Defensive Lacrosse Drill: Takeaway Teacher
If you want to be a dominant defenseman, you’ll need to master three major skill sets: Footwork, Sticks Skills and Lacrosse IQ. I laid out these key aspects of player development in my post, How To Become A Dominant Lacrosse Defenseman, and today I’ll go a little deeper into the stick skills portion of this.
The Takeaway Teacher
Throw GREAT checks and be FEARED by all who carry the ball!
Learn to throw checks with the best of them!
As I said in my defensive post, wall ball is extremely important when it comes to stick skill development and becoming comfortable with the ball. However, it isn’t the only stick drill you can do to improve your game! This drill is an oldie but a goodie, and it will allow you to really focus on your wrist strength, timing and stick skills. It’s perfect for first time long poles but can still help the best of the best become even better!
Drill Requirements
To get started, you’ll need the following:
– 1 short stick
– 1 goal
– 1 long pole
Preferably, the long pole you use will be a heavier back-up stick, as this will help you build up strength and stamina. Also, when you pick up your gamer after using a heavier pole, it feels like a feather in your hands!
Drill Setup
Step 1: Take the short stick and slide the shaft through the back of a lacrosse goal’s netting. The shaft should be placed through the goal so that the head of the short stick is at or below your head level, placed about 10-15 net rows in from the goalpost. The stick is positioned like this in the goal to simulate a ball carrier with a vertical cradle and good stick protection.
Step 2: Take two steps back from the goal, standing on goal line extended and pick up your long pole.
Step 3: Start throwing PRECISE checks on the stick hanging in the goal as two of my HS freshman defenders are doing here:
Ok, so they aren’t young Joel Whites just quite yet, but they are improving! This was probably the first time they ever got a lesson in throwing checks, and later in the day, during 6 on 6, it showed with multiple takeaways.
Drill Progression
At first, stick to simple checks like the poke check, two-handed front wrap check, and slap check. Then, as your strength and comfort with a long pole increases, you can start throwing more advanced checks. If you can’t throw a kayak perfectly on a set up like this 20 times in a row, you’re not ready to use it in a game. Use this drill as a barometer to test how well you know your own checks, and avoid getting in trouble with your coach!
Build up to combination checks. By throwing two checks to the front of the goal, the stick will begin to sway back and forth. Time this sway like an attackman’s cradle and then work on throwing the over the head check. This drill truly allows players to learn how to set up checks, and throw them effectively.
Do’s and Don’ts
When doing this drill yourself, try to focus on the following things:
– DO throw sharp, accurate checks. With a heavier shaft, you will be amazed at how quickly your arms will get sore. But that means they’re also getting strong!
– DON’T take a big back swing on your checks. This will lead to bad habits on the playing field!
– DO time your checks. As the short stick swings, focus on timing your checks to navigate around the goal pipes.
– DON’T hit the goal with your stick. Hitting the pipe is equivalent to slashing an attacker on his free arm, and it means you are not reaching AROUND the player enough with your stick, or timing your checks well.
– DO stay in control. Tighten your core when you do this drill. Focus on your positioning and be precise with your stick checks at all time. Get ready to work!
– DON’T be lazy and step around the goal. Stand on the balls of your feet, like you would in a real game, and bend your knees. Challenge yourself.
– DO be diverse with your checks. Practice throwing checks to the head of the short stick and then to the butt end. Some players hang the head of their sticks, while others show the butt end. Get used to going after either.
– DON’T throw one-handed checks. This is another horrible habit to fall into. Effective and efficient use of a 6-foot long lacrosse stick requires 2 hands!
The Only Drawback
The only real drawback to this drill is that the defensive players are standing still, and we all know that standing still is bad! So as a coach, if you’re going to use this drill in practice, I recommend having the poles go at it like this for 5 minutes, and then moving DIRECTLY to 4 on 3s. Players’ arms should be tired from throwing all those checks, so they will have to use their feet. After you see that they are moving their feet again, you can get into 1 on 1s, 3 on 3s or 6 on 6.
The Art of Checking
This drill really breaks down the art of defensive checking to its most simple form. It is all about short, strong and precise checks while working on timing. By placing the short stick on either side of the goal, you can mimic a lefty or righty ball carrier.
There is no limit to what a defensive player can learn from this drill, it just depends on how far they’re willing to take it.
HOW TO PERFORM GOOD DEFENSIVE CHECKS IN LACROSSE
The lacrosse defensive tactic is robust and a pact where technical prowess is needed to ensure a winning for the defending team. However, defense is a team game and the stronger a lacrosse team defense operates as a unit the less the team will need to rely on the goalie making hero save after hero save.
Moreover, understanding team defense is also going to help aid in goalie communication and general team defense communication as each player will always know what each defender should be doing in every moment of the game. But there are many lacrosse checks that the player might find useful when playing defense. Remember that body checks are almost always more effective than stick checks.
More so, the abrupt ending of the 2020 lacrosse season and no one can actually guess when the 2021 season will begin. But there’s been plenty of movement in the offseason.
While it’s probably a greater challenge to forecast the upcoming season than in most years, according to Sportsbookreview.com, the Whipsnakes are at 3/1 to win the 2021 Major League Lacrosse season which is due to their additions and their offseason play which have been very daunting.
There are top level lacrosse players out there who aren’t the biggest, strongest, or even the fastest athletes, and yet they still make their way onto the field. In fact, sometimes they even stand out as a team’s best player. From this simple fact, we know that overall lacrosse defending ability is not solely decided by one’s physical stature.
But in the high-scoring game of lacrosse, defense often makes the difference. The most successful teams and players have a strong foundation in the fundamentals of lacrosse stick checks. Below are the defensive checks that will help you play at your best at any level in the game of high-spirited Lacrosse.
Poke
The most basic lacrosse check for a long-stick defender is the poke check. To execute a poke, the player simply needs to hold the stick in a basic two-handed grip and use their bottom hand to push the stick through the top hand and out of the body, like a pool cue. This check can annoy and hopefully disrupt your opponent without making you lose body position. If you use one check, use the poke.
The poke check is most typically thrown when you initially play the attacker, as they are coming toward the defender. It can also be effective when thrown in the middle of a split dodge to disrupt the attacker as they make their move. To maximize the effectiveness of this check, the defender needs to make sure that they maintain their proper positioning.
Although, the poke check is one of the most basic checks in lacrosse and it can be extremely effective. But, every defender should know how to do a poke check as one of the foundational lacrosse defensive moves.
Lift
Just what it sounds like. Put your stick under their bottom hand and lift. This is a good check to interfere with passes and shots. Basically, this defensive check is an act of ensuring that the defender loses their balance and ball where the defender keeps lifting until it gets to the point where the ball or the attacker.
With the lift defending, the key is identifying the ball ending and trying those gloves on the hand, while constantly lifting and returning as the positioning is on par with the attacker until the defender forces the attacker out of position or enforcing the loss ball.
Although, the aim of this defensive check is for a defender to force escape by going to a one-handed cradle. But the player should quickly lift their stick under their arm and try to strike the “V” where their hand joins together with the stick. This can “be-twig” an opponent.
Slap
The slap check is a great check for the Lacrosse defenders to understand and as a rigorous expanded approach is a shortcoming to this advanced defensive check. While the defender hit the attack man with the head of their stick, using a slashing motion. But the player must be careful! Because this is a check that is most likely to get the defender called for slashing, and it makes them lose body position.
However, when mastered, the slap check is a very defensive addition to any team that wants to exert their dominance in a game.
Wrap
When your attack man is cradling with his back to you, hold your stick in a two handed grip, and wrap the stick around him while using your bottom hand to throw the end of the stick under your arm.
The wrap check is a dangerous approach because it’s a one hand maneuver and the defender does not have the complete control of his stick. However, it can be effective if the attacker has worked his way into a good shooting position close to the goal. Moreover, this check is more effective when the opposite hand faces each other.
Overhead
Use the wrap, but throw it over their head, instead. Be careful not to hit their helmet, as a head check is a penalty and will make your defense man-down.
The over the head check is a very dangerous check technique which requires more attention and cautions. If the defender doesn’t knock out the ball from the opponent’s stick, he is in a vulnerable position and will probably be dodging. Although, there are many over the head techniques, the simplicity will certainly keep the defender at advantage.
Ding Dong
The ding dong technique is a defensive exposing way, but the mastering of these techniques is an adventurous state that can quickly transition the defensive shape to the attacking prowess when the defensive is quite structured.
This technique starts by faking the overhead check and when the attacker tries to roll under the defender, he brings his stick down backwards on attack man stick or forearms.
Tick Tock
Tick tock can be so vague when they are not properly and cautiously managed by the defender and can further put the team in jeopardy, because a singular mistake from the defender will expose the team’s defensive structure and an act of commission will be penalized.
Further this check technique is a top to the toe where the defender constantly moves his stick back and forth over the attackman’s head, and when he brings his stick back for the cradle, pass, or shot, bring his stick down as hard as he can to enforce the error from the attackman..
Kayak
This is a technique that involves a fast attitude from the defender where he chokes up on his stick and hack at his opponent’s stick with the end of his shaft. This technique can swiftly turn the defense to attack when properly mastered with a coordinate defensive unit.
User Review
0
(0 votes)
Sending
Fake clubs
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about the topic of counterfeit in hockey equipment , how to distinguish it and how not to fall for the bait of fraudulent sellers.
It’s no secret that most often you can find a fake club, her replica than fakes among ammunition. This is explained by the fact that clubs are easier to disguise as the original. You can hide production flaws under a layer of paint, stickers and inscriptions. With a protective form , this will not work , after all, low-quality materials, crooked stitching, protruding threads, and so on will be visible. Moreover, to hem the protection elements under the fabric is a rather complicated process, which just like that, “on the knee” , cannot be done. So it turns out that out of China , in addition to the original sticks that come from the factories of large companies, fakes also come to us.
Left original, right fake
So how can you tell a fake and not get burned when buying?
First, at the initial inspection, pay attention to the paint and finish of the club. This component is the most difficult to fake. Unlike the original, the fake will show traces of stains , uneven application of paint and coating. Possibly on the designation places “flex” and hook bend will be just stickers, but it’s not easy to notice. Also, instead of a high-quality coating “flu” , it can be just silicone, which can be easily distinguished from the original by touch. The paint on the places of the name or model may be too bright, as if applied with a spray gun.
Feather and Stick.
After inspecting the surface of the stick, note where the stick meets the feather. It should be even without any bumps. Carbon weaves should be with the same pitch, distance, with even borders. If you have the opportunity to see at least the original photo of the club you are buying, then compare the carbon weave along the entire length of the stick. Usually, fakes are limited to the image of weaving only on the pen. Yes, and there, as a rule, you can see layers and irregularities. Real carbon in the world needs a little “play” with reflection . Counterfeit, as a rule, cannot boast of this.
Plug on stick.
Left original, right “fake”
Third, remove the cap from the top end of the tube. If you look a little deeper, on the original you can see color printing from factory . As a rule, it is applied in several layers and colors. The code symbols of the party and the manufacturer are written on it. It is extremely difficult to fake it, but on some “fake” you can see a simple paper sticker, supposedly with batch numbers. On the originals, there is always only a print – a marker.
Well, the last option that more experienced hockey players can use is to check the stick for balance. When checking a fake, its balance will be clearly shifted to towards the pen , due to the fact that the stick was assembled in parts and then glued together and because there are no technological solutions in the pen, in the fake.
I hope this article will help you when choosing and buying a club, and other equipment.
Tags: sticks
Top flex sticks
ZaryaD S series of sticks The ‘C’ range includes sticks with a high flex point. Also, these models are distinguished by a hook of medium hardness, a rectangular shape of the handle and a narrowed taper. To transfer energy […]
Club midpoint
ZaryaD T series of clubs The ZaryaD T range of clubs is considered universal due to the fact that it combines the properties of the AK and C series. The main differences between these models are the hybrid point […]
Covers for clubs and helmet.
Hockey stick and helmet covers. Very often, taking the helmet out of the bag, we find all the new scratches or chips on the visor and the helmet itself, while not entering into the hard […] NIS Designed specifically for children Children should not use shortened adult hockey […]
Overview of hockey stick bands
Surely, every hockey player, coming to the store, thought: why are there so many varieties of tape manufacturers, and how do they all differ? Let’s dedicate today’s review of accessories to the tape for the hook and try to figure out what […] For young athletes, this attribute plays an important role, since it is with a stick that a child understands the whole essence of ice hockey. That is why it is important not […]
How to choose the hardness of a hockey stick?
The FLEX parameter or the hardness of the hockey stick affects the performance of the technical components. The stiffer it is, the more effort must be applied to deflect it and perform a good throw. Therefore, the heavier the hockey player, […]
How to hold a hockey stick
The stick is undoubtedly of key importance in the life of every player, which is why today a special approach is taken to choosing the best stick. Not many athletes can boast that the first time […]
The history of the brand “ZaryaD”
The modern world never ceases to amaze with regular changes and innovations that a person meets in his life. Progress does not stand still, and the same can be said about the development of domestic sports. […]
Danis Zaripov and the idea of creating the ZaryaD brand
The story of Danis Zaripov The name of Danis Zaripov is known even among people who have little interest in sports. He is the only player in the history of the KHL to win his fifth Gagarin Cup, and one of five hockey players […]
Interview with hockey service Hockey Reform
— Artem, how quickly do you repair torn leggings? – Almost any repair of hockey equipment takes 3 working days, not counting the day of receipt and the day of issue. This is […]
True brand story
True Temper Sports is an American company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Date of foundation – 1902. Engaged in the production of sports products made of metal and composite materials. The brand releases […]
Why are ZaryaD hockey sticks popular in the KHL?
Popularity of Russian ZaryaD hockey sticks in the KHL When developing ZaryaD sticks, advice and opinions of such famous hockey players as Ilya Kovalchuk, Sergey Mozyakin, Evgeny Medvedev, Alexey Morozov were taken into account. The founder of the company […]
Interview with Prime
Interview with Nikita Orlov, one of the founders of Prime for the ICE-Profy portal — Nikita good afternoon! How did you decide to promote the new Prime brand in the domestic market? As conditions […]
The best kids hockey sticks
Choosing a hockey stick for a child is a difficult but very important task. The general impression of hockey depends on the stick, the more comfortable the stick is, the more pleasant and interesting […] Hockey sticks are made from domestic high-quality carbon fiber using modern, including patented […]
Differences between professional and amateur hockey sticks
At first glance, a hockey stick in its appearance may seem like a simple “stick”, supplemented at the bottom with a curved paddle (hook) for gripping and various manipulations with the puck, but with more […]
03
Today we talked to one of the employees of the hockey store and asked the most common questions regarding skates and sticks among hockey fans and parents of young hockey players. We started, as expected, with […]
Hockey goalie sticks overview
Hockey goalie sticks. Every hockey player needs a tool, and goalkeepers are no exception. Many mistakenly believe that a goalkeeper doesn’t really need a stick – he doesn’t own a puck, except […]
Hockey sticks PRIME
A stick is an essential attribute of any hockey player. It is the stick that comes to mind when it comes to hockey. At first, wooden sticks of various shapes were used in hockey, but then the athletes came to the usual […]
Russian made hockey stick
In hockey, as in any team sport, the position of the goalkeeper is very important. No wonder they say that the goalkeeper is half the team. The price of his mistake is immeasurably higher than the mistake of field players. […]
Top 7 hockey sticks among amateurs.
The club is undoubtedly one of the most important attributes of a player, his most formidable weapon. Among dozens of manufacturers, hundreds of models and a variety of flexes, we decided to highlight the top 7 clubs among amateur players. […]
Hockey stick hybrid flex point
One of the important parameters in choosing a hockey stick that affects the style and nature of the game is the so-called flex point. It is a special working area in which […]
Manufacture of hockey sticks
Today it is difficult to find a person who has not held a stick in his hands at least once in his life. But from what and how they are made, not everyone knows. Meanwhile for […]
Hockey stick coverings
When it comes to choosing the right hockey stick, there are many factors that matter, one of which is the type of outer cover. The fact is that the surface finish of the stick performs two main functions: […] It is the stick that comes to mind when it comes to hockey. At first, wooden sticks of various shapes were used in hockey, but then the athletes came to the usual […]
Russian hockey sticks “ZaryaD”
“ZaryaD” is Russia’s main brand of hockey sticks and the most famous example of import substitution in the field of sports equipment. The first and unique production in Russia Even those who are little interested in sports know […]
Accessories for hockey Vitokin
We have already written about the products of the Russian hockey brand VITOKIN, which specializes in the production of equipment and accessories for hockey, goods for the repair of hockey ammunition and the provision of professional services. But in hockey, […]
Top sticks in REFORM
Friends, do not forget, we have on sale 🔝 TOP new, refurbished and used sticks 🏒 at good prices 💱 We did not raise prices for our store and left […]
Goalkeeper stick knob
9 0002 For the goalkeeper, the stick is the main tool, which should be given special attention. Many people make mistakes when wrapping it, winding the tape too tightly, covering the whole stick with tape, or making the tape in […]
Hockey stick wrapping features
The stick is perhaps the most important piece of equipment for a player of any level and every self-respecting hockey player monitors its condition. One of the ways to protect equipment from various mechanical damage and […]
Hockey stick extension
A special extension is designed to increase the length of a hockey stick by ten to twenty centimeters without violating its technical characteristics. Most often, it is needed by athletes taller than 185 cm, for whom the standard stick length is not enough. […]
Russian hockey brands
Changes are constantly taking place in the modern world. It also changes a person’s life. the ability to quickly adapt to innovations is a truly useful skill. In this article we want to talk about modern […]
How to choose the right stick
A hockey stick is an essential part of any player’s equipment. When choosing it, several parameters must be taken into account. Some of them depend on the individual preferences of the hockey player, others on the dimensions of the athlete. To avoid […]
Hockey stick scanner
In the modern world, various technologies are developing very quickly, and this affects all areas of human activity. Hockey is no exception, and computer technology has reached everyone’s favorite game. But […]
Rekker RE 1 YTH Hockey Stick
The most favorite model in the Rekker series for 2021 among athletes. A stick with a low bending point (low kick) for the fastest possible shot. Shaft and blade made of Blackline carbon fiber […]