutter-Step Dodge
- Drive, Bounce, and Re-Drive Dodge
- Roll at the “X” Dodge
Each of these dodges serves a specific purpose and can be used in various game situations. Let’s explore them in detail.
Perfecting the Change of Speed Dodge
The Change of Speed Dodge is a deceptively simple yet highly effective technique. It focuses solely on altering your running speed to throw off defenders. How does it work?
The dodge is typically executed in three phases:
- Jog: Start at a moderate pace
- Slow Down: Decrease your speed suddenly
- Sprint: Explode into a full sprint
To visualize this in terms of effort, think of it as moving from 50% to 30%, then bursting to 100% of your full sprint speed. The key to success with this dodge lies in timing. When executed correctly, it can create significant separation from defenders and provide opportunities to get your hands free for passes or shots.
Tips for Executing the Change of Speed Dodge
- Practice varying your speed percentages to find what works best for you
- Focus on smooth transitions between speeds
- Use this dodge in combination with other techniques for maximum effectiveness
Mastering the Split Dodge and Stutter-Step Dodge
The Split Dodge and Stutter-Step Dodge are often grouped together due to their similarities. Both rely on a change of speed and direction to deceive defenders. What’s the main difference between these two dodges?
In a Split Dodge, you change hands (from right to left or vice versa) as you change direction. In a Stutter-Step Dodge, you maintain the same hand position while changing direction. Regardless of which variation you’re using, the key to success lies in the moment before changing direction.
Executing the Split and Stutter-Step Dodges
- Approach the defender at a moderate speed
- Slow down slightly just before changing direction
- Change direction quickly, using a strong first step
- For Split Dodge: Switch hands as you change direction
- For Stutter-Step: Maintain hand position while changing direction
- Accelerate past the defender
Why is slowing down before changing direction important? It allows you to maintain better control of your balance, setting you up for a more explosive first step when changing direction. This initial step is often the most crucial in creating separation from your defender.
The Drive, Bounce, and Re-Drive Dodge: A Versatile Offensive Tool
The Drive, Bounce, and Re-Drive Dodge is a technique that every offensive player should have in their arsenal. Why is this dodge so effective? It provides a moment of clarity amidst the pressure of the game, allowing players to reassess the situation and make informed decisions.
Breaking Down the Drive, Bounce, and Re-Drive Dodge
- Drive: Initiate an attack towards the goal
- Bounce: Move away from pressure, creating space
- Re-Drive: Re-engage and drive towards the goal again
The “bounce” phase is crucial as it gives you a moment to:
- Read the defense
- Assess your options
- Make a decision with composure
During the bounce, you have several options:
- Continue the re-drive
- Change direction into a split dodge
- Feed the ball to a teammate
- Take a shot on goal
How can you maximize the effectiveness of this dodge? As you bounce away from pressure, lift your head and hands to survey the field. Then, protect your stick as you initiate the re-drive portion of the dodge.
Executing the Roll at the “X” Dodge
The Roll at the “X” Dodge is a powerful technique used when attacking from behind the goal. This dodge relies on deception and quick changes in direction to throw off defenders. How can you execute this dodge effectively?
Steps to Perform the Roll at the “X” Dodge
- Start behind the goal (at the “X” position)
- Drive towards one side of the goal as if you intend to continue in that direction
- Look upfield, simulating a potential feed to a teammate
- Quickly roll in the opposite direction
- Protect your stick throughout the roll
What’s the most common mistake players make with this dodge? Many players change hands and leave their stick behind them after the roll, making them vulnerable to checks. To avoid this, focus on “leading with your stick” – keep your stick out in front of your body after changing direction.
The Hitch and Drive Dodge: Creating Separation with Simplicity
The Hitch and Drive Dodge is one of the most straightforward yet effective ways to create separation from defenders. Its simplicity makes it a versatile tool for players of all skill levels. How does this dodge work?
Executing the Hitch and Drive Dodge
- Approach the defender with body language suggesting you’re about to drive past them
- At the last moment, plant your outside foot and lean slightly away from the defender
- Quickly drive in the opposite direction of your lean
The key to this dodge lies in selling the initial drive convincingly. Your body language should make the defender believe you’re committed to driving in one direction. The sudden change of direction catches them off-guard, creating the separation you need.
Tips for a Successful Hitch and Drive Dodge
- Practice your footwork to make the transition smooth and quick
- Use your eyes and head movement to sell the initial direction
- Protect your stick throughout the dodge to maintain possession
Incorporating Dodges into Your Lacrosse Game
Now that we’ve explored these essential lacrosse dodges, how can you effectively incorporate them into your game? The key lies in practice and situational awareness. Here are some strategies to help you make the most of your dodging skills:
1. Practice Regularly
Dedicate time in your training sessions to practice each dodge individually. As you become more comfortable, try combining different dodges to create more complex moves.
2. Read the Defense
Learn to recognize how defenders are positioned and how they react to your movements. This will help you choose the most effective dodge for each situation.
3. Vary Your Approach
Don’t become predictable by using the same dodge repeatedly. Mix up your techniques to keep defenders guessing.
4. Use Dodges to Create Opportunities
Remember that dodging isn’t just about getting past a defender. Use your dodges to create passing lanes, shooting opportunities, or to draw slides that open up teammates.
5. Maintain Stick Protection
Throughout all your dodges, focus on protecting your stick. Losing possession during a dodge negates any advantage you might have gained.
By mastering these fundamental dodges and incorporating them strategically into your game, you’ll become a more versatile and dangerous offensive player. Remember, the key to effective dodging lies not just in the execution of the moves themselves, but in your ability to read the game and make split-second decisions based on the defensive pressure you face.
As you continue to develop your lacrosse skills, pay attention to how professional players use these dodges in game situations. Analyze their timing, body control, and decision-making to gain insights that can elevate your own game. With dedication and practice, you’ll find that these dodging techniques become second nature, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture of team strategy and game flow.
5 Types of Lacrosse Dodges by Hustle Training
The way you move with the ball on the lacrosse field is integral to your playmaking ability. If you can get past a defender and make room for yourself to execute an accurate pass or get a clear shot off, it could be the difference between an empty possession and a momentum-swaying goal. One way to gain space and room from opposing defenders is by dodging.
Dodging combines athleticism, stick work and footwork. Dodging is not about making preconceived moves but, instead, “reading” the defense and adjusting in order to gain an advantage. An offensive player’s job on the field is to go to goal; this means traveling north and south on the field. Defensive players want to push the offense off course, in an east-west direction, which forces them away from goal.
Just like a killer crossover in basketball, a lacrosse dodge can make defenders miss and open up all sorts of offensive options. But before players can be ready to roll out with three and four-move combos, it’s important for them to master these five fundamental dodges.
Teaching Youth Lacrosse Players How to Dodge
To effectively execute dodges, the attacker needs to recognize how much time and space they need for their footwork and stick work. Newer players need lots of feedback because they are more likely to attempt a dodge too far away or too close to a defender. If they attempt to dodge too far away from their defender, they will not eliminate their opponent. If they execute the dodge too close to the defender, they may actually lose possession by checking themselves as they collide with their defender or pull their stick into their opponent’s stick.
Change of Speed Dodge
With a change of speed dodge, we’re going to strictly focus on just that – changing speeds – so we’ll not be changing direction here. In this drill, the pattern that we’re using is broken up into three segments. We’re going to jog, slow down, and then sprint.
The other way to think about this would be from a percentage of full sprint. So if we want to finish in a full sprint at 100% we might come into this dodge around 50 slow down to 30 and then burst to a hundred and we can try many different variations of that. And all it takes is slowing down and speeding back up. And if you time it correctly, it can be very effective. And creating separation and opportunities to get your hands free.
Split Dodge and Stutter-Step Dodge
For this drill, we’re going to group a split dodge with a stutter-step dodge. The only difference we’re going to see here is in one case we go from right hand and stay righty and the other case we go from left hand and split to righty. Regardless of what hand we end up starting in for this drill, we want to focus on the change of speed the moment before we change direction. By slowing down, we allow ourselves to be in better control of our balance.
Therefore, giving us the opportunity to have a better first step. So the first step coming off the change of direction is typically the one that can be most important in creating separation.
Drive, Bounce and Re-Drive Dodge
Drive, bounce and re-drive is a Dodge that all offensive players should utilize very, very often. The reason that this Dodge is so effective is because the moment that we bounce away from pressure gives us a moment to both read the situation and then make our next decision with more composure. So every single time we bounce, we might have the opportunity to split our defender, but by continuing to re-drive, we don’t lose anything. And we only gain the opportunity to make a decision in that moment, whether it’s re-drive, changing direction into a split, or potentially even just feeding or shooting, are all different options that we want to be able to assess in those bounce moments.
So notice that as we bounce away from the pressure, we pick our head and hands up and then we protect our stick for the re-drive portion of this drill.
Roll at the “X” Dodge
For this Dodge, we’re going to drive and roll from behind the cage or “X”. The start of this move is predicated upon attacking as if we want to continue before we roll. In addition to this, we also want to look up field as if we’re looking to feed right before we use the roll Dodge. For the technique of the roll Dodge itself. We want to prioritize stick protection. So after we roll, one of the more common mistakes is changing hands and leaving our stick behind us. So we want to do our best to do what’s called lead with our stick, which means keeping our stick out in front of our body after we change direction.
Hitch and Drive Dodge
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The hitch and drive is one of the most effective ways to create separation from our defender. And it’s also very, very simple to use. What we want to do is have body language as if we’re about to take a shot, and then at the last second we change our mind, and in this case we’re going to drive straight forward. So as we set up this hitch and drive, it’s important to note that our eyes are on the target and not necessarily the defender. This emulates the body language of shooting technique and allows us to sell the shot a little bit more effectively.
Common Dodging Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake: The ball is dropped when performing the face dodge.
Solution: Be sure the top hand is relaxed as the player pulls across their face. Check that both arms are moving together when the stick is pulled to the opposite side of the body.
Mistake: The defender checks the ball out of the stick.
Solution: During a roll dodge, make sure that the player steps around, not just beside, their opponent. Make sure the body is between the defender and the stick at all times to maximize stick protection. Make sure the player accelerates after the dodge and seals off their opponent leading with their stick.
Want more Fundamentals of Lacrosse?
Here are Five Basic Lacrosse Shots to Improve Your Attack Skills
The Best Wall Ball Drills for Youth Lacrosse Players
Lacrosse Dodge Types
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In addition to passing, catching, and cradling, dodging is one of the fundamental individual skills for a lacrosse attackman. Dodging is a form of stick handling that uses quickness, fakes, and crafty cradling skills to beat a defender. Read on to learn more about dodges in lacrosse.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Dodge?
- Dodge Skills
- Types of Dodges
- Bull Dodge
- Face Dodge
- Roll Dodge
- Speed Dodge
- Split Dodge
- Question Mark Dodge
- FAQ
What Is a Dodge?
A dodge in lacrosse is a quick move by an attacker to run past their defender while in possession of the ball.
There are different types of dodges, such as a face dodge, that involves faking the defender with the stick or body and accelerating past the defender while keeping possession of the ball.
Dodging helps the ball handler create space between themselves and the on-ball defender. Dodging can be performed horizontally, laterally across the field or vertically, traveling directly on a path to the goal.
Dodge Skills
Dodging takes strong cradling skills and agility. If an attacker hangs their stick or exposes the pocket during a dodge, they can be vulnerable to a check or a dropped ball, resulting in a turnover. Some dodges require the use of a one-handed cradle while switching hands or rolling away from a defender. This can also create opportunities for a defender to land a successful check.
Types of Dodges
Here is a list of the most common types of dodges in lacrosse:
- Bull Dodge
- Face Dodge
- Roll Dodge
- Speed Dodge
- Split Dodge
- Question Mark Dodge
Bull Dodge
A bull dodge is essentially running and pushing through your opponent, as a bull would.
To do a proper bull dodge, you must make sure you have enough space between you and your defender (5-10 yards) and run into them until a separation is created. If your bull dodge is successful, you can then either shoot the ball or pass it to an open teammate. Bull dodges work best when you are physically bigger and stronger than your defender.
Face Dodge
A face dodge in lacrosse is a simple dodge performed by pulling the stick pocket across the player’s face when in possession of the ball and then returning it to the shoulder position. This dodge is best used to fake the goaltender on a shot or on the run during a drive or clear. The goal is to catch a defender on the wrong foot to gain a step past them.
Roll Dodge
A roll dodge in lacrosse is a move to spin around a defender. To perform a roll dodge, a player plants their outside foot on one side of the defender and spins to the outside, bringing the stick in close and using his body to keep the ball away from a defender.
While rolling, the handler switches hands without hanging the stick.
Speed Dodge
A speed dodge is a move made around a defender, primarily relying on the speed of the attacker to get past the defender. The speed dodge features that attacker trying to beat a defender to a specific spot to make a shot or pass. If the attacker is planning to shoot, they will sprint to a spot closer to the crease.
Split Dodge
A split dodge is when the ball carrier plants to the outside of the midline with their stick side foot and then pushes off to travel in the other direction while switching hands with the stick. This is a head and body fake to make the defender overcommit one way to create space to maneuver around them. Split dodges provide greater protection than other dodges, such as a face dodge, but it does sacrifice the ball carrier’s grip on their stick.
Question Mark Dodge
The question mark dodge in lacrosse is a dodge most often used by a first home or crease player.
Starting from behind the goal, a player will drive up the fan on a 45-degree angle to the goal line, pulling their defender to the top side. From there, the attacker will roll outside, switch hands and take a quick shot.
FAQ
Where do dodges happen in lacrosse?
Although dodges are most frequently used in the midfield and attacking area. However, all field players should be familiar with basic dodges so that they can successfully beat a defender if a pass is not available.
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- Lacrosse Offensive Formations
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- Lacrosse Offense Types
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- Lacrosse Formations
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Rat doto or how to split
Rat doto best doto.
I propose to consider such a moment of the macro game as a split, everyone knows about it, but not everyone uses it, but in vain, because mastering this aspect allows you to win games solo.
First, let’s look at what it is, from English split-divide, divide.
Perhaps the whole point lies in these words, the heroes disperse across the map, looking for places free from the enemy, and begin to push the lines in opposite directions. Split push can be divided into 2 categories:
First – to distract attention, with this option we force the enemy heroes to move in the direction we need, waste teleports, time, and at the same time buy time for our allies, who get space to farm. This option is used when your team has mobile characters, but they cannot break quickly, or the enemy has a hero like Lion, when playing against which the risk of dying constantly increases as you approach the enemy base. Often this option is used by the Vega squadron team, the guys pick mobile heroes, delay time with ganks and splits, and having received the necessary artifacts, they already go to fight.
Secondly – you can split in order to demolish the enemy base, most often this option is used if it is impossible to win by fighting because the enemy has a corny better pick, or you have a frankly bad team, in such scenarios you should rely only on splitpush or a miracle, but the option that the first one will work is much higher.
With this option, it is important to buy time for the guy who is busy demolishing buildings, for this the team can get into a fight, or start pushing the opposite lane, sometimes it’s enough just to knock down the enemy tp. This variant was very clearly demonstrated by the notorious Alliance at Inter 2013.
What do you need for a quality split?
To begin with, understanding the situation on the map, you must constantly imagine the approximate location of the enemy. Of course, wards will help us with this. If there are no wards, then your allies can personally check where the enemy heroes are.
You also need a mobile hero, Antimage, Natures Prophet, Ember Spirit, QOP, Invoker, Wisp+1 are the best. However, a hero who bought Blink Dagger, but who has the ability to quickly kill creeps, the best option here would be Shadow Fiend. Also, don’t forget about Broodmother, this hero is literally made for split, so if your team needs time, this hero will give it plenty. And, perhaps, it is worth remembering Lone Druid, this character does not have the ability to quickly leave, however, he breaks buildings very quickly and does not come close to the enemy base, which makes it possible to escape in time, I remind you that Lone Druid’s battle cry ability gives a bonus to damage for ALL summoned creatures, that is, Necronomicon will also receive additional.
damage, thanks to which you can instantly drop towers and barracks.
You should always be aware that it’s not uncommon for the enemy team to also move quickly around the map and you don’t need to be greedy during the split so that the creeps begin to actively move in the opposite direction, it’s enough to kill one pack, thereby creating a difference in numbers and relaxing .
In addition, you need to constantly control the lanes, because if split-pushing is your only option to win, then 2 lanes pushed in your direction will be enough for the enemy to go on the third and impose a fight on you.
How do you know where to go when you can show up on the line?
Perhaps the whole difficulty lies precisely in this. As much information as possible will help us in answering both of these questions.
When to push?: a) It is necessary to control the presence of TPs on dangerous heroes. It is clear that the potential Crystal Maiden will not be able to defend the base from Antimage.
If we know for sure that the enemy cows do not have TP, then we are more likely to start breaking. If we see a calmly farming carry and a good half of his team, then again we start pushing in order to make the enemy move. b) We look at the map, if you don’t see heroes on the map that pose a danger to you and one of your teammates is not exposed to their gang, then most likely they left for you, which means it’s worth the wait. c) Fighting – if a battle broke out somewhere on the map and your presence there is not necessary, or you will not be able to get there, then rather, without wasting time, we go to push.
Which line? a) The one on which there are no enemies at the moment and they are out of reach b) Fluffy line, if a lot of creeps have accumulated on one of the lines and the risks of dying are minimal, then you need to go there. At the same time, you need to understand that such behavior is trite and easy to read, so if you do not see enemy heroes, you should know that there may be an enemy on this lane who is waiting for someone who will come to defend the tower.
c) It is always worth being where you are not expected. So, for example, if the opponent plays aggressively, and most of his heroes are on your half of the map, then it makes sense to go into the enemy jungle, and sometimes leaving there to kill creeps. An aggressive enemy rarely places wards in their jungle, which means we are not so easy to pick up from a blink. d) If possible, you need to choose a lane that is as far away from your allies as possible, so that even if you die, the enemy could not calmly start pushing, because somewhere on the top, your ally is already pushing in response.
What else can help us?
A smart split is easier to perform with a team and our team can help us in the following ways: a) Your team can start pushing, thereby forcing the enemy to spend TP, or force them to make a TP save by attacking the opponent’s core. b) Killing Roshan, here the enemy is forced to choose between two evils, either to defeat you, or to fight on Roshan. In any case, you will get a profit, it’s either easy Roshan or easy houses.
c) As I mentioned, allies can start pushing another lane.
If you are completely split-pushing, then you should think about the necessary artifacts. Of these, I would single out: a) Those that strengthen creeps, namely Ring of Basilius, Vladimir`s Offering, Assault Cuirass. b) Allow you to quickly kill enemy creeps, Battle Fury, Manta Style. c) Increase mobility or allow you to push without the intervention of the hero, these are Boots of Travel, Blink Dagger, Shadow Blade, Necronomicon, Manta Style here it is worth noting that Manta is an invaluable artifact in case of moving around the map, never neglect to use it and send illusions along the line , this will not only give time to go farm the neighboring forest, but also money, while we ourselves will be safe. d) They improve our survivability, this is again Manta Style, Linken`s Sphere, Black King Bar. e) The last type is artifacts that increase damage to buildings: Desolator, Assault Cuirass, Manta Style, Necronomicon.
Last item, enemy heroes.
When you take on a split, it is important to be aware of what kind of characters the enemy has and how dangerous they are for us, the worst enemies of split-pushers are heroes with an instant stun, a la Lion, Rubick. Playing against these characters is very difficult, because no reaction will save you from the Blink + Hex Combination, only your instinct and information. I would divide the opponent’s picks into 3 categories:
-Peaks without control, it’s a pleasure to play against such, you are free to do anything, the main thing is not to waste the escape and not to substitute.
-Peaks with control, but no instant disables, when playing against such picks, you need to be aware of the risks and it is advisable to always have an unused manta or something like that, because sometimes reactions to using blink, invis or something then in this spirit may not be enough.
-Picks with instant control, when you play against guys who are impossible to dodge from the stun, you must always control the map and think a few times before showing up in the lane with your own eyes, so it is advisable in moments when you cannot tell exactly where your opponent is , send summoned units along the line, illusions, and certainly not leave your half of the map.
In such situations, Linken`s Sphere helps out perfectly, so if you see such a situation, then be sure to collect Linken.
To sum up: if you have a mobile pick, then you need to use your advantage and drag slower opponents around the map. If you feel like you can’t win head-on, start splitting again, it’s quite possible that by doing so you will gain enough time or even space on the map due to broken barracks and this advantage will allow you to win. If my explanations were not enough, then I advise you to watch the game of the teams, Vega squadron and Alliance.
Some may find the game not very original, but the dynamics, the thrill of speed and the epic scenes of destruction leave no room for skepticism
This is not a harsh racing simulator in which you need to adjust the angle of attack of the rear spoiler to the millimeter. Split/Second (in Europe, the word Velocity is added to the name of the game) is also not a hybrid of a simulator with an arcade. The creation of Black Rock Studio is a concentrated action, not overshadowed by any additional “additives”. And it’s about destruction. The two words that best describe Split/Second are speed and chaos. The game is very simple in its essence, but in this case, the smaller the individual pieces, the stronger the construction.
The task is to get to the end of the season, and to do it in the most spectacular way possible.
Sometimes it’s much better to sit back, fill the scale to capacity, and then bring down on the rivals everything that the director sent. The main thing is to keep a distance and calculate the time, otherwise there is a risk of being imprinted in a falling crane “ordered” by oneself.
It was this kind of pastime that the crazy FlatOut series lacked.
