What are lacrosse defense sticks. How do long sticks differ from other types. What factors should players consider when choosing a defensive stick. How do defensive strategies utilize long sticks effectively. What are the key components of a lacrosse defense stick.
Understanding Lacrosse Defense Sticks: The Backbone of Defense
Lacrosse defense sticks, also known as long poles or d-poles, are essential equipment for defensive players in the sport of lacrosse. These specialized sticks are significantly longer than those used by attackers and midfielders, typically measuring between 52 to 72 inches in length. The extended reach provided by defense sticks allows defenders to effectively disrupt passes, check opponents, and control ground balls from a greater distance.
Key Features of Lacrosse Defense Sticks
- Length: 52-72 inches
- Wider head design for easier ball interception
- Stiffer shaft for increased checking power
- Deeper pocket for ball control and clearing
- Lightweight materials for improved maneuverability
Do defensive players always use long sticks? While long sticks are the standard for defensive positions, some midfielders may alternate between short and long sticks depending on their role and the game situation. However, dedicated defensemen consistently utilize long sticks to maximize their defensive capabilities.
The Evolution of Lacrosse Defense Sticks
The design of lacrosse defense sticks has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting advancements in materials science and a deeper understanding of defensive strategies. Early long poles were made of wood, which provided strength but lacked flexibility and added considerable weight. Modern defense sticks are crafted from lightweight yet durable materials such as carbon fiber, titanium, and advanced alloys.
How have these material changes impacted defensive play? The introduction of lighter, stronger materials has allowed defenders to wield their sticks with greater speed and precision. This has led to more dynamic defensive strategies, enabling players to transition quickly from defense to offense and cover larger areas of the field more effectively.
Milestones in Defense Stick Development
- 1970s: Introduction of aluminum shafts
- 1990s: Composite materials gain popularity
- 2000s: Carbon fiber becomes the gold standard
- 2010s: Advanced alloys and hybrid materials emerge
- Present: Ongoing refinements in weight reduction and durability
Choosing the Right Lacrosse Defense Stick
Selecting the appropriate defense stick is crucial for maximizing a player’s performance on the field. Several factors come into play when making this decision, including the player’s size, strength, playing style, and level of experience.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Defense Stick
- Stick length: Choose based on player height and league regulations
- Shaft material: Balance between weight, strength, and feel
- Head design: Consider width, stiffness, and stringing options
- Grip: Evaluate texture and diameter for optimal control
- Weight distribution: Assess balance point for comfortable handling
Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a defense stick? No, the ideal stick varies from player to player. It’s essential to try out different options and consult with coaches or experienced players to find the best fit for individual needs and playing style.
Mastering Defensive Techniques with Long Sticks
Proficiency with a long stick requires dedicated practice and a thorough understanding of defensive fundamentals. Players must develop a range of skills to effectively utilize the extended reach and leverage provided by defense sticks.
Essential Defensive Skills for Long Stick Players
- Proper stick positioning
- Footwork and body positioning
- Checking techniques (poke, slap, lift)
- Ground ball pickup and control
- Clearing and transition play
How can defenders improve their stick skills? Regular drills focusing on stick handling, footwork, and defensive positioning are crucial. Wall ball exercises, partner drills, and full-field scrimmages all contribute to developing well-rounded defensive abilities.
The Impact of Long Sticks on Defensive Strategies
The presence of long sticks significantly influences team defensive strategies and individual matchups. Coaches must consider how to best utilize the reach and disruptive potential of defense sticks when designing plays and assigning defensive responsibilities.
Strategic Applications of Long Sticks
- Zone defense coordination
- Man-to-man coverage
- Defensive slides and help defense
- Clearing and transition play initiation
- Ride defense against opposing clears
How do long sticks affect offensive strategy? Offensive players must adapt their game to account for the extended reach of defenders, often requiring quicker passes, more precise dodges, and increased off-ball movement to create scoring opportunities.
Maintaining and Customizing Lacrosse Defense Sticks
Proper maintenance and customization of defense sticks are essential for optimal performance and longevity. Players should regularly inspect their equipment and make necessary adjustments to ensure their sticks meet both personal preferences and league regulations.
Maintenance Tips for Long Sticks
- Regular cleaning of shaft and head
- Inspection for cracks or damage
- Proper storage to prevent warping
- Restringing as needed to maintain pocket shape
- Grip replacement or maintenance
Can players customize their defense sticks? Yes, within the limits of league regulations, players can customize various aspects of their sticks, including the pocket depth, string tension, and grip texture, to suit their playing style and preferences.
The Future of Lacrosse Defense Sticks
As the sport of lacrosse continues to evolve, so too will the design and technology behind defense sticks. Manufacturers are constantly exploring new materials and construction techniques to enhance performance, durability, and player safety.
Emerging Trends in Defense Stick Technology
- Smart stick sensors for performance tracking
- Advanced composite materials for improved strength-to-weight ratios
- Ergonomic designs for enhanced comfort and control
- Sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing processes
- Customizable components for personalized performance
How might future innovations impact the game? As defense sticks become lighter, stronger, and more technologically advanced, we may see shifts in defensive strategies and player development approaches. These advancements could potentially lead to faster-paced games and more dynamic defensive plays.
Comparing Lacrosse Defense Sticks to Other Positions
While defense sticks are unique in their length and design, it’s valuable to understand how they compare to sticks used in other positions. This comparison highlights the specialized nature of each role within the sport of lacrosse.
Stick Comparison Across Positions
- Attack/Midfield: Shorter (40-42 inches), more flexible for quick maneuvers
- Goalie: Shortest (40 inches), widest head for shot blocking
- Face-off: Short stick with specialized head design for face-offs
- Long Stick Midfield (LSM): Similar to defense sticks, used situationally
Why do different positions require specialized sticks? Each position in lacrosse has unique responsibilities and playstyles. The stick design for each role is optimized to enhance the specific skills and movements required for that position’s success on the field.
Understanding the nuances of lacrosse defense sticks is crucial for players, coaches, and enthusiasts alike. These specialized tools play a pivotal role in shaping defensive strategies and individual player performance. As the sport continues to grow and evolve, so too will the technology and techniques associated with long sticks, ensuring that the art of defense remains a dynamic and integral part of the game.
New Jersey rosters for All-America Underclass Games
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/27/23
New Jersey rosters for All-America Underclass Games in Maryland this weekend:
NEW JERSEY BOYS – BURN
Name Hometown High School Position
Dylan Ah Now SHORT HILLS, NJ The Hotchkiss School Mid-Field
Dylan Blekicki Warren, NJ The Pingry School Attack
Noah Blinkoff Livingston, NJ Saint Joseph Regional HS Defense
Grant Carle Manalapan, NJ Grant Carle Face-off
Michael Clifford sparta, NJ Seton Hall Prep Defense
Graham Coakley Montclair, NJ Seton Hall Prep Mid-Field
David Corb Wayne, NJ Don Bosco Prep. Defense
Colin Coyle Westfield, NJ Westfield HS Attack
Brock Duerring Washington, NJ Warren Hills Regional Defense
Jackson Gervais Little Silver, NJ Christian Brothers Academy Lincroft Defense
Brock Getson Los Angeles, CA The Lawerenceville School Long Stick Mid-Field
Cole Hayden Hillsborough, NJ Immaculata Mid-Field
Kyle Holtby Flemington, NJ Immaculata HS Goalie
Chase Huggard Voorhees, NJ Eastern Regional HS Mid-Field
Charles Killen Glen Ridge, NJ Seton Hall Prep Attack
Sam Madalone MONMOUTH BEACH, NJ Img Academy Mid-Field
David Manzo Glen Ridge, NJ Seton hall prep Long Stick Mid-Field
Elliott McClendon Randolph, NJ Randolph Mid-Field
TJ Munn New Providence, NJ New Providence HS Mid-Field
Eli Pounds Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood HS Goalie
Michael Ramirez Oak Ridge, NJ Pope John XXIII HS Face-off
Will Yates Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood HS Mid-Field
NEW JERSEY BOYS – COMMAND
Name Hometown High School Position
Andrew Ahrens Lambertville, NJ Princeton Day School (Hill School) Attack
Lucas Angel SOUTH ORANGE, NJ Seton Hall Prep Face-off
Alexander Ante Maplewood, NJ Seton Hall Prep Attack
Jimmy Benson Glen Ridge, NJ Glen Ridge HS Mid-Field
Shepard Boyd Chatham, NJ Chatham NJ HS Mid-Field
Griffin Breen Haddonfield, NJ Haddonfield Mid-Field
Luke Burns Califon, NJ Pingry School Goalie
Jesse Busch South Orange, NJ Pingry Attack
Wes Canton Moorestown, NJ Moorestown Goalie
Cooper Christian Lebanon, NJ Seton Hall Prep Mid-Field
Dara Corr West Orange, NJ Delbarton Defense
Gus Cummings Westfield, NJ Delbarton Mid-Field
Luke Gouse Long Valley, NJ West Morris Central Face-off
Ryan Healey West Caldwell, NJ James Caldwell HS Defense
Chase Houser Caldwell, NJ Delbarton School Attack
Declan Kurdyla Bridgewater, NJ Bridgewater Raritan Mid-Field
AJ LoSauro Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood HS Attack
Michael Marino Mahwah, NJ Don Bosco Prep Defense
Isaac McGarvey Basking Ridge, NJ Ridge HS Defense
Michael Roelke Morristown, NJ Delbarton Long Stick Mid-Field
Luke St.
Pierre Ho Ho Kus, NJ Don Bosco Prep Defense
Easton Tedesco Glen Rock, NJ Bergen Catholic Attack
Brayson Thurber Medford, NJ St Augustine Prep Attack
Christian Troczynski Clark, NJ Delbarton Face-off
NEW JERSEY BOYS – HIGHLIGHT
Name Hometown High School Position
Adam Angel SOUTH ORANGE, NJ Seton Hall Prep Goalie
Jake Caldwell Bernardsville, NJ Bernards HS Mid-Field
Sean Rooke Donohoe Basking Ridge, NJ Ridge HS Defense
Evan Dupras somerville, NJ Somerville High School Attack
Brandon Edwards Long Valley, NJ West Morris Central Face-off
Aidan Fairweather Scotch Plains, NJ Scotch Plains Fanwood HS Mid-Field
Alex Fontecchio Englewood Cliffs, NJ Deerfield Academy Defense
Charles Hodulik Tewksbury, NJ Seton Hall Prep Defense
Charlie Hunnewell Peapack, NJ Bernards High School Mid-Field
Tyler Juhlin Kinnelon, NJ Seton Hall Prep Mid-Field
Patrick Kenah Lawrenceville, NJ Princeton HS Attack
Francis Keneally Warwick, NY Warwick Valley HS Long Stick Mid-Field
Caden Kirst Bernardsville, NJ Bernards High School Goalie
Daine Kostes Bridgewater, NJ Bridgewater-Raritan Face-off
Cody Lam Westfield, NJ Westfield Attack
AJ Lembo Basking Ridge, NJ Ridge HS Attack
Zachary Lipton Short Hills, NJ Millburn HS Attack
Ryan Olivo Basking Ridge, NJ Ridge High School Mid-Field
Greg Peters Sparta, NJ Sparta HS Defense
Hudson Rocheville Livingston, NJ Seton Hall Prep Mid-Field
Connor Ross Morris Plains, NJ Morristown HS Long Stick Mid-Field
Trevor Sardis Bernardsville, NJ Bernards High School Face-off
Christian Schweiger Tewksbury, NJ Seton Hall Prep Attack
NEW JERSEY GIRLS – BURN
Name Hometown High School Position
Kadyn Brandt Flemington, NJ Hunterdon Central Mid-Field
Ava Cantillon Chatham, NJ Chatham HS Mid-Field
Ashlyn Carpenter Chatham, NJ, NJ Chatham HS Attack
Kayla Davi Bernardsville, NJ Bernards HS Mid-Field
Emme Dunphey Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood HS Defense
Delaney Falk Manahawkin, NJ Southern Regional HS Mid-Field
Alexandra Genua Berkeley Heights, NJ Oak Knoll Goalie
Grace Hallahan Chatham, NJ Chatham HS Mid-Field
Karina Harrison Chesterfield, NJ N Burlington Regional HS Attack
Karsen Hippert Easton, PA Easton Area High School Mid-Field
Rebecca Lenner Short Hills, NJ Morristown Beard Defense
Gabriella Mariani Madison, NJ Madison HS Mid-Field
Marin McGuire SUMMIT, NJ Summit HS Goalie
Mary Catherine O’Connor Rumson, NJ Trinity Hall Mid-Field
Charleston Pike Cherry Hill, NJ Cherry Hill West Defense
Aleena Seyam Denville, NJ Morris Knolls Magnet program for Math & Science Attack
Zoey Smith LANOKA HARBOR, NJ Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science Mid-Field
Julia Swanson Montville, NJ Montville Township HS Attack
Addyson Walker Denville, NJ Morris Knolls HS Mid-Field
Lily Wood LITTLE SILVER, NJ Trinity Hall Mid-Field
NEW JERSEY GIRLS – COMMAND
Name Hometown High School Position
Jayde Amico Berkeley Heights, NJ Oak Knoll School Attack
Sam Bruno Cherry Hill, NJ Cherry Hill West Attack
Gillian Cohen Westfield, NJ Westfield Attack
Casey Conklin Livingston, NJ Livingston High School Mid-Field
Meghan Criqui essex fells, NJ Oak Knoll Attack
Stella Cuneo Ridgewood, NJ Ridgewood High School Mid-Field
Molly DeStefano morristown, NJ Oak Knoll School Defense
Leighton Gee Flemington, NJ Hunterdon Central Mid-Field
Reagan Larson Oradell, NJ Immaculate Heart Academy Goalie
Logan McCarthy Brielle, NJ Manasquan High School Defense
Maris McGinty Madison, NJ Oak Knoll school Mid-Field
Madison Mortimer Kinnelon, NJ Kinnelon High School Goalie
Lucia Nash Denville, NJ Morris Knolls High School Mid-Field
Mia Paulmeno Amawalk, NY Somers High School Attack
Korryn Peterson Morristown, NJ Madison Mid-Field
Rylee Rath Stroudsburg, PA Pleasant Valley High School Mid-Field
Margaret Rogers Madison, NJ Oak Knoll School Defense
Tallula Stebbings Springfield, NJ Oak Knoll Defense
Taylor Tabulov Ramsey, NJ Ramsey High School Defense
Bridget Troy Westfield, NJ Pingry School Mid-Field
Capri Valentino Allentown, NJ Notre Dame Attack
NEW JERSEY GIRLS – HIGHLIGHT
Name Hometown High School Position
Chloe Babich Skillman, NJ The Lawrenceville School Mid-Field
Maddie Brogan West Windsor, NJ The Lawrenceville School Attack
Sidney Cherry Redondo Beach, CA Redondo Union High School Defense
Bianca Chiarella Brielle, NJ Manasquan High School Mid-Field
Jacinda Connor Scottsdale, AZ Roland Park Country School Defense
Sofia Della Rocco Westfield, NJ Westfield High School Mid-Field
Alexandra Kucharz Glen Rock, NJ Immaculate Heart Academy Attack
Abigail Leporati Cherry hill, NJ Cherry Hill West High School Defense
Cathleen Moran Morristown, NJ Morristown High School Attack
Samantha Mortimer Kinnelon, NJ Kinnelon High School Defense
Ava Olender Flemington, NJ Hun School Mid-Field
Kayla Plotts Morris Plains, NJ Mountain Lakes Attack
McAllister Salter Tappan, NY Saddle River Day Goalie
Ava Sigrist Middletown, NJ Middletown High School North Mid-Field
Alyson Sojak Barnegat, NJ Barnegat High School Attack
Deborah Sullivan Little Silver, NJ Deborah Sullivan Mid-Field
Charlee Thomas Towson, MD Mount de Sales Academy Defense
Maggie Turco east windsor, NJ Rutgers Preparatory School Attack
Malia Zovich Plainsboro, NJ The Lawrenceville School Goalie
Lacrosse Friends Shine In The World Series
Eighth graders Michael Mesite and Ryan Plouffe have enjoyed growing up as lacrosse players in Cheshire.
This summer, the friends had the chance to travel out of state and pit their skills against the nation’s best.
Representing the Eclipse Lacrosse Club, Mesite and Plouffe helped their team go 5-2 in the Lacrosse World Series Championship held June 28 to July 1 at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina. Elite U.S. 13-and-under clubs and some international squads attended the event.
“I was excited because we got to fly down and beat some great competition,” stated Plouffe.
Mesite and Plouffe play for an Eclipse summer team, but to represent the club nationally, they had to sign up for a tryout last summer in New Canaan.
Plouffe tried out on defense, while Mesite was evaluated as a mid-fielder.
“We had drills that tested our skills,” stated Plouffe. “We also did a scrimmage.”
Selected players had some workouts last fall, but the team didn’t all come together until January of this year.
“After a few practices, we meshed pretty well,” reflected Mesite.
“We bonded together.”
The preparation paid off, as the squad went 6-1 in a North regional tournament that ran March 25-26 in Frederica, Delaware. Teams competed from Connecticut, as well as Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Eclipse swept four games in qualifying and went 2-1 in the playoffs.
“It was great competition and great to play against other kids on a high level,” explained Mesite.
While coming up short in the title game, the team still qualified to play in North Carolina.
“After what we showed in qualifiers, we expected to do well in the World Series,” recalled Plouffe.
In the first two days in North Carolina, Eclipse went 4-1 against teams from Canada, Maryland, California, and Pennsylvania. Plouffe and Mesite liked seeing new styles of play.
“It (the tournament) showed how unique and different teams play lacrosse,” stated Plouffe. “Canada only used one hand (with their stick) and they didn’t switch hands.
It was like watching an indoor style of lacrosse.”
Eclipse kicked off the playoffs with an overtime victory over Duke’s Elite (Pennsylvania).
“It was really exciting and fun to celebrate with the team,” recalled Mesite.
In the quarterfinals, the team came up just short by a goal against 2Way Lacrosse, a club that is also based in Connecticut.
“It was fun to play them,” said Mesite. “The whole tournament we were playing kids from around the country and then got to play kids near us.”
Plouffe and Mesite both developed a passion for lacrosse at a young age.
With his father Nick being very active in the Cheshire boys’ youth lacrosse program, Mesite picked up the sport before going into kindergarten.
Plouffe signed up for lacrosse in kindergarten.
“I like the physicality,” said Plouffe. “It relates to football. It is a fast-paced and unique game.”
Mesite and Plouffe recently finished up their summer season in the National Lacrosse Federation Championship.
