How to properly position your hands and body for catching a lacrosse ball. What are the best drills to improve your catching skills. Can you master one-handed and behind-the-back catches in lacrosse.
The Fundamentals of Lacrosse Ball Catching
Catching a lacrosse ball is a fundamental skill that every player must master. It requires a combination of proper technique, body positioning, and hand-eye coordination. By understanding and practicing these essentials, you can significantly improve your catching ability and overall performance on the field.
Hand Positioning for Optimal Control
Proper hand positioning is crucial for effectively catching a lacrosse ball. Where should you place your hands on the stick? Your dominant hand should be near the top of the shaft, while your non-dominant hand should be positioned near the end. This grip allows for better control over both the stick and the ball.
When preparing to catch, keep your hands away from your body. This creates more room for movement and adjustment as the ball approaches. Maintain a relaxed but firm grip, ready to adapt your hand position as needed to secure the catch.
Body Positioning for Successful Catches
Your body position plays a vital role in catching a lacrosse ball. How should you orient yourself to receive a pass? Point your front shoulder towards the passer. This alignment helps you track the ball more effectively and puts you in an optimal position to make the catch.
As the ball comes your way, adjust your feet and lean slightly into the ball’s trajectory. This positioning helps absorb the impact and gives you better control upon contact. Stay relaxed but alert, ready to move and adjust your stance as necessary.
Always keep your eyes on the ball and angle the head of your stick towards it. Aim to have the ball hit the top center of your pocket, where the netting is widest. This target area provides the best chance of securing the ball and maintaining control after the catch.
Enhancing Your Lacrosse Catching Skills
Improving your catching skills in lacrosse requires dedication, practice, and the right approach. By incorporating specific drills and focusing on mental preparation, you can take your catching ability to the next level.
Essential Practice Drills for Better Catching
Regular practice is key to honing your catching skills. What are some effective drills to improve your technique? Two popular and highly effective options are the “wall ball” drill and the “partner catch” drill.
- Wall Ball Drill: Stand 5-10 feet from a wall and repeatedly throw and catch the ball against it. This exercise enhances hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
- Partner Catch Drill: Work with a teammate, standing 10-15 feet apart, and practice throwing and catching passes. This helps improve accuracy and timing.
Incorporate these drills into your regular practice routine to see significant improvements in your catching ability over time.
Mental Preparation for Successful Catches
The mental aspect of catching a lacrosse ball is often overlooked but incredibly important. How can you mentally prepare for better catches? Visualization and maintaining a calm demeanor are two key strategies.
Before games or practice sessions, take time to visualize yourself successfully catching the ball. This mental rehearsal can boost your confidence and improve focus during actual play. Additionally, make a conscious effort to stay relaxed and calm when preparing to catch. Tension and anxiety can hinder your performance, so take deep breaths and focus on the task at hand.
Advanced Lacrosse Catching Techniques
Once you’ve mastered the basics of catching a lacrosse ball, it’s time to explore more advanced techniques. These skills can give you an edge on the field and impress both teammates and opponents.
Mastering One-Handed Catches
One-handed catches are a flashy yet practical skill in lacrosse. How can you perform a one-handed catch effectively? Start by extending your dominant arm out to the side, holding the stick firmly. As the ball approaches, track it carefully with your eyes and reach out to grab it with your stick.
Use your thumb to secure the ball against the sidewall of your stick, then bring it in towards your body. Practice this technique by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it with one hand. Once comfortable, challenge yourself by using your non-dominant hand as well.
Perfecting Behind-the-Back Catches
Behind-the-back catches are another impressive move that can catch opponents off guard. How do you execute this advanced technique? Begin by turning your body so that your back faces the passer. As the ball approaches, reach behind your back with your stick and catch the ball using the sidewall.
Use your wrist to cradle the ball and smoothly bring it around to the front of your body. This move requires significant practice to master, so dedicate time to perfecting it during your training sessions.
Common Catching Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced players can fall into bad habits when catching a lacrosse ball. Recognizing and correcting these mistakes is crucial for improving your overall game.
Overcoming the “Alligator Arms” Syndrome
“Alligator arms” is a common mistake where players keep their arms too close to their body when catching. Why is this problematic? It limits your reach and flexibility, making it harder to adjust to off-target passes. To avoid this, consciously extend your arms away from your body when preparing to catch, giving yourself more room to maneuver and adapt to the ball’s trajectory.
Avoiding the “Basket Catch” Trap
The “basket catch” occurs when players try to catch the ball by cradling it in the pocket of their stick without actively securing it. Why is this technique unreliable? It often leads to dropped balls or easy checks by opponents. Instead, focus on actively catching the ball by clamping down with your top hand as soon as the ball enters your stick’s pocket. This assertive catching style gives you better control and possession of the ball.
Adapting Your Catching Technique to Different Game Situations
Lacrosse is a dynamic sport, and your catching technique needs to adapt to various game scenarios. Being able to catch effectively in different situations can significantly enhance your value as a player.
Catching on the Run
Catching while moving is a crucial skill in lacrosse. How can you improve your ability to catch on the run? Focus on maintaining your speed while slightly angling your body towards the passer. Keep your stick in a ready position and your eyes on the ball. As you catch, try to absorb the ball’s momentum by giving slightly with your arms, which will help you maintain your speed and transition smoothly into your next move.
Handling High and Low Passes
Not all passes will come at an ideal height. How do you adjust for high or low balls? For high passes, raise your stick and catch the ball above your shoulder, using your body to shield defenders. For low passes, lower your stick and get your body behind the ball, bending your knees if necessary. Practice these variations to become a more versatile and reliable catcher.
Integrating Catching Skills into Team Play
While individual catching skills are important, their real value comes in how they contribute to team performance. Understanding how to use your catching abilities within the team context can elevate both your game and your team’s success.
Catching in Traffic
In game situations, you’ll often need to catch the ball while surrounded by defenders. How can you improve your chances of securing the ball in traffic? Stay aware of your surroundings and use your body to shield the ball from defenders. Keep your stick close to your body until the last moment, then quickly extend to catch and immediately protect the ball. Practice quick catches and transitions to maintain possession under pressure.
Communication and Timing with Teammates
Effective catching isn’t just about individual skill—it’s also about teamwork. How can you improve your catching through better communication? Develop clear signals with your teammates for different types of passes. Call for the ball when you’re open, and use verbal cues to guide your teammates’ passes. Practice timing your cuts and movements to sync with your teammates’ passing rhythms, creating a more fluid and effective offense.
Leveraging Technology to Improve Catching Skills
In today’s digital age, technology offers new ways to enhance your lacrosse catching abilities. From video analysis to specialized training equipment, these tools can provide valuable insights and practice opportunities.
Video Analysis for Technique Refinement
Video analysis can be a powerful tool for improving your catching technique. How can you effectively use video to enhance your skills? Record yourself during practice sessions and games, then review the footage to identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to your hand positioning, body alignment, and timing. Many sports analysis apps allow you to slow down footage and draw on the screen, helping you visualize and correct your technique.
Specialized Training Equipment for Catching Practice
Various training aids are available to help you practice catching in different scenarios. What equipment can help improve your catching skills? Consider investing in a rebounder net for solo practice sessions, allowing you to work on catching at different angles and speeds. Reaction balls can help improve hand-eye coordination, while weighted sticks can build strength and control for more challenging catches.
By incorporating these tools into your training regimen, you can create a more diverse and effective practice routine, leading to improved catching skills on the field.
How to Catch a Lacrosse Ball (Hack Your Skills)
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Catching a ball is an essential skill in lacrosse, like cradling or passing. It may seem simple but it requires proper technique, body positioning, and hand-eye coordination. This article will give you some tips and techniques on how to catch a lacrosse ball like a pro.
Here we go.
Table of Contents
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Fundamentals of Catching a Lacrosse Ball
Hand Positioning
Proper hand positioning is crucial when catching a lacrosse ball. Your dominant hand should be placed near the top of the shaft, while your non-dominant hand should be placed near the end of the shaft. This grip will allow you to have better control over the stick and the ball.
When catching the ball, you want to ensure your hands are away from your body. This will give you more room to move and adjust your stick as needed. Keep your hands relaxed but firm, and be ready to adjust your grip as necessary to catch the ball.
Body Positioning
Body positioning is just as important as hand positioning when learning how to catch a lacrosse ball. To properly receive a pass, keeping your front shoulder pointed toward the person passing you the ball is important. This will allow you to track the ball better and be in a better position to catch it.
As the ball travels toward you, move your feet so you lean into it. This will help you absorb the impact of the ball and give you more control over it. Keep your body relaxed but ready to move, and be prepared to adjust your position as necessary to catch the ball.
Remember to keep your eyes on the ball at all times, and angle the head of your stick toward the ball. Aim to have the ball hit the top center of your pocket where the netting is wider. This will give you the best chance of catching the ball and maintaining control of it.
Improving Your Catching Skills
Practice Drills
Practicing catching drills is crucial to improving your catching skills in lacrosse.
One of my favorite drills is the “wall ball” drill. This drill involves standing about 5-10 feet away from a wall and throwing the ball against it, catching it with your stick, and then repeating the process. This drill helps improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time, which are essential for catching a lacrosse ball during a game.
(You may also watch this video to learn more about how to catch a lacrosse ball on a wall)
Another great drill is the “partner catch” drill. This drill involves finding a partner and standing about 10-15 feet away from each other. One person throws the ball to the other, and they catch it with their stick. This drill helps improve accuracy and timing, which are also essential for catching a lacrosse ball.
Mental Preparation
Catching a lacrosse ball also requires mental preparation. One way to mentally prepare is to visualize yourself catching the ball successfully, which is a key component of learning how to catch a lacrosse ball.
This can be done before a game or during practice. Visualizing yourself catching the ball can help build confidence and improve your focus.
Another way to mentally prepare is to stay relaxed and calm. Tensing up or getting anxious can make it harder to catch the ball. Take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. Remember that catching a lacrosse ball is a skill that takes practice and patience.
Advanced Techniques
If you’ve mastered the basics of catching a lacrosse ball, it’s time to move on to more advanced techniques. These techniques require more skill and practice but can be game-changers on the field.
One-Handed Catches
A one-handed catch is a flashy move that impresses your teammates and opponents. You’ll need excellent hand-eye coordination and a firm grip on your stick to perform a one-handed catch.
When attempting a one-handed catch, keep your stick in your dominant hand and extend your arm out to the side. As the ball approaches, track it with your eyes and reach out to grab it with your stick.
Use your thumb to secure the ball against the sidewall of your stick and bring it in towards your body.
Practice one-handed catches by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it with one hand. Start with your dominant hand and then switch to your non-dominant hand once you feel comfortable.
Behind-the-Back Catches
Behind-the-back catches are another impressive move that can catch your opponents off guard. To perform a behind-the-back catch, you’ll need good hand-eye coordination and comfortably cradle the ball behind your back. Learning how to catch a lacrosse ball using this technique can take time and practice, but it can pay off in a big way on the field.
Start by turning your body so that your back is facing the passer. As the ball approaches, reach behind your back with your stick and catch the ball with the sidewall. Use your wrist to cradle the ball and bring it back around to the front of your body.
Practice behind-the-back catches by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it behind your back.
Start with slow, controlled movements and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
Troubleshooting Common Mistakes
Misjudging the Ball’s Trajectory
One common mistake when catching a lacrosse ball is misjudging the ball’s trajectory. This can happen when you don’t keep your eye on the ball or when you don’t position your body correctly to receive the pass.
To avoid this mistake, make sure to keep your eye on the ball from the moment it leaves the passer’s stick. Also, position your body correctly by turning your head and front shoulder to the direction of the person passing the ball and move your feet so you lean into it.
If you still get into trouble misjudging the ball’s trajectory, try adjusting your stance and footwork. Practice catching with a partner and have them vary the speed and direction of the passes to improve your reaction time and ability to judge the ball’s trajectory.
Dropping the Ball
Dropping the ball is another common mistake when learning how to catch a lacrosse ball, but it can be avoided with the right technique.
This can happen when you don’t have a firm grip on the stick, don’t use your non-dominant hand to secure the ball, or don’t have soft hands to absorb the ball’s impact.
To avoid dropping the ball, make sure to have a firm grip on the stick with your dominant hand near the top of the shaft and your non-dominant hand near the end of the shaft. Use your non-dominant hand to secure the ball and absorb the impact with soft hands.
If you still have this mistake, try adjusting your grip and hand positioning. Practice catching with a partner and have them vary the speed and direction of the passes to improve your hand-eye coordination and ability to secure the ball.
Lacrosse Catching Tips
Here are some tips that can help:
- Proper body positioning is key. You want to have your front shoulder directed at the person passing the ball. This allows you to see the ball better and react quickly to catch it.
- Keep your hands and arms away from your body. This gives you more space to catch the ball and reduces the chance of it bouncing off your stick.
- Angle the head of your stick toward the ball. This helps you catch the ball in the sweet spot of your pocket.
- Watch the ball into your stick. Keep your eyes on the ball until it is securely in your stick.
- Practice catching with both hands. Being able to catch with your non-dominant hand can make you a more versatile player.
Remember, catching a lacrosse ball takes practice and patience. Keep working on your skills, and you will see improvement over time.
In conclusion, learning how to catch a lacrosse ball may seem daunting at first, but with the right technique, practice, and patience, anyone can master this essential skill. Remember to keep your eyes on the ball, position your body correctly, and use your hands and arms to secure the catch. With time and effort, you’ll be able to catch lacrosse balls with ease, leading to greater success on the field and a deeper appreciation for the sport. So go out there, grab your stick, and start catching!
Want more skills? Click below:
Lacrosse Cradling | Lacrosse Passing
The Two Most Important Parts Of Throwing And Catching A Lacrosse Ball
Posted on
09.02″>
2 September 2014
Fundamentally the most essential skill you must master as a lacrosse player is throwing and catching the lacrosse ball. Foot position and proper grip are two important aspects of skillfully passing and retrieving the lacrosse ball. Here are the fundamentals of foot positioning, plus how to properly hold your lacrosse stick.
Foot Foundation is Fundamental
Like a well-built house, throwing and catching a lacrosse ball starts with the foundation. The foundation for a lacrosse player to throw and catch the ball is the positioning of the feet.
First determine which foot is your lead foot. Most often the lead foot will be the opposite of which hand is your predominate hand. If you are right-handed for instance, this will normally be your top hand when gripping your lacrosse stick, so your lead foot will be your left.
Your other foot is called the anchor or drive foot. Your lead foot should be just ahead of your anchor foot with your feet positioned just about shoulder length apart./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63318302/e1R5A3155.0.jpg)
Get used to being on the balls of your feet, not resting back on your heels.
This will establish a solid base for catching and throwing the lacrosse ball, plus allow you to shift and move quickly. The agility gained from a proper base will allow you to move to a new position after throwing, avoid contact after a catch, plus adjust to poorly thrown passes.
Gripping the Lacrosse Stick Correctly
If you do not learn a how to hold your lacrosse stick properly, you will develop bad habits that are difficult to correct. Hold the bottom end of the stick in your bottom hand. Again, your predominate hand will usually be more comfortable as your top hand.
Rest the stick shaft at the base of your fingers, about one third, but no further than halfway up the stick handle. Close your fingers gently with your thumb pad on the flat edge of your stick closest to you.
The grip for your top hand will be just like the motion you use to shake someone’s hand.
Do not jam the stick deep into your palm. Burying your stick handle into the palm of your hand will restrict your range of wrist motion and limit your throwing and catching skills.
Remember one vital concept when gripping your lacrosse stick. Embrace the stick; do not squeeze the life out of it. You will need to practice your grip and make adjustments until it feels comfortable. Cradling the stick in your hand will give you flexibility in your wrists, important to skillful passing and catching.
Practice is the key to perfecting your lacrosse game, but without a solid foundation with your feet, plus the knowledge of how to correctly grip your stick you will develop poor habits. Develop your footwork and get used to the feel of gripping your stick. Your throwing and catching skills will rapidly improve. If you have more questions about lacrosse, try contacting a company like Breakaway Lacrosse for a better feeling of what works best and how to get started.
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Shesterkin about lacrosse goals: “This is disrespect for the goalkeeper.
I would send off for trying to score like that” – Hockey
Igor Shesterkin considers lacrosse goals to be disrespectful to the goalkeeper.
“Sidney Crosby tried to score like that once. He did lacrosse with an uncomfortable hand. In general, I saw the beginning of this movement, but I don’t know if I would have managed to catch if the puck had [not] come off the hook or not.
But in general my opinion is that I would change the rules and send off for attempting lacrosse. This is disrespectful to the goalkeeper and his business,” said Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
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