Top side lacrosse. Mastering On-Ball Defense in Lacrosse: Essential Techniques and Strategies

How can you effectively stop attackers from beating you one-on-one in lacrosse. What are the key principles of solid on-ball defense. How do footwork and positioning contribute to successful defensive play.

Table of Contents

The Fundamentals of On-Ball Defense in Lacrosse

On-ball defense is a crucial aspect of lacrosse that can make or break a team’s success. Effectively sealing off your opponent not only prevents them from scoring but also alleviates pressure on the rest of the defensive unit. To master this skill, players must internalize two core principles:

The defender dictates the action, not the attacker
Never allow the attacker to beat you topside

By adhering to these principles, defenders can maintain control over the game and force attackers into unfavorable positions. But how exactly can players implement these concepts in practice?

Controlling the Attacker: Establishing Dominance on Defense

When defending, it’s essential to view the field as your territory. The attacker is an unwelcome intruder, and it’s your job to enforce the rules. This mindset shift empowers defenders to take charge and manipulate the attacker’s movements. By proactively guiding the offensive player’s actions, you can effectively neutralize their threat and regain possession for your team.

The Importance of Topside Defense

Preventing topside penetration is paramount in lacrosse defense. But what exactly is “topside,” and why is it so critical? Topside refers to the area between the defender and the goal, typically towards the middle of the field. By forcing attackers away from this prime scoring position, defenders significantly reduce the threat of high-percentage shots.

When defending on the top left, force the attacker to your right
When defending on the top right, force the attacker to your left
Always guide the action towards the sideline or end line

By consistently denying topside access, defenders can dictate the flow of the game and frustrate offensive players. How can defenders ensure they maintain this advantageous position throughout a match?

Three Key Steps to Solid On-Ball Defense

Implementing effective on-ball defense requires a combination of anticipation, footwork, and positioning. By mastering these three key steps, defenders can significantly improve their ability to shut down attackers:

1. Anticipate and Approach

The moment you see a pass heading towards your assigned attacker, spring into action. Don’t wait for them to catch the ball – approach aggressively while the ball is still in the air. This proactive stance puts you in an optimal defensive position before the attacker even has a chance to survey the field.

2. Transition from Big Steps to Little Steps

Footwork is crucial in lacrosse defense. As you close in on the attacker, transition from long, powerful strides to shorter, more controlled jab steps. This adjustment allows you to maintain balance and quickly react to the attacker’s movements without overcommitting in any one direction.

3. Dictate Direction and Pace

Once you’ve established your position, take control of the engagement. Use your body positioning to force the attacker towards the sideline or end line, away from prime scoring areas. By dictating the direction and pace of play, you can frustrate the attacker and force them to give up possession.

The Psychology of Defensive Dominance in Lacrosse

Effective on-ball defense isn’t just about physical skills – it’s also a mental game. By adopting the right mindset, defenders can gain a significant edge over their opponents. How can players cultivate this defensive mentality?

View the field as your territory
See the attacker as an unwelcome intruder
Take pride in denying scoring opportunities
Embrace the challenge of shutting down top offensive players

By internalizing these attitudes, defenders can approach each matchup with confidence and determination. This psychological edge often translates into improved on-field performance and better overall defensive results for the team.

Advanced Techniques for On-Ball Defense

While mastering the fundamentals is crucial, top-tier defenders also employ advanced techniques to gain an edge over skilled attackers. What are some of these high-level defensive strategies?

Body Positioning and Angles

Elite defenders understand the importance of subtle body adjustments in maintaining defensive leverage. By constantly fine-tuning their stance and angle relative to the attacker, they can effectively cut off preferred lanes and force attackers into uncomfortable positions.

Stick Checks and Poke Checks

Well-timed stick checks can disrupt an attacker’s rhythm and potentially cause turnovers. Defenders must develop a keen sense of timing and precision to execute these checks effectively without drawing penalties.

Communication and Teamwork

While on-ball defense is often viewed as a one-on-one matchup, top defenders understand the importance of constant communication with their teammates. Calling out picks, switches, and potential threats helps the entire defensive unit work cohesively to shut down offensive threats.

Common Mistakes in On-Ball Defense and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced defenders can fall prey to common pitfalls that compromise their effectiveness. By recognizing and addressing these issues, players can elevate their defensive game to new heights. What are some of the most frequent mistakes in on-ball defense?

Overcommitting to one direction, allowing attackers to quickly change course
Relying too heavily on the long pole instead of using proper footwork
Losing track of off-ball threats, leading to backdoor cuts and easy goals
Failing to communicate effectively with teammates, resulting in defensive breakdowns

To avoid these errors, defenders should focus on maintaining balance, prioritizing footwork, staying aware of the entire field, and constantly communicating with their teammates. By addressing these common issues, players can become more well-rounded and effective defenders.

Drills and Exercises to Improve On-Ball Defense

Developing strong on-ball defensive skills requires consistent practice and targeted training. What are some effective drills that players can use to enhance their defensive abilities?

1. Mirror Drill

In this drill, defenders practice mirroring an attacker’s movements without a stick. This exercise helps improve footwork, balance, and reaction time – all crucial elements of effective on-ball defense.

2. Cone Drill

Set up a series of cones in various patterns and have defenders navigate through them while maintaining proper defensive posture. This drill enhances agility and helps players internalize correct defensive movements.

3. One-on-One Scenarios

Simulate game-like situations by having attackers and defenders engage in one-on-one matchups from different field positions. This drill allows defenders to practice applying defensive principles in realistic scenarios.

4. Communication Drill

Set up a small-sided game where defenders must constantly communicate their actions and observations. This exercise reinforces the importance of teamwork and helps players develop their on-field communication skills.

By incorporating these drills into regular practice sessions, players can systematically improve their on-ball defensive skills and become more valuable assets to their teams.

The Evolution of Defensive Strategies in Modern Lacrosse

As the sport of lacrosse continues to evolve, so too do the strategies and techniques employed by defenders. How has on-ball defense changed in recent years, and what trends are emerging in the modern game?

Increased Emphasis on Athletics

With the growing athleticism of attackers, defenders must be more agile and quick than ever before. This has led to a greater focus on conditioning and speed training for defensive players.

Adaptation to Rule Changes

Recent rule changes, such as the shot clock in some leagues, have forced defenders to adapt their strategies. There’s now a greater emphasis on causing turnovers and transitioning quickly to offense.

Integration of Analytics

Advanced statistics and video analysis are playing an increasingly important role in defensive strategy. Coaches and players are using data to identify tendencies and refine their approach to on-ball defense.

Hybrid Defenders

The line between long-stick midfielders and close defenders is blurring, with more players expected to excel in both roles. This versatility allows for more dynamic and adaptable defensive schemes.

By staying attuned to these evolving trends, players and coaches can ensure their defensive strategies remain effective in the face of changing offensive tactics and rules.

The Mental Game: Psychological Aspects of On-Ball Defense

While physical skills and technique are crucial, the psychological aspect of on-ball defense often separates good defenders from great ones. How can players develop the mental fortitude needed to excel in high-pressure defensive situations?

Developing Confidence

Confidence is key in one-on-one matchups. Defenders must believe in their abilities and trust their training, even when facing skilled attackers. Regular practice and positive self-talk can help build this confidence over time.

Maintaining Focus

Defensive lapses often occur due to momentary losses of concentration. Players must learn to stay focused throughout the game, even during lulls in the action. Mindfulness techniques and mental rehearsal can help improve focus and consistency.

Bouncing Back from Mistakes

Even the best defenders get beaten occasionally. The ability to shake off these moments and refocus on the next play is crucial. Developing a short memory and a resilient mindset can help players maintain their effectiveness throughout the game.

Embracing the Challenge

Top defenders view difficult matchups as opportunities to prove themselves rather than threats. By reframing challenging situations as chances for growth and success, players can approach their defensive duties with enthusiasm and determination.

By honing these mental skills alongside their physical abilities, defenders can elevate their game and become true anchors for their team’s defense.

Integrating On-Ball Defense into Team Defensive Schemes

While individual on-ball defense is crucial, it’s equally important to understand how these skills fit into the broader context of team defense. How can players effectively balance their one-on-one responsibilities with the need to support their teammates?

Understanding Defensive Rotations

Defenders must be aware of their role within the team’s sliding and recovery schemes. This requires a thorough understanding of defensive rotations and the ability to quickly recognize when to maintain on-ball pressure versus when to provide help defense.

Communicating with Teammates

Effective team defense relies on constant communication. On-ball defenders should be vocal about their position, potential threats, and any picks or off-ball movement they observe. This information helps the entire defensive unit react and adjust as needed.

Adapting to Different Offensive Formations

Modern offenses employ a variety of formations and strategies to create scoring opportunities. Defenders must be able to adjust their on-ball technique based on the specific offensive setup they’re facing, whether it’s a traditional 6-on-6, a two-man game, or a fast-break situation.

Transitioning from Defense to Offense

In today’s fast-paced game, the ability to quickly transition from defense to offense is invaluable. On-ball defenders should be prepared to immediately push the ball upfield after causing a turnover, initiating the team’s transition game.

By mastering these aspects of team defense, players can ensure that their individual on-ball skills contribute to the overall success of the defensive unit and the team as a whole.

The Future of On-Ball Defense in Lacrosse

As lacrosse continues to grow and evolve, so too will the strategies and techniques employed in on-ball defense. What potential developments might we see in the coming years, and how can players prepare for the future of defensive play?

Technological Integration

Advancements in wearable technology and data analytics may provide defenders with real-time feedback on their positioning, movements, and effectiveness. This could lead to more personalized and data-driven approaches to improving defensive skills.

Rule Changes and Adaptations

As the sport seeks to balance competitiveness with player safety, we may see further rule changes that impact defensive play. Defenders will need to stay adaptable and ready to adjust their techniques to comply with evolving regulations.

Cross-Training and Athleticism

The increasing athleticism of offensive players will likely drive defenders to explore new training methods and cross-sport techniques to enhance their agility, speed, and reaction time. We may see more lacrosse players incorporating elements from other sports like basketball or football into their defensive repertoire.

Specialization vs. Versatility

The trend towards positional versatility may continue, with more defenders expected to excel both in close defense and as long-stick midfielders. Conversely, we might see increased specialization in certain defensive roles, with players focusing on becoming experts in specific aspects of on-ball defense.

By staying informed about these potential developments and remaining open to new ideas and techniques, defenders can position themselves at the forefront of lacrosse’s defensive evolution. The ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in the game will be crucial for long-term success in on-ball defense.

On Ball Defense – Cannons Lacrosse

Defense: On ball

Question: How can I stop getting beat one on one or “on-ball”?

Sealing off your man with solid on ball defense is a pillar of great team defense. If you are consistently getting beat by your man, there is extra pressure being put on the rest of the defense to slide and potentially get out of position on the other offensive players in the formation. This often will lead to open shots on goal. Before I get into specifics, there are two overarching principles that you need to get to be an effective on ball defender…

YOU DICTATE THE ACTION, NOT THE ATTACKER!

That dude is in your house, going after your goal and your goalie. He is literally trying to take food out of your mouth. In your house, you make the rules, not him. That means that you control him like he is your little puppet and you don’t ever let him make his own choices about what he is going to do in your house.

The second overarching rule:

NEVER, EVER GET BEAT TOPSIDE!

Imagine the lacrosse field is cut in half long ways, from your goal to the opponent’s goal. Topside is whatever side puts the defender toward the middle of the field…in front of the goal. If you are defending at the top left of goal, and you get beat topside, you let the attacker beat you to your right. If you are defending to the top right of the goal and you get beat topside, you let the attacker beat you to the left. You should always be forcing the action toward the sideline (or the end line if you are defending the bottom). Over-defending and getting topside position DICTATES that your defender will go the other way and not have a good look at the front of the goal.

There are three keys to solid on-ball defense that you can employ every time to help avoid getting beat. These progressively build on each other:

Fly to your man when the ball is being passed to him, not after he catches the ball.

When you see that the ball is being passed to your man, approach him aggressively while the ball is in the air. I am not telling you to gamble and go for the ball all of the time…that is a sure way to get beat if you come up empty. What I mean is, anticipate that he is going to get the ball, and get into your good defensive position before he catches it. After your man catches the ball and looks forward, you, up in his grill, should be the first thing he sees. Giving him room, gives him options which is letting him decide. Remember, YOU make the rules not him. He is going to go where you want him to go not the other way around.

Big Steps to Little Steps

If the brain is the most important part of the defenseman, his feet are a very close second. The best defensemen in the game play defense with their feet, not just their arms or the pole. By having good footwork, you will always be in the right position to use your body to DICTATE position.

When you are flying to the ball you want to take big steps at first to get over to the defender quickly. However, as you get closer to your defender, when he catches the ball, your steps need to be smaller jab steps. Why? Again, you are dictating things, not him. By taking smaller jab steps, you are not overcommitting to any one direction. These smaller steps allow you to position your body to head off his topside moves. Remember, that dude is trying to get topside to square up a shot…but this is your house not his. So, big steps at first and smaller steps as you close in on your guy will ensure that you will maintain that topside position.

DICTATE direction and pace!

I know I have said this before but it is the single most important concept to grasp when playing defense so it bears repeating. By following the first two steps you have now put yourself in the optimum position to do step 3.

In Step 1 you flew to the defender while the ball was in the air. While you were flying to the defender you used big to little steps (Step 2) to make sure you were in the best position. Now that you are there, you DICTATE direction and the pace (Step 3). By keeping good topside position, you force the attacker to the sideline or the end line. Your job is to get the ball back to your offense. Make your guy give the ball up…he’ll do that when he realizes that you are not going to give him a good shot on goal because YOU ARE DICTATING his position.

Don’t worry, we will be going over all of these (and other) concepts in practice. If something in this article appears in Bold you will hear it often from me and the other coaches in practice. The better you grasp these concepts now, the crisper we can be in practice and ultimately in the games. See you on the field boys and…

GO CANNONS!

LACROSSE 101 – CEDAR PARK

CEDAR PARK

The first sport in North America, “baggataway” was played by Native Americans as far back as the 1400s, often with thousands of people participating and goals spread miles apart. French colonists referred to the stick used to play as a “crosse” — French for a “bishop’s staff” — and lacrosse was created. A Canadian dentist, W. George Beers, established the rules in 1867 that formed modern lacrosse. Traditionally an East Coast sport, lacrosse has experienced recent growth at the high school and college levels, and the game has rapidly expanded across the country.

The modern game has evolved to become “the fastest game on two feet” due to the rapid pace, high-speed maneuvers, and shots that can exceed 110 miles per hour.

Men’s field lacrosse involves two teams of 10 players each competing to project a small ball of solid rubber into the opposing team’s goal. The field of play is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. The goals are 6 feet by 6 feet, containing a mesh netting similar to an ice hockey goal. The goal sits inside a circular “crease”, measuring 18 feet in diameter.

Players line up with 3 offensive players called “attackmen,” players who shoot on the opposing team’s net; 3 “midfielders” or “middies,” who shoot on the opposing team’s net as well as defending their own net; 3 “defensemen,” who guard their own team’s net; and 1 designated goaltender, or “goalie” who stands inside the “crease” and blocks incoming shots. Although most attackmen and midfielders utilize short crosses, defensemen carry long crosses, and one midfielder on defense may carry a long crosse.

As mentioned, men’s lacrosse is a full-contact sport, with players wearing complete protective equipment. Thus “checking” – striking opponents’ stick or body with the crosse – is legal and very much part of the game.

Each quarter starts with a “face-off” in which the ball is placed on the ground and two “faceoffmen” lay their stick horizontally next to the ball, head of the stick inches from the ball and the butt-end pointing down the midfield line. Faceoffmen scrap for the ball. A face-off also restarts the game after each goal.
In men’s lacrosse, players can be awarded penalties of two types by the referee for rule infractions. Personal and technical fouls always result in the player serving time in the penalty box, located at the side of the field between the opposing teams’ interchange benches. These penalties can last from 30 seconds up to three minutes at the referee’s discretion. Fouls form an important part of men’s lacrosse as while a player is serving time, his team is ‘man down’, offering the opposing team what hockey refers to as a “power-play”.

Body Check: Hitting an opponent with your body. Players can only hit an opponent within 3 yards of the ball. They can not hit them from the back. Not legal for young players.

Butt or Butt-End: A butt is the end cap at the bottom of the lacrosse stick. Coaches &players refer to the bottom of the stick as the butt-end of the stick.

Clear: A clear is a lacrosse term that means getting the ball out from the defensive half of the field and into the offensive half (i.e. a goalie clear).

Cradling: A technique used to keep the ball in the lacrosse stick when running, etc.

Crease: The circle around the goal that offensive players are not allowed to enter.

Cross Check: An illegal check where a player uses the shaft of his lacrosse stick to check his opponent. According to the rule books, a lacrosse cross-check is a “check with that part of the handle of the crosse that is between the player’s hands, either by thrusting away from the body or by holding it extended from the body”.

D-Middie (or Short Stick Defensive Middie): A D-middie is a short stick middie who specializes in playing defensive. Often replaces a better offensive (but weak defending)middie as the ball transitions to the defensive side of the field.

Dodge: Dodges are where players use various moves to bypass opposing players in order to pass or score.

GLE (Goal Line Extended): An imaginary line that extends out from the sides of the goal. Defenders will try to prevent an attacker from crossing this line (because an attacker
can’t shoot on the goal behind the net).

Ground Ball: A ball that is loose on the ground. As they say, ground balls win games (if you win control of the ground balls).

Hole: A defensive area in front of the goal. You will hear “Get back in the hole!”.

LSM: LSM stands for a Long Stick Middie. This is a defensive middie armed with a long defensive stick.

Man-Down/Man-Up: Due to a penalty (i.e. slashing), a Man-Down Situation is where a team is playing with one less player for a set period of time. The team is down “a man” in
numbers.

Middie Back: If a defender crosses the midfield line with the ball, a midfielder must stay back in order to maintain three “defenders” plus the goalie in the defensive half of the field. You will hear players yelling “Middie Back” to tell a midfielder to stay on the defensive side of the field in order to avoid an off-sides penalty.

Off-Sides: A penalty where the requisite numbers of players are not on their side of the field (i.e. three defenders and the goalie). Someone has gone “off-sides” and there are
now too many players on one half of the field.

Ride: A ride is a lacrosse term for when an offensive player will “ride” an opposing defensive player with aggressive stick checks in order to force a turnover and get the ball. For example, on a clear, a goalie could pass the ball to one of his defensemen and an opposing attackman will ride the defender in order to force a turnover or to prevent a possible
fast break.

Slide: Where a defenseman has left his position or player to help another defender (especially if the other defender has been beaten by an offensive player).

Top-Side: This is where an offensive player tries to get above a defender into the middle of the field for a better percentage shot. A defender will try to prevent an opposing player from getting top side.

Wall Ball: This is a great lacrosse training tool where players use a wall to practice passing, shooting, and catches.

Warding: Warding is an illegal technique where a player does a one-arm cradle and moves his free arm to block an opposing player’s stick (versus keeping it stationary).

X: X is a position about 5-10 yards behind a lacrosse net

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