Youth lacrosse defense strategy. Mastering Youth Lacrosse Defense: Strategies and Techniques for Zone Defense

How does zone defense differ from man-to-man in youth lacrosse. What are the key elements of an effective zone defense strategy. When should coaches implement zone defense in youth lacrosse games. How can players adapt to playing zone defense effectively.

Understanding the Basics of Lacrosse Zone Defense

Zone defense in lacrosse is a strategic approach where defenders guard specific areas of the field rather than individual players. This defensive style requires players to move in relation to the ball’s position, creating a dynamic and fluid defensive formation. Unlike man-to-man defense, zone defense focuses on controlling space and limiting offensive opportunities through coordinated team movement.

What distinguishes zone defense from man-to-man defense in lacrosse. In zone defense, each defender is responsible for a designated area or “zone” on the field. They guard any offensive player who enters their zone, regardless of who that player is. This approach contrasts with man-to-man defense, where defenders stick to specific opponents throughout the game.

Key Principles of Zone Defense

• Area responsibility over individual marking
• Coordinated movement based on ball position
• Emphasis on team communication
• Flexibility to adapt to offensive formations

Advantages of Implementing Zone Defense in Youth Lacrosse

Implementing zone defense in youth lacrosse can offer several strategic advantages. Coaches may choose to employ this defensive style for various reasons, each tailored to the team’s strengths and the opponent’s weaknesses.

Controlling Game Tempo

How does zone defense affect the pace of the game. Zone defense can effectively slow down a powerful offense by dictating the tempo. Offenses facing a well-executed zone typically experience longer possessions as they search for openings. This strategy can be particularly useful when facing a high-scoring team, as it forces them to work harder for each opportunity.

Compensating for Athletic Mismatches

When a team is outmatched athletically, zone defense can level the playing field. By providing built-in help and protection, zone defense can cover up slower defenders and counter quick, athletic offenses. This approach eliminates one-on-one matchups that faster players might exploit, making it an effective strategy for teams with less athletic players.

Leveraging Goalie Strengths

A strong goalie can make zone defense particularly effective. By packing in the defense and limiting inside shots, teams can force opponents to take outside shots from 12+ yards out. If the goalie excels at saving these long-range attempts, the zone defense becomes even more formidable.

Surprising Opponents

Zone defense can serve as an unexpected change-up to confuse opponents who are prepared for man-to-man defense. Many teams may lack the offensive sets to effectively break down a zone, making it a valuable strategic tool for coaches.

Implementing Zone Defense: Key Considerations

Before implementing zone defense in youth lacrosse, coaches should consider several factors to ensure its effectiveness.

Team Composition and Skills

How does a team’s makeup influence the decision to use zone defense. Coaches should assess their players’ strengths and weaknesses. A team with less athletic but smart, communicative players might benefit more from zone defense than a team of fast, agile athletes who excel in man-to-man coverage.

Opponent Analysis

Understanding the opposing team’s offensive capabilities is crucial. Zone defense can be particularly effective against teams that lack strong outside shooters or rely heavily on inside scoring.

Practice and Preparation

Implementing zone defense requires extensive practice and coordination. Teams should dedicate significant time to learning and perfecting zone concepts before employing them in games.

Fundamental Rules of Effective Lacrosse Zone Defense

Regardless of the specific zone formation, certain fundamental rules apply to all lacrosse zone defenses. Adhering to these principles is crucial for the success of any zone defense strategy.

Communication is Key

Why is communication essential in zone defense. Constant verbal communication among defenders is critical in zone defense. Players must call out ball movement, alert teammates to cutters, and coordinate shifts in the zone. This ongoing dialogue ensures that all defenders are aware of their responsibilities and can react quickly to offensive threats.

Ball Awareness

All defenders must maintain awareness of the ball’s location at all times. The entire zone shifts and adjusts based on where the ball is, making ball awareness a fundamental aspect of effective zone defense.

Proper Positioning

Defenders must understand and maintain proper positioning within their zones. This includes knowing when to challenge offensive players and when to maintain zone integrity.

Quick Rotations

How do defenders rotate in a zone defense. Effective zone defense requires quick and coordinated rotations as the ball moves. Defenders must be prepared to shift their positions smoothly to cover gaps and prevent scoring opportunities.

Common Zone Defense Formations in Lacrosse

Several zone defense formations are commonly used in lacrosse, each with its own strengths and applications.

2-3-1 Zone

The 2-3-1 zone is a popular formation that provides good coverage across the field. It consists of two defenders at the top, three in the middle, and one near the goal. This formation is effective at preventing inside shots and forcing opponents to shoot from the perimeter.

3-3 Zone

The 3-3 zone uses three defenders at the top and three at the bottom. This balanced formation provides equal coverage to both the perimeter and the inside, making it versatile against various offensive strategies.

4-2 Zone

The 4-2 zone employs four defenders spread across the top of the formation with two defenders near the goal. This formation is particularly effective at pressuring outside shooters and forcing turnovers.

Adapting Zone Defense for Youth Lacrosse

Implementing zone defense in youth lacrosse requires some adaptations to suit the skill level and understanding of younger players.

Simplifying Concepts

How can coaches simplify zone defense for youth players. Coaches should focus on teaching basic zone principles and gradually introduce more complex concepts. Starting with a simple formation and clear area responsibilities can help young players grasp the fundamentals of zone defense.

Emphasizing Teamwork

Zone defense provides an excellent opportunity to teach young players the importance of teamwork and communication. Coaches should encourage constant talking and emphasize how each player’s actions affect the entire defense.

Regular Drills and Practice

Consistent practice is essential for young players to become comfortable with zone defense. Regular drills that focus on zone principles, rotations, and communication can help reinforce these concepts.

Overcoming Challenges in Zone Defense

While zone defense can be highly effective, it also presents certain challenges that teams must address.

Defending Against Fast Breaks

How do zone defenses handle fast breaks. Zone defenses can be vulnerable to fast breaks, as players may not have clear individual assignments in transition. Teams must practice quickly transitioning from offense to defense and establishing their zone formation.

Adjusting to Offensive Schemes

Skilled offensive teams may develop strategies to exploit zone defenses. Defenders must be prepared to adjust their formation and responsibilities based on the offensive setup they face.

Maintaining Discipline

Zone defense requires discipline and patience. Defenders may be tempted to break from their zones to chase offensive players, which can create gaps in the defense. Maintaining zone integrity is crucial for success.

Integrating Zone Defense into Overall Team Strategy

Zone defense should be viewed as part of a larger defensive strategy rather than a standalone tactic.

Mixing Defensive Styles

How can teams effectively mix zone and man-to-man defenses. Coaches should consider using zone defense as a change-up or in specific situations rather than relying on it exclusively. The ability to switch between zone and man-to-man defenses can keep opponents off balance and provide tactical flexibility.

Situational Use

Identifying key moments to implement zone defense can maximize its effectiveness. This might include using zone defense when protecting a lead, facing a particularly strong offensive player, or when the team needs to conserve energy.

Continuous Evaluation and Adjustment

Coaches should regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their zone defense and be prepared to make adjustments. This might involve tweaking the formation, changing player responsibilities, or abandoning the zone if it’s not working against a particular opponent.

By understanding the principles of zone defense, adapting it for youth players, and integrating it into a comprehensive defensive strategy, coaches can effectively use this tactic to improve their team’s performance and create challenges for opposing offenses. Zone defense offers a valuable tool in the arsenal of youth lacrosse teams, providing opportunities for player development, strategic depth, and game management.

Lacrosse Zone Defense: The Complete Guide

As a goalie its vital that you have a complete understanding of how team lacrosse defense should be played.

That way in the heat of battle you can help command the troops to organize a successful defense stand.

Awhile back I covered the basics of a man-on-man team defense and today I want to cover the basics of a zone defense.

Zone defense in lacrosse is different from man-to-man defense in that, instead of guarding a particular player, each zone defender is responsible for guarding an area of the field, or “zone”, and any offensive player that comes into that area. Zone defenders move their position on the field in relationship to where the ball moves.

While lacrosse man-to-man defense is certainly the most common and the style initially taught at the youth levels, a properly executed zone defense in lax can be very effective in limiting what an offense can do. It can also serve as a change of pace or surprise to your opponent who might not be expecting or prepared for this defensive strategy.

Here we go. The basics of a lacrosse team zone defense.

First let’s cover a few reasons why a team might employ a zone defense.

Control the Tempo / Slow down the opposing offense

If you’re up against a real powerful offense, you’ll want to slow them down. A zone defense is a great method to accomplish that as it can really dictate the tempo.

You’ll notice that offenses going up against a well executed zone defense typically have much longer possessions as they don’t see any immediate opportunities and are content to pass it around the perimeter.

You simply can’t beat a zone defense with 1 pass or 1 dodge like you can a man-on-man defense. Beating the zone requires multiple passes.

A good zone defense can dictate how fast the game is played.

Want a faster tempo? Play more aggressive trapping zone. Want to slow the game down? Play a patient, packed-in zone with no traps.

You’re the less athletic team

If your team is outmatched physically, meaning the other squad simply has better athletes, then you might consider employing a zone defense.

Instead of seeing their 1×1 match ups that athletic offenses can exploit, the zone defense offers more built in help and protection.

Zone defense covers up slower defenders and can be used to counter an offense with fast, quick scorers. Additionally, a zone can eliminate penetration by encouraging quick double teams on the perimeter and packing the defense in.

It definitely helps your zone defense if you have athletic players, don’t get me wrong, however I believe less athletic players can do better in a zone defense compared to a man-to-man that leaves the individuals more exposed.

You have a hot goalie

When executed properly, the zone defense shuts down the opposing team’s inside game.

If your team has a great goalie who can suck up the outside shots, or even a mediocre goalie who is having a great day, many teams will pack in the zone and limit the opposing team to outside shots that they feel the goalie can save.

Just like a well run basketball zone defense requires teams to make 3 pointers, a well run lacrosse zone defense requires teams to take outside shots from 12+ yards out.

If your goalie is hot, you can pack in the zone even tighter which makes the zone more effective.

If your goalie cannot consistently save those outside shots, the zone defense will fail.

Surprise the other team

If your team primarily runs a man-to-man defense, your opponents will be expecting to face a man-to-man defense. Implementing a zone defense can be a fantastic change-up to confuse your opponents.

Since zone defenses are a little more rare teams might be thrown off a little when they go up against a zone. They might lack an offensive set that can adequately break down a zone defense and create good scoring opportunities.

How often do offensives practice going up against a zone defense? Probably not as much as man-to-man sets.

Other teams lacks outside shooters

In a zone defense your team is going to be content to pack in it and give up the outside shot. That’s why a zone defense really requires a good goalie – that was a point already mentioned above.

But a zone defense can also be effective if the other team doesn’t really have any shooters that can rip top ched.

In this case, your team is content to give up those outside shots with high confidence that the goalie can absorb them.

Regardless of which variation of a lacrosse zone defense your team is running there some general rules that apply to all types of lacrosse zone defenses.

Before we get into the particulars of the zone, I want to share with you these six crucial aspects of an effective zone. Keep these in mind while you’re reading through the rest of the article.

Implementing a zone defense is difficult, so be sure your team is following these rules during practice as you perfect your zone.

No Ball Watching!

Easily the #1 mistake in lacrosse zone defense is ball watching.

Where all 6 defenders have their eyes fixed on the ball and do not see cutters or screens in their area of the zone.

Teams need to rely on their goalie’s communication to know where the ball is.

Defender’s heads should be on a swivel looking for defenders in their part of the zone and communicating with their teammates on how to handle it.

To avoid ball watching a good rule of thumb is 2 seconds looking at ball carrier, 2 seconds head on swivel watching your zone.

A offensive player should NOT be able to run through your zone without you getting a stick on them. 

Especially close to the goal.

Of course you cannot check them hard unless the pass is within five yards but you can always put your stick on their gloves with a check to let them know they’re covered and discourage a feed. I’ve never seen a penalty called for this.

If one teammate cannot get this concept of no ball watching and fails to see threats as they come into their zone, then the zone defense will fail.

Sticks in the passing lanes

Great passing is an easy way to beat the zone defense. If teams are able to effectively make passes through the zone, they’re going to get great opportunities to score.

The defense must keep their sticks up and in the passing lanes to the inside of the field (facing the crease) at all times to discourage passes inside and to get interceptions or deflections.

As a goalie be sure to remind your defense “STICKS UP” to close off those passing lanes and eliminate the skip pass.

Always in your defensive stance

Every member of the defense should be in their defensive stance at all times during the zone defense.

Being in an athletic stance makes it easier to react when a pass is made or attackman cuts into your area of the zone.

As a coach it pains me when I see a defender in the zone standing straight up knees locked. Not in an athletic stance and not ready to react.

Everyone must move on the “rotate” call

As we’ll discuss below sometimes the zone must rotate.

It’s key when the “ROTATE” call is made that everyone moves together.

When the defense fails to rotate together or one player rotates in the wrong direction, goals are certainly the results. So its crucial that everyone moves together on the rotate call – assuming you’re apart of the rotations that is.

Bungee Principle

For the purposes of moving together as a unit I often tell defenseman to imagine an imaginary bungee cord that runs from the center of their waist to just above the crease.

When the ball is in their zone, they extend out and stretch the bungee, putting pressure on the ball carrier. When the ball leaves their zone, the bungee cord pulls them back to the area above the crease.

This concepts helps defenders understand the need to extend out when the ball is in their zone and then recover and provide backside help when the ball is not in their zone.

Everyone must communicate

Communication is critical to every lacrosse defense and that includes the zone.

Players must communicate screens, cutters, bumping, who’s got the player with the ball, and most importantly ‘passing responsibility’ for a ball carrier or cutter as he moves from one zone to another.

All great zone defenses require great communication.

No layups

This may seem like an obvious point but its worth mentioning. In the zone defense we do not allow attackman to get easy goals on the door step.

In this defense we attempt to prevent the offense from getting inside at all.

We do everything we can to force the offense to settle for a 12-15 yard shot and we’re placing the faith in our goalkeeper that he/she will save those.

Now that you understand some basic principles of zone defense, let’s dig into 2 different types of zones that I’ve seen lacrosse teams frequently use.

While most posts apply to both male and female goalies this part will be biased towards the men’s game since that’s the zone I understand. If a female coaches wants to explain the intricacies of zone defense in the women’s game, please get in touch with me.

Even though these are frequently used zones there’s still so many variations even within the same zone defense. Hence the reason I’m calling this a basic review of zone defenses. Your team might run a slight variation compared to what I’ve described it below.

3-3 Zone

The 3-3 is probably the most common zone defense you’ll find. The basic setup of a 3-3 zone splits the field in 6 zones or quadrants, 3 up top and 3 down below.

There’s a few options for placements of the short stick middies – top left/top right; top center/bottom center; or back left/back right. The placement of the short stick middies is typically determined by the personnel you have and the personnel your opponent has.

In this example short stick middies occupy the top left and top right spots of the zone:

The zones of the back left and back right defenders probably extend a little lower below GLE than my diagram illustrates but you get the idea. Each defender has responsibility for their zone.

Each defender also provides adjacent help. To defend sweeps, as the ball carrier passes through zones the defensive players will yell “SWITCH” and pass responsibility.

In this clip of Virginia’s defense watch how defenders pass responsibility of the ball carrier as he passes through the different zones. After switching the original defender then retreats to be in good position in his zone. There’s no audio but we can assume they’re yelling “SWITCH” or whatever their designated defensive term is for that situation.

Virginia’s zone defense is also a great example of the bungie principle as defender press out to cover the ball carrier and then recover back towards the crease when the ball moves out of their zone.

If and when a defender gets beat, we slide to provide help – same as man-to-man defense. Also same as man-to-man defense, you CANNOT get beat topside. Defenders should always shade dodgers down the alley and not allow themselves to get beat over the top.

Like man-to-man defense there are different slide packages that teams use. The slide package our team utilized in the zone defense was rotation.

The adjacent defender served as the 1st slide and then everyone else rotates.

In the example below the offense is in a 2-3-1 setup. If the middie up top attempts to penetrate the movement looks like this:

Here’s what is happening there:

• The adjacent defender is the 1st slide to stop the ball
• If there is a crease attackman, the middle defender stays put to defense the crease
• Everyone else rotates
• Optional: With no crease attackman, you could do a full rotation where everyone on defense rotates.

Checkout Bryant University’s 3-3 zone in action:

Backer Zone

The next type of zone we’ll look at is called a “Backer Zone”.

In this zone, the 4 long poles each take responsibility for a zone or quadrant. These 4 zones can overlap.

In a typical backer zone one short stick will serve as the “backer” who is always the slide. The other short stick locks off either the crease attackman or the offense’s star player.

So if the offense is setup in a 1-3-2 set, the defense might look like this:

M1 serves as the backer and ready to slide as soon as the offense attempts to make penetration. M1 is th slide regardless of where the ball is.  Middie M2 is locking off the crease attackman.

When the “rotate” call is made only the 4 defensemen rotate. The 2 interior middies stay put.

A key benefit of the backer zone is that long sticks are always pressuring the ball. This takes away the offensive’s ability to dodge against a shortie.

Even though I’ve already mentioned this is, it’s worth repeating. You cannot ball watch! If D man watches the ball, an attackman will slip into a space in their zone and be wide open for a shot or direct dodge to the cage.

As a variation of the backer zone, M2 instead of locking off the crease man could lock off the offense’s star player. Then the D man furthest from the ball would assume responsibility for keeping a stick on the crease man and preventing an inside feed.

There are plenty of other zone strategies apart from the 3-3 and the Backer Zone but these are most common I’ve seen when a team employs a zone defense.

A properly executed zone defense with a hot goalie can cause a lot of upsets in the sport of lacrosse.

The University of Virginia rode that combination of zone D and a star goalie Adam Ghitelman all the way to a national championship in 2011.

Personally I think all kids and teams should develop their man-to-man defensive skills first before learning the zone defense. Even in the zone defense many man-to-man principles still apply.

The great majority of offenses must be initiated by winning the first 1v1 confrontation and a defender who can get good at defending an individual on and off-ball will make themselves extremely valuable to the team.

However if your team is looking to implement a zone defense than review this post to learn the basics of successfully installing a zone.

Until next time! Coach Damon

Any other variations of the zone defense your team runs? Or any questions on how to run a zone defense? Let know in the comments.

Lacrosse Defense – Instructions – Beginner Lacrosse

Lacrosse Defense – Tips, Videos, Instructions, etc.

​This page focuses on how to become a strong lacrosse defender. It examines lacrosse subjects such as stick checks, clears, slides, zone defense and much more. This defense information is important for close defenders and long stick middies (LSMs).

​Sections for Defenders – Click on the sections below for instructions, videos, etc.

​Tips for Lacrosse Defenders

• Focus on poke checks versus slap checks, over-the-head checks, etc. They are effective in disrupting an opponent and less likely to be called for a slashing penalty.
• Overplay your opponent’s strong side. Make them shoot or pass with their weak hand.
• Move your feet versus relying only on your long pole. The best defenders can move backwards quickly while, at the same time, harassing their opponent with stick checks.
• Many good defenders act as a moving wall and keep their opponent from getting a clear shot. They constantly put themselves between the opponent and the goal. They do not gamble for a takeaway. Instead, they force their opponent to pass because they can not get open.
• Takeaways are exciting. However, they often result in a defender being burnt as they over commit and allow the opponent to get past them. Focus on fundamental defense first.
• Be aggressive going after ground balls. Many transition goals are a result of a defender getting a ground ball and quickly moving it up field to an open teammate. You will often hear a coach shouting “That is your goal!” to the defender who started the successful attack.
• Defenders need to practice their stick skills and dodging in order to succeed at lacrosse clears. A defender who can confidently catch a goalie clear and either pass or run with the ball under pressure is a great asset for a team.
• Defenders & LSMs should occasionally work on their long pole shooting. On a goalie clear, they might have an opportunity to score if no one picks them up as they cross the midfield line.
• Lacrosse Stubbies – Cut down an old lacrosse stick until it is about 2 feet in length. Use it as your “stick” when you practice one-on-one defense. This extremely short stubby will help you to focus on moving your feet during lacrosse drills versus relying on your long pole.

Useful Articles for Lacrosse Defenders

Instructional Videos for Lacrosse Defense Techniques

Defense – LAXPlaybook –  

Lacrosse 101: Defense – LAXPlaybook

Zone Defense

Man to Man Defense

“Offense Wins Games, Defense Wins Championships. ”

In lacrosse, playing defense requires teamwork, communication and strategy. Teams typically employ either a man-to-man defensive scheme or some form of zone concept in an effort to deny the opposition scoring chances. While all defenses stem from the same two basic strategies and countless variations exist on the common themes there are some basics that apply to any defense.

The distinction that you want to make when establishing a team defense is where you want to slide from. A defenseman has to slide when the man covering the ball gets beat by the offensive ball carrier. Most teams will slide from the crease area (the d-man in front of the goal).

The other place you can slide from is defenseman who is covering the offensive player next to the ball carrier, otherwise known as “adjacent”. If playing man to man a team defense can only slide from the crease when there is an offensive player on the crease. If this offensive player slides off the crease in the middle of a play, that defenseman must call it out. If another offensive player goes to the crease, then the defenseman covering him can call it out, typically you hear the call “I’m HOT”. One of the benefits of a zone defense is that the player in the crease area will always be there thus minimizing changing responsibilities.

Having the defensemen communicate where they are sliding from and when they are sliding helps tremendously. A good defense must be loud and communicate extremely well with each other. For higher levels it is effective to mix up where the slide comes from as it keeps the offense back on its heels. However that can sometimes cause more confusion then good. So be careful when trying to incorporate multiple defenses as sometimes a jack of all can be an expert of none.

Weather you are in a zone or a man defense when a man slides to the ball there needs to be a second slide. For instance, when a defenseman slides from the crease, then the man he leaves open on the crease needs to be covered. The player or players who cover that open crease man would be the second slide. 

One general rule that players playing defense at the midfield must always follow is that they should always be as low as the ball when it is in front of the net and close to the crease when it is behind goal line extended. This means that if they are covering a man off-ball, then they should always stay at the same level as the ball. If the ball is behind, then they should be down on the crease, not covering their man all the way up top. This helps a team tremendously as they slide, help and recover. 

The man covering the ball must recover. If the man covering the ball gets beat and one of his teammates slides to the ball, the defensemen who was beat must pick up and open man, go back into the appropriate zone or if the strategy calls for it double the ball.

 No matter what defense you are in. . Zone, Man, Rotating box, Lock of Adjacent, Coma slides etc….. you must identify who is the first slide, who is the second slide and know how to recover when somebody gets beat.

10 Ways to Be More Aggressive in Lacrosse (Offense & Defense) – Lacrosse Pack

Without a doubt, lacrosse demands a certain level of aggression due to its emphasis on physical contact. For newer lacrosse players, it may not be so clear exactly how to get more aggressive without putting their team in a precarious situation or increasing the risk of drawing a personal foul.

Here is a list of 10 ways to be more aggressive in lacrosse:

1. Go after every ground ball.
2. Initiate first contact when dodging.
3. Throw the skip pass.
4. Cut off ball.
5. Push the fast break.
6. Throw poke checks.
7. Make defensive callouts.
8. Put pressure on indecisive ball carriers.
9. Fully commit to the slide.
10. Don’t slack off during the ride.

If you apply even just a couple of these items to your game, I can guarantee that you will be a more aggressive lacrosse player. Each of the lacrosse specific items listed above will be discussed in greater detail in the latter portions of the article. But before we get into all that, I want to touch on some general tips on how to adopt a more aggressive mindset.

How to Adopt a More Aggressive Mindset on the Lacrosse Field

During the beginning stages of lacrosse, it is difficult to glean how to best nurture an aggressive mindset. Since you are unfamiliar with the rules and play style, there are many trials and tribulations that you must go through before you can pinpoint at which points in the game to get aggressive.

The only way to learn how and where to best use aggression in lacrosse is to get as much game experience under your belt as possible. Whether it be pick up, intramural, practice, or formal game play, it is imperative that you get the repetitions in.

As you continue to play and progress, you will pick up on certain scenarios where it makes sense to play aggressively versus passively.

At times, playing aggressively doesn’t pay off. In fact, playing aggressively may end up doing more harm than good in certain situations.

For example, if the officials issued a controversial slashing penalty on your teammate and sent him to the penalty box, your emotions might be running hot. It may be tempting for you to aggressively push out on the opposing ball carrier, even though your team is a man down.

Pushing out aggressively and trying to get retribution on the other team while in a man down situation is not a smart play. It is far more likely that you will cost your team a goal rather than generate a turnover.

Hypothetical scenario aside, you need to learn to pick your spots. As you accrue more and more experience, you will gradually increase your lacrosse IQ and develop more confidence in your lacrosse skill set. This combination of situational awareness and self assurance will allow you to take calculated risks and ultimately be more aggressive.

With that being said, the items below outline an assortment of tangible strategies to become more aggressive in lacrosse. Although this is not a substitute for actual game experience, it will certainly help to accelerate your overall learning curve.

The #1 Way to Be More Aggressive in Lacrosse: Go After Every Ground Ball

First and foremost, the number one method of honing in on your aggression in lacrosse is to fight for every ground ball.

If you still have yet to learn the lacrosse lingo, a ground ball is a loose ball that is not possessed by either team. Essentially, it’s a ball bouncing around on the ground that’s up for grabs.

For a more detailed explanation on what ground balls are, check out my article What Does Ground Ball Mean in Lacrosse?

Ground balls are an integral part of the game of lacrosse. Practically every face-off, knocked down pass, ball strip, and errant throw results in a ground ball. Despite its frequency, ground balls are often overlooked in terms of their significance.

I put this item at the top of the list for a reason. Fighting for ground balls is the easiest way to get more aggressive in lacrosse because any offensive or defensive player can do it, regardless of their experience level. There is not much prerequisite skill involved with becoming a menacing ground ball scrapper. Think about it. All you need to do is locate the ground ball, outmaneuver the other players, and scoop it up into your stick. That’s all there is to it.

Even so, the majority of lacrosse players are lacking in the department of ground balls because they’re unwilling to put their body on the line. They rationalize their laziness by telling themselves they are more valuable elsewhere or that they could make up for it the next play. I know these things because I found myself tempted by these thoughts when I had a couple years of experience to my name.

As a novice player, the worst possible thing you can do is be passive when it comes to ground balls. You’re missing a valuable opportunity to earn playing time out on the field. Coaches are always on the hunt for athletes that are willing to fight tooth and nail for any 50/50 loose ball out on the field.

Sticking your nose into the middle of a ground ball scrum will result in some extra bruises. There’s no doubt about that. But in the end, it is well worth it.

4 Concrete Ways to Be More Aggressive on Offense

These next four tips are geared toward offensively minded players that want to take their aggressiveness to the next level. Incorporate these elements into your game and you are sure to leave your passive play style behind.

Initiate First Contact with the On Ball Defender When Dodging

As a ball carrier in lacrosse, you cannot afford to shy away from contact. Defenders pounce on ball carriers that refuse to put up a fight, especially if you’re an attackman. The best way to initiate contact with a defender and show that you are willing to hold your ground is to drive into their body during a dodge.

Driving into the body of the on ball defender is a useful tactic because you dictate the terms of the physical engagement. Contact will happen throughout the dodge anyway, so you might as well take it upon yourself to establish how the contact is going to play out.

Mind you, powering into the body of the defender should only be used if the defender is matching you hip for hip. If you have a step or two on the on ball defender after the initial jab step, just keep running. Don’t let up on your speed for the sole purpose of initiating contact.

The best time to initiate contact with the defender is when you want to create separation for a shot. Attackmen utilize this tactic all the time when they are a few yards away from the goal but they are stifled by the on ball defenseman in close quarters.

To create separation, they lean their bodyweight into the defender and drive them back on their heels. Then, they rapidly bounce out and take a quick shot. This strategy of first initiating contact and then bouncing out for a quick shot is commonly referred to as a question mark dodge.

If this is hard to visualize, I provided some film of lacrosse superstar, Rob Pannell, performing this maneuver below.

His aggressive initiation of contact is the primary reason why he is able to get off a high percentage shot every time that he gets within five yards of the goal. Although speed does reign supreme in lacrosse, aggressive physical contact is not something to scoff at either.

Throw the Skip Pass When the Opportunity Presents Itself

Another way to get aggressive on offense is to throw the skip pass every so often to keep the defense on their toes. The skip pass is exactly as it sounds. Rather than throwing the ball to the teammate nearest to you, you skip them and throw it to a teammate that is farther away.

Throwing a successful skip pass takes time to build up to. It’s definitely something that unexperienced players have trouble coming to terms with. This is largely due to the fact that a skip pass usually entails that the ball travels over the heads of multiple defenders before reaching its intended target.

Although it is a bit riskier than your average pass, there is the possibility for a tremendous payoff. The greater the risk, the greater reward.

The midfielders and attackmen that rack up the most assists don’t get there by being passive. They reach that point by taking chances and threading the ball through the defense when they least expect it.

This is not to say that you should try and whip the ball across the field every time you touch the ball. All I’m saying is that if the defense has come to anticipate that you’re going to toss the ball to the player adjacent to you for the fifth time in a row, throw a skip pass!

Your teammates will be completely fine with this because it puts them in a better position to score. There will be times where you turn the ball over, but this comes with the territory of being aggressive on offense. All you can do is learn from it and focus on the next play.

Mix in Some Spontaneous Off-Ball Cuts to the Ball

To be aggressive on offense, you don’t need to have the ball. You can be just as much of a threat off-ball as on-ball. It is simply a matter of putting forth the effort.

Every organized lacrosse team has some sort of offensive setup and general playbook that they want to run. However, this should not discourage you from being spontaneous out on the field. If you see an opportunity that your coach doesn’t, be aggressive and take advantage!

One of the best ways to do this is to cut backdoor on your defender. Every lacrosse player is guilty of ball watching from time to time. Rather than concentrating on the whereabouts of the ball like everyone else on the field, take a glance at where your defender is looking every once in a while. If you see the back of his helmet and an open lane to the goal, do a quick backdoor cut.

This is one of the easiest strategies to notch in a goal virtually every game. You don’t have to juke out your defender, outrun them, or bully your way past the entire defense. If you time up the cut correctly, you’ll get the ball right on the doorstep of the goal for an easy score.

Most players don’t implement this strategy because they’re conditioned to strictly follow the playbook, never deviating from the norm. This might allow you to be a good lacrosse player, but never a great one. Put simply, overcome your fear of straying from the standard and cut to the ball. This sort of subtle aggression will earn you a great deal of extra goals over the course of your lacrosse career.

Push the Fast Break

The last item I will discuss for getting aggressive on the offensive side of the ball is exploiting transitional opportunities.

Lacrosse has been renowned as The Fastest Sport on Two Feet for its up tempo speed and dynamic play style. A large part of this can be attributed to the fast break.

As soon as there is a shot save or a turnover, you should be aggressively streaking downfield to get a head start on the other team. If you’re open, make your presence known by calling for the ball and waving your stick around. Once you get the ball, the stage is set for an incredible scoring opportunity.

The reason that you should aggressively push the fast break is because it is essentially a free man up opportunity. If you’re carrying the ball at a considerable distance ahead of the pack, the fast break simplifies into a 4v3 scenario. The defense will be left reeling trying to do the impossible task of covering two players at once. Obviously, this is an opportune time to strike.

The only way to get to this point, however, is to be aggressive and take the reins yourself. Most other players are too exhausted from their stint on defense to run like a maniac down the field. To get aggressive on offense, you have to be willing to do the little things that other players won’t. Otherwise, your passive play style will put a permanent cap on your potential.

To help better instill this concept, I included a compilation of fast break clips below. Any one of the players that jumpstarted these fast breaks could have pulled the ball out and reset into an organized clear. Instead, they opted to be aggressive and take a chance. A couple of long poles even got in on the action!

5 Concrete Ways to Be More Aggressive on Defense

Now that we have satisfied the offensive side of the ball, it’s time to turn our heads to the defensive end. I went ahead and compiled a list of 5 specific ways to be more aggressive on defense.

Heckle Opposing Ball Carriers with Poke Checks on the Hands

To be aggressive on defense, you have to put constant pressure on opposing ball carriers. When people think of defensive pressure in lacrosse, their thoughts automatically go to repeatedly thwacking defenders and delivering bone rattling body checks. Although these are nice to watch on a highlight tape, these flashy methods fail to work 9 times out of 10.

A far better alternative is to practice solid fundamental defensive positioning above all else and then deliver calculated, precise poke checks on the opposing ball carrier. Many young defenders aimlessly swing their stick at their opponent just hoping to jar the ball loose. Unfortunately, this defensive strategy is more likely to force a flag than a turnover.

The best lacrosse defenders in the world jab their stick into the stick and gloves of the ball carrier and impede their stick handling ability, all without sacrificing their position.

Rather than winding up their stick like a baseball bat, they throw forceful pokes that are meant to disrupt, not maim.

They also perfectly time their stick checks to sync up with an opponent’s pass or shot. This is the ideal time to throw a poke check because it will alter the flight path off the throw and likely drive the ball out of bounds. They steal possession without even having to go through the laborious process of scrapping for a ground ball.

In short, being aggressive on defense doesn’t necessarily mean going for the home run check every single time. Staying in front of the ball carrier and throwing stick checks in an accurate and timely fashion supersedes the use for a wild home run check by a mile.

Yell Out Defensive Calls with Authority

Being aggressive is not only limited to the physical realm. You can be aggressive on the lacrosse field in other ways as well.

A prime example of this is aggressively calling out to the defense to make sure everyone is on the same page. This may seem insignificant, but it is absolutely imperative that a defense communicates if they have any desire to be a winning team.

Go to any college lacrosse game and just listen. Every five seconds, someone on the defense is shouting at the top of their lungs, “Who’s hot! Who’s my 2! Cutter! FIRE!” If you’re unfamiliar with basic lacrosse defensive strategy, those callouts probably seemed very strange. Trust me, I didn’t make those up. They’re universal lacrosse terms.

But if you’re curious about learning what these different defensive callouts mean, I highly recommend you check out my article What Does Hot Mean in Lacrosse?

This continuous stream of information that the defense shares with one another keeps everyone prepped and ready to provide support when the time comes. It is inevitable that a defender will get beat eventually. No on ball defender is perfect. However, the defense should be ready to offer backup as soon as a defender gets beat to buy time for them to recover.

In the absence of communication, help defense is a difficult task to accomplish because nobody knows where to rotate. By taking leadership and talking your teammates through the process, you can act as the glue that holds the defense together.

The main takeaway here is to be aggressive with your communication. Don’t mutter the callouts under your breath, yell them out! This will not only benefit you as a defender, but the entire team as well.

Push Out on Indecisive Ball Carriers

As a defender, you should be salivating like a toddler staring at chocolate strawberries when you’re matched up against a weak ball carrier. For whatever reason, most defenders are perfectly content with sitting back and allowing their matchup to pass the ball around uncontested. I hate to say it, but this is just lazy defense.

If you notice that your defensive assignment has mediocre stick skills, push out and pressure them as soon as they get the ball. Allowing them to toss the ball around the perimeter may seem harmless, but it wastes valuable possession time that could be gifted to your offense.

Once you’ve identified the weak link in an offense, do your best to exploit it. Every time they get the ball, you should be bombarding their gloves with hard poke checks, even if they are positioned somewhat far from the goal. The likelihood of them acting as a real scoring threat is slim at best, so you might as well be aggressive and take your chances.

More often than not, you’ll be able to jar the ball loose or force an errant pass a couple times before the offense stops giving your matchup the ball. At that point, you’ll know that you’ve done your job as a defenseman.

Do Not Hesitate When Committing to the Slide

The next way to become a more aggressive lacrosse player is to fully commit to the slide when there is impending danger. To all the lacrosse newcomers out there, a slide is a defensive shift to an opposing ball carrier to prevent them from having a clear path to the goal. A slide is warranted if a ball carrier has dodged past the on ball defender.

Still curious about the mechanics of the defensive slide? Click over to my article What is a Slide in Lacrosse – Definition & Examples to satisfy your curiosity.

Now that you got the basic gist of a slide, know that there is no such thing as a halfway slide in lacrosse. You either go, or you don’t go. Getting caught in no man’s land between your initial defensive assignment and the ball doesn’t do anything for the team. In fact, the only thing it does is make matters worse because you’re no longer covering anybody!

Once you commit to the slide, be aggressive with it. Call out to your defenseman and move quickly. You have to cover the distance between you and the ball in a matter of seconds to squash any potential scoring chance the opposing ball carrier might have. Hesitancy is a surefire way to cost your team goals.

If you do manage to make it to the ball in time before they are able to get off a shot, keep the pressure on. Don’t let up on the aggression after the initial check. Assail them with a flurry of checks until they are well out of shooting range. Not only does this ensure that the potential danger will be thoroughly extinguished, it also dissuades the offense from ever dodging toward the middle again.

Put simply, sliding is not the time to be passive. Be aggressive in your decision making and your checking to give your defense the best possible chance to come out on top.

Use Every Bit of Energy You Got Left in the Tank During the Ride

The last aggressive defensive tip I have for you is to use up everything in the energy reserve on the riding effort. More lacrosse terminology here, so I’ll provide a brief explanation. Riding is a team’s defensive effort to stop the other team from advancing the ball to their offensive zone. A ride typically follows a save or a turnover.

Click over to my article What Does Ride Mean in Lacrosse? (Definition & Examples) if want to learn more about what a ride is and how it works.

For many players, the riding effort is an afterthought. Players are unwilling to battle back to get possession of the ball again after a long spell on offense. They fool themselves into believing that a ride would be a waste of effort.

This rationalization process is rubbish. The players that have the most fight and the most heart spend every ounce of energy they have left to give their team the best chance to win. In my experience, the most talented players I’ve come across always push the hardest during the ride. They run to and fro regardless of where the ball is located on the field and give the other team a run for their money.

In fact, the best player on my team was consistently the most aggressive on our ride. Some might say that this is a coincidence, but I think not.

So if you find yourself toe to toe with an opponent as the last obstacle between them and their offensive zone, don’t make it easy! Throw checks. Give chase. Push them out of bounds. Do whatever it is you can to make it hard on them. This aggression will pay dividends over time.

Final Thoughts

Like many contact sports, aggression is a key element to success. However, the way you go about handling that aggression on the field is crucial in and of itself.

I would advise you to avoid going for the layout hit or hogging the ball on offense to impose your aggression in the sport. This will get you nowhere. Instead, implement a couple of the items above to use your aggression in the best manner possible. Not only will this allow you to develop as a player, it will also give your team the best opportunity to win.

How To Play Defense in Lacrosse (10 Best Defensive Drills)

Playing defense in Lacrosse could be a physically and mentally challenging task. Fast reflexes of the mind have to be matched with quick action to block the attacking players and take possession of the ball. This is why many players wonder how to play defense in lacrosse in the best and most efficient way.

Speed, accuracy, and coordination with midfield players and goalie are the most important factors for the solid defense.

Some of the coaches feel that aggression is the best way how to play defense in lacrosse. So, they train defenders to keep moving forward towards the midfield area, rather than stepping backward.

Focusing on the opponent players’ body language can help predict their next moves to a certain extent. Here are a few actionable tips.

Looking for the best lacrosse heads for defense? Check out our 3 top picks!

Footwork – Focus, Agility and Speed In Lacrosse Defense

Agility and speed of footwork are the two aspects that can help you catch up with the attacker and keep him away from the goal area. The foot movement is not always straight. You may need to run towards the midfield, sideline or backward. You have to avoid the head-on collision with your opponent while blocking him physically.

Always use the combination of your footwork and stick-work to defend the goal from the attacker. If the attacker is a leftie, you need to force him to switch the balance to his right and vice versa. You can do it when your footwork, agility and speed are at the maximum possible limit.

Drill #1 (Ladder)

A good way to practice footwork is the ladder drill. You’ll need a ladder with 10 to 12 equidistant rungs. You can spread it on the grass field and start practicing. The drills are two-feet-in, in-in-out-out, jump-in & jump-out, scissors, and the triple-set forward-jump. You need to jump on the metatarsal bones (fee-balls), keep your body straight, and bend your knees at 90 degrees and keep pumping your arms.

Ladder Drill Benefits: Footwork speed could improve with practice. Your entire body becomes agile. Reflexive actions quicken. Arms movement turns into free-flow. You can check your opponent’s flow and force him to switch to his weaker side get defensive from offensive motion. It is the time you use your angular footwork and arms move to take the ball away from him.

Drill #2 (Stick-Hops)

Stick-hopping is a method of jumping between two sides of a lacrosse stick that is flat on the ground. You can use both your feet to jump along its length or across. There are also other methods of crisscrossing your legs and feet over the stick while you perform the stick-hopping drill. You may perform the drill constantly at one end of the stick or move from one end to the other end for enhanced effects.

Stick-Hops Benefits: The muscle and bone strength in ankles, calf, shin, knees, thighs, and hip increases. Endurance to stress enhances. You can move your body through 180⁰ around the attacking opponent and restrict his forward movement.

Mind focus power increases considerably. So, you can distract the opponent’s attention and take the ball away from him by blocking his footwork and free movement.

Drill #3 (Asterisk-Cone)

Place a solid cone at the center of the field and draw a circle (real or imaginary). Place five or six cones at an equal distance on the circumference. The radius of the circle should be large enough for free movement. Stand at the center wearing the uniform and with the lacrosse stick in your hands. Ask your friend to start the stopwatch as you run around each cone on eth circumference and return to the center. You can also do it in a team of four members.

Asterisk-Cone Drill Benefits: The Asterisk-Cone drill aims at switching your position within the defense zone. It sharpens your coordination skills with your team members. Responsiveness to team calls increases. Communication techniques improve. The ability to focus on an opponent’s body language and movement gets better. It also enhances the speed and agility of crisscross movements and footwork skills.

Stick Skills – Block, Catch and Deflect

Now, let’s have a look at some defensive drills to help you improve your stick skills. In my opinion, this will help you learn how to play defense in lacrosse in the most effective way.

Drill #4 (Wall-Ball)

Wall-Ball is the technique of throwing the ball onto the wall and catching it on rebound with the Lacrosse stick. You can start the drill at a slow pace and increase the speed with time. You can perform the drill on a specific zone on the wall or move across the wall-length for enhanced effects.

Wall-Ball Benefits: Wall-Ball is the technique used to increase the reflex action of your mind and coordination of your body. It helps you in sharpening the alertness of your mind while on the field. You can intercept the offensive moves of your opponents effectively.

Drill #5 (Ground-Ball)

The Ground-ball drill helps you focus on the fast-moving ball on the ground without missing it. Stand a few feet away from your friend and ask him to roll the ball towards you at speeds. You need to bend and pick the ball with your stick or hand quickly.

Ground-Ball Benefits: Ground-ball drill helps you get control over your movement speed and ball pickup when it is on the ground.

Drill # 6 (Stick-Projection)

Keeping your lacrosse stick over the opponents’ shoulder height as he approaches you can be done as a group (or one-on-one) drill.

Stick-Projection Benefits:  The Stick-focus method makes your offensive opponent slow down and think about other options. It becomes easy for you to block him.

Drill # 7 (Hawk-Drill)

For the Hawk-Drill, you need to hold the stick with both hands pointing towards the shoulder height of your opponent. Then you bend on your knees at an angle of 450 with your thighs. Move rapidly across the cones in the field.

Hawk-Drill Benefits: Hawk-Drill increases the agility of your movement and the ability to block the opponent from moving forward. It also gives you a chance to take the ball away from the opponent and deflect it away from the goal.

Physical Workouts – Strength and Stamina

Now, let’s have a look at some defensive workout drills to help you improve your strength and stamina. These physical workouts will help you learn how to play defense in lacrosse using your endurance and fitness.

Drill # 8 (Rope-Jumping)

Practice Rope-Jumping at least 25 rounds of rope jumping every morning and evening. You may increase the rounds with experience.

Lacrosse is played on a large rectangular grass field. The field has markings with specific functions:

Midfield line: Divides the field into equal halves. The X centered on this line is where face-offs take place. Also, the proper number of players on each team must remain on each half of the field to avoid being called for offsides.

Sidelines and endlines: Mark the boundaries. When a ball or player goes out of bounds, the opposing team takes possession. Following a shot, the player closest to spot where the ball went out of bounds has possession. Therefore, a teammate should always be in a position to back up a shot.

Goal: Points are scored when the ball passes through this six-foot by six-foot square.

Crease: Circle surrounding the goal that the offense cannot enter. Players can reach into the crease with their stick to gain possession of a loose ball, but cannot touch the goalie. Crease violations result in a penalty.

Penalty box: Used as a holding area for players to wait out their penalties. It is also the access area for substitute players entering and exiting the field for on-the-fly substitutions.

Wing area: Two of the three midfielders must remain in the wing area until the face-off starts.

Positions

Two teams compete with 10 players on the field. Players fall into four categories:

Attack: Offensive-minded players who possess great stick skills that allow them to shoot with precision and fake. They use speed and agility to elude defenders. Attackers also endure punishing hits from opponents.

Midfield: Always on the move, these players advance the ball up the field and play both offense and defense. Help defenders and tally assists by taking the ball from defensive area to attackers. They are fast, durable, and stick savvy. Also called “middies.”

Defense: Defenders use size, speed, strength, and skill to keep attackers from scoring. An aggressive mindset is beneficial, but playing under control and selecting the proper angle to prevent close range shots are more critical skills.

Goalie: Uses lightning-fast reflexes, quick decisions, and courage to stop a barrage of high-velocity shots. Body must handle punishment from the ball, and mind has to quickly recover from mistakes. The goalie directs the defense by calling for checks and relaying locations of the ball and attackers.

Officials

Two to Three officials—a referee, umpire, and field judge—usually govern the game to ensure fair and safe play. Any violation of the rules results in a penalty.A player called for a foul is sent to the penalty box and his team must play without that player, or man down, until the penalty is over or the opposition scores. If the defensive team commits a penalty when the opposing team has the ball, play is allowed to continue until the opponent loses possession of the ball, at which time the penalty is enforced. This delayed penalty is called a slow whistle and allows the offense to maintain its advantage.

Personal fouls, such as slashing, tripping, cross checking, unnecessary roughness, and unsportsmanlike conduct are major violations. The official determines the length of the penalty, which ranges from one to three minutes.

Technical fouls are minor infractions that lead to a 30-second penalty. These fouls include crease violation, offsides, interference, holding, illegal screens, illegal procedure, stalling, and warding off. A player is ejected from the remainder of the game if he commits five fouls.

Additionally, players can be ejected from the game for fighting, playing too violently, or arguing with an official.

Glossary

Body check: Contact from the front that is permitted between the shoulders and waist when an opponent has possession or is within five yards of a loose ball.

Clamp: Quickly covering the ball with the backside of the head of the stick during a face-off.

Clearing: Transferring the ball from the defensive half of the field across the midfield line.

Cradle: Running with the stick in either one or both hands in a manner that keeps the ball in the pocket.

Cutting: When an attacker runs toward the goal to receive a pass and take a clear shot.

Face-off: A player from each team stands face-to-face with their sticks on the ground along the centerline. The official places the ball between the two stick heads and blows the whistle. The two players then attempt to gain control of the ball using their sticks. Typical face-off moves include the clamp and rake. If a penalty is called before or during a face-off, possession goes to the opposing team.

Fake: To make a throwing motion with the stick just before shooting it to deceive the goalie.

Fast break: When the offense exploits an unsettled defense with a quick transition downfield. Many goals are scored this way.

Feed: Passing the ball to a player to create a scoring opportunity.

Ground ball: A loose ball that is on the ground. Players scoop the ball with the stick to pick it up.

Illegal body check: A late hit, or contact from behind, above the shoulders, or below the waist.

Interference: Limiting the free movement of an opponent who does not have possession of the ball and is not within five yards of a loose ball.

Isolation: Offensive players clear out of the way to allow an opening for a teammate to drive towards the goal with the ball.

Loose ball: Ball not controlled by a player (e.g. on the ground or in the air).

Man-down: When the defense is at a disadvantage due to a penalty. Also called penalty kill.

Man-to-man defense: Each player guards one specific player. Each defenseman matches up with an attacker, and each midfielder matches up with an opposing midfielder.

Man-up: When the offense has an advantage following a penalty. Also called a power play.

Offsides: Violation called when a team has fewer than four players on its defensive side of the field, or fewer than three players on its attacking side.

On-the-fly: Substituting during play. When one player exits the field through the penalty box, another can enter.

Pick: Attackers or middies stand in a position to block the path of a teammate’s defender to create space for the teammate to receive a pass.

Pushing: Illegal shoving of an opponent from behind.

Rake: Face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side for a teammate to pick up.

Release: When a penalized player re-enters the game.

Riding: Attempting to prevent a team from clearing the ball.

Scoop: Picking up a ground ball in the crosse pocket.

Screen: Offensive player stands outside the crease in front of the goalie to block the goalie’s view.

Slashing: Illegal stick check to the body of a player that results in a personal foul.

Slow whistle: Permitting play to continue during a penalty until the offense loses possession of the ball to allow an offense to maintain its advantage.

Stalling: Intentionally holding the ball without advancing toward the goal.

Stick check: Defenders attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s stick by executing a poke check or a slap check.

Tripping: Impeding an opponent at or below the waist and causing him to fall.

Unnecessary roughness: Excessively violent and usually calculated contact to the opposition.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Physical or verbal actions considered to be abusive, obscene, or threatening by a game official.

Warding off: While in possession of the ball, using a free hand to control an opponent’s stick or body.

Zone defense: Strategy in which players defend a specific part of the field, close to the goal, instead of guarding a single opponent.

The Lacrosse Institute | Skill Development – Defend the Cone

In this Defensive oriented drill we are working on defensive footwork and body positioning.  The idea is for the first offensive player to go at about a 75% effort trying to get to the cone (goal) The second offensive player goes full effort to the goal while the defender is recovering  Playing with or without sticks, the defensive players need to use their feet to get their body in the right position to be able to stop the offensive player.

Drill Set Up:

Break up the offense and defense so you have about 5-6 guys in a group (both offensive and defensive players in each group).  Each group should have their own cone.  Set the line up about 7-8 yards from the cone.  Have the defensive player drop step out and the second and third players in line get balls in their sticks.   Set the defensive player about 2-3 yards in front of the offensive player between the ball and the cone.  The defensive player should get in a good athletic stance with his hands up and in near his chest.

Drill Execution:

The offensive player should start with a drive and/or a dodge (split, face, rocker, roll etc) trying to get to the cone. He should not go 100% but probably around 75%.  The defensive player should use their feet to maintain his position between himself and the cone and use his hands by pushing on the back and shoulders of the offensive player to control him and keep him away from the cone.  Each repetition should last about 5-8 seconds.  Once the first offensive player has gone for 5-8 seconds, blow the whistle and the defensive player should immediately return to the starting position.  You should blow the whistle again for the next offensive player to go right when he returns to the starting position and gets in a good stance.  In the beginning allow the defensive player to get back and get set, but as they get better at the drill, blow the whistle as the defensive player is recovering to the starting point so that he must begin to think about using angles to get to the right spot.   It is important that all players play both offense and defense.  Long poles should use their long poles when on offense!!  In essence the first offensive player is going 75%, the second is going 100%.  The same defender is going on each of those two players.

Casey Powell Lacrosse 16 Game Discussions

I have put 50 hours onto the game so far so maybe I can help with a few tips I have picked up:

Hits————————————————————————————————————————————-
Like mrhine5 said, Body Checks are hard to line up and if you want to lay them out I have found you must ALWAYS tap your left stick and sprint at them. Which makes sense, then you time up the hit.

I have noticed that if I do this without really trying to time the hit up right, that many fly-bys will happen so be aware of that. Also be aware of what player you are attempting to hit with because some players will get ran over if you choose a weakling.

Stick Checks————————————————————————————————————————
I have found that all of the different stick checks used on the X,Y,B, A and RB work well in different situations:

*Note I use an xbox 360 controller on windows when I play so I am going to use their button names.

The poke check (RB): I use this the most and usually when the opponent is just running with the ball not passing it, you can spam on this button and really harrass the defender (As players do in real life)

The slap-check (I dont remember the name, X and B): Are also good when the attacker is in front of you, with X, you will slap the side/elbow that is to your left, and the same with B will slap their right side.

The Rusty/Kayak check (A): Is best used when the player is right parallel with you, I use this stick check by far the least but if you time it up right it works super well. Hard to time up though.

The Wrap Check (Y): Is used when you are traling an attacker! It works super well when you are behind someone for getting your stick over them to knock the ball loose.

Locking on————————————————————————————————————————
When you hold Left trigger(LT) it helps you lock on, I also recommend not always switching to the closest defender with RT, because it will get your players slowly out of position as the offensive unit closes in on crease with their passes.

I say if you lock on and get close to a player you never should be leaving them to just run with the ball, constantly be pressuring them with stick checks or small body checks. I personally recommend RB for poke checks and either B or X for side stick checks.

I also think that tapping LT to square up with the player is good if you want to give them a little space, then you manually control your defender. Again I recommend poke checks here because those are by far the longest reaching check you can perform.

I may add more to this if anyone has any questions but I hope this insight I have picked up from my 50 hours will help!

Lacrosse Defensive Drills | SportsRec

Defensive drills in lacrosse are designed to help your team reduce the goals scored against it as well as improving fundamentals. While some defensive drills are individual, others focus on interacting with defensive teammates to make plays.

Poke-Check

This poke-check drill helps improve players’ ability to poke the ball lose from an offensive player. Have a group of defenders line up in a straight line. With their sticks up in an offensive attack position and you on the end, step forward so you are facing one of the first players in line. On the whistle, throw your stick up and out toward the head of the player’s stick. Perform this twice before moving on to the next players, performing poke checks until you have performed one on every player in the line.

Foot Positioning Drill

Solid footwork helps a defender stay with an offensive player when he attempts to drop step or roll. Line up in front of an offensive player with your knees slightly bent and stick at an angle. Stand with your top foot up and facing the backside of the attacker. On your coach’s whistle, the attacker should attempt to pivot and roll to evade you. As he rolls, drop step on your back foot to shadow him and block off his path to the goal. Repeat until fatigued.

Playing Keepaway

As well as testing your conditioning, keepaway drills improve your ability to stop offensive players from attacking when your defense is shorthanded. Start by marking off a 10-by-10-yard box with cones. Have three attackers stand on three of the four corners of the box. With one additional defender, stand in the center of the box. On your coach’s whistle, try to intercept the passes as they go between the three offensive players. Continue the drill until a pass is successfully intercepted.

Defensive Pressure

Defensive pressure can lead to steals and changes of possession. Have four offensive players assemble in a diamond formation. Four defenders stand in the middle of the diamond. On your coach’s whistle, three of the four defenders attack the player in the diamond with the ball. As you run toward the ball, have one defender drop back while another stays in the middle of the diamond. As the offensive player attempts to pass the ball away, try to block the ball with your stick. If the ball gets by the attacking defenders, have the other defenders attempt to intercept the pass.

Casey Powell Lacrosse 16 – game reviews and estimates, DLC release dates, trailers, descriptions

Casey Powell Lacrosse 16 invites you to take part in a dynamic and action-packed lacrosse match – with fast player movements across the field, virtuoso club handling, graceful serves and energetic ball throws.
• Many goals: this game, unlike many other sports, has a lot of goals! Over 20 goals are scored in an average lacrosse match.So get ready for a real fight!
• Impressive Strikes: Pave the way for the pitcher by planning your attack perfectly. Work like a football midfielder with only a steel core – and score a goal!
• Stick Combinations: Skillful stick handling will help steal the ball away from the opposing attackers. Discover many virtuoso lunges – almost like fencing!
• Skillful evasion: learning to evade your opponent, you can easily make your way through the defenses of the enemy. All lacrosse players are real athletes. If anything, they break ankles, and in the hunt, they can break a heart.
• Fast Passes: Use graceful and fast passes to get your opponent around the corner. It’s almost like playing tic-tac-toe.
• Throw-ins: Control every slightest movement of your players during a first-person throw-in. Fake lunges, presses or tosses – it’s all in your hands!
• Transition to attack: a team that knows how to attack correctly – also knows how to score goals! Two for one, go ahead!
• Transition to defense: you decide how to properly catch, control and pass the ball.The transition to defense can bring both victory and defeat!
• Play in attack: sometimes it is better to work with transitions, and sometimes without them. There are no successful teams without a successful strategy.
• Defensive play: when do you want to play the ball? Maybe you should catch him and play the defense in your zone? Or play on or near the crisis? How about trying to block the two best players in your opponent? Lacrosse does not forgive defensive mistakes.

Platforms:

Release date:

9 March 2016

PC Released:

9 March 2016

Xbox One Release Date:

9 March 2016

PS4 Release Date:

9 March 2016

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Tags:

action, co-op, full controller support, multiplayer, simulation, singleplayer, split screen, sports, steam achievements, steam cloud, steam leaderboards, steam-trading-cards, simulator, sports game, action

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Lacrosse – An American Game Without Rules | Video

1. Fifth channel

2. Archive Morning at 5

3. Body into action

4. Lacrosse is an American game without rules

25. 2013, 08:25 Body in action

Helmet, hockey gloves and a strange looking net. If you write the rules for all this equipment, you will get more than one volume. It’s easier, faster and more interesting to do without them altogether.

90,000 Plays for the Pats in defense are assigned by Belichick Jr. This was confirmed by the players themselves – First & Goal

When the Giants became NFC champions in 1986, players carried their 34-year-old defense coordinator Bill Belichick off the field in their arms.After that game, the New York Giants advanced to their first Super Bowl and won.

Thirty years later, history almost repeats itself: Bill Belichick’s son, Steve Belichick, is serious about defending the New England Patriots. It is not yet worn on the hands, but it is still ahead.

Several Patriots players told Boston Herald that Steve has been scheduling defensive plays for the team for “weeks in a row”. Belichick Jr. began his coaching career with his father’s team in 2012.In 2016, he became a safety coach.

When former Pats defense coordinator Brian Flores took over as head coach for the Dolphins mid-season, Belichick Jr. was given additional rally scheduling responsibilities.

“We worked really well because we knew what Steve would be nominating and how he sees the game,” Terrence Brooks told the Patriots security team. – I remember how worried he was the first time he had to appoint. I encouraged him and said that he was generally the best.He sat like that, and I told him: “Come on, pull yourself together. Let’s go! You are one of the best, this is a piece of cake for you! “And he jumped up so cheerfully from the bench.”

“That’s the point of going out on Sunday to the pitch and fighting,” says Steve. – We have great guys in defense. They play tough. I really enjoy working with Jarod Mayo, the coach of our linebackers, and with other people from the team’s headquarters. ”

Belichick Jr., now 32, is largely following in his father’s footsteps. He also played football and lacrosse in college.Shortly after graduation, he was promoted to coach in the NFL. Steve has already won three championship rings as an assistant on his father’s coaching staff. And it seems that the younger Belichick inherited his father’s passion for watching the recordings: he also drags on theoretical training in the video room with the team and watching a million game videos of upcoming rivals.

“Like his father, he is a lover of football history,” says Jarod Mayo, who used to be a linebacker himself and even won one ring as a player in 2014. “Loves circuits, loves to study the evolution of the game.”

Belichick Jr.’s promotion to coordinator has paid off. In eight games, the New England defense concede only 7.6 points per game. On average, the Pats defenders allow opponents to go just 234 yards per game, making them the best in the League. Also, the Patriots defense is leading in interceptions (19 – the rest of the NFL teams have no more than 10), sacks (31) and touchdowns in defense (4). New England’s current defense may not only be the best defense in the Bill Belichick era at the Pats, but one of the best defenses in NFL history.

So the son of Bill Belichick has already begun to build his coaching career.

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The Honest Truth About Zone Defense In Lacrosse

I have heard more straight up nonsense about using a zone defense in lacrosse than I care to remember.  And foolishly, I thought that because a number of D1 teams were using the zone more, both this year and last, more lacrosse people might actually start to understand how a zone really operates.  And maybe even how to beat one!  So far, this has not been the case.  People are still bandying about, with outdated theories, and I’m here to set the record straight.

I was at Wesleyan when we decided to install a zone, and as a 4 year starter on defense and a 2 year assistant coach, I saw just how the zone evolved, how it could be used, and what the drawbacks were.  I played against a great zone D when we scrimmaged NY Tech every year.  I feel pretty comfortable in a good zone.

Right now, most teams run a pretty basic zone, and in order to help their players understand it, the teams often don’t press as much as they do in man.  This says nothing about the zone, and only speaks to the abilities of the players and coaches using the zone in that instance.  Their approach is like having a crease slide, but no 2 slide… it’s a partial defense at best, that is being used to try to make up for shortcomings.  And it’s boring to watch because it’s timid.  But when done right, the zone can be exciting AND effective.  So I’m going to help these guys out a bit and bust some myths and drop some knowledge.

Quint Kessenich tries to break down the zone over on Inside Lacrosse and he definitely inspired me to write this.  While he finally admits that a zone can be effective at the D1 level (after saying for YEARS that a zone wouldn’t work in D1 lacrosse. Seriously, YEARS.), he still doesn’t seem to really understand the benefits of the zone… and he definitely doesn’t understand how to beat one.  Of course, it doesn’t seem like Paul Rabil has much of a clue either.  Even some of the coaches that use the zone, and are quoted in his article, seem to miss the point.  So it’s not uncommon.

I’ll try my best to explain this complicated but effective defense in theory, and in order to do so, I’ll dispell some rumors and false assertions and then tell you how it really is.

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– Zone defense is great when you have smart, but less athletic players: Not really true.  Players do need to be smart.  That is definitely true.  But less athletic?  No way.  A good zone presses out (even behind the cage!) and the ability to be inside helping and then get out to cover a man passing through your zone requires both top level conditioning and a lot of athletic ability.  Because of the help requirements a zone places on every defender, the average distance to get out to cover a man is actually further.  So you really need MORE athletic players to run a great zone consistently.

2009 NCAA D3 Defender of the year, Spike Malangone

– Zone defense in lacrosse is similar to basketball:  Yes, basketball was invented by a lacrosse player.  And yes, one on one defense in both sports is similar, in that you play it primarily with your feet.  Other than that, there are simply way too many differences between the two sports for this comparison to be at all relevant.

Basketball is soft, you can’t really play that physically on defense.  There is no goalie, so zone busting shooters are actually effective (even if American players can’t shoot the rock for $#%& anymore).  The floor is also very small compared to a lacrosse field, so making a zone D illegal in the NBA makes sense.  The importance of every goal in a lacrosse game is measurable.  Many baskets in a game mean almost nothing, especially when the total points scored verges on 200 points or more.  Basketball is a great training tool for lacrosse, but theory doesn’t translate perfectly from one to the other.  I think people need to be more careful with that and look deeper.

Here is one example:  the drive and dish approach.  Drive and dish in basketball and get a great open shot.  Perfect.  Drive and dish in lacrosse and you get an open shot the goalie is expecting, that the defensive team WANTS to give up.  In basketball, you’re winning.  In lacrosse, you’re doing what the other teams wants.

– Zone defenses slow down the game of lacrosse:  I couldn’t disagree with this statement more.  The game of lacrosse has been slowed down by ONE thing and one thing only… COACHES.  They are the reason for 3 minute offensive possessions that result in 2 wing dodges by a middie on a shortie, and one shot over the cage.  This is not the fault of the zone defense.  I can say this because this type of O existed LONG before zone D became more popular.  And this is a HUGE miss by Quint that really demonstrates his lack of zone understanding.  There have been 5-4 games with both teams playing man long before zone defenses became popular.  It’s coaching.

Now, the slow down of lacrosse can be traced to the narrow sticks as well, but in the end it comes down to coaching.  Shamel Bratton carrying the ball for a minute, then pulling it out, dodging, shooting and then repeating is not fast lacrosse.  He can do it because of the stick technology.  He DOES do it, because Starsia wants him to.  It has nothing to do with the defense and it rests with the coaches.  Quint needs to realize this.  Until he does, he’s just making excuses.

But what is fast lacrosse anyway?  To me, it’s run and gun, transition heavy, lots of passing and lots of goals.

So because a zone defense can be so effective in 6 on 6, a team playing zone actually encourages the other team to push more transition.  To me, this speeds up the game of lacrosse.  If coaches aren’t willing to push transition, even though that’s where the opportunities are, it is once again THEIR fault, and not the fault of the zone.  It’s easy to blame an inanimate concept over people… but that’s the cheap way out.

Quint even uses a Tierney quote to illustrate how a zone slows the game, “Zone defense has its flaws.  The flaws exist inside on the crease or with a lack of pressure behind. How do the zones rotate when they are forced to shift?”  and then Quint goes on to say that the zone is creating a “slow death”.  Um, what?  Tierney JUST SAID his zone suffers from a lack of pressure at X and allows for crease looks.  How is that slow death?  To me it seems like ripe pickings!  I know Quint hates the zone, but this is getting ridiculous.

– Simply switching to a zone is a good, quick way to change things up: This is ONLY true if a) your team is prepared to run a zone effectively and b) the other team didn’t prepare for the zone.  If you can run an effective zone, you get some benefit from switching it up.  No doubt there.  But the main benefit of using it is that you can play good defense… not that you are switching it up for the sake of making a change.  If the other team has prepared to break a zone, switching it up does little for you.  Just be prepared to play good D.  It’s much more simple than how it’s painted by coaches in the IL article.

You give other teams different looks… this is Coaching 101.  You use a zone as one of those other looks, if you can run it well.  Simply switching to a zone for a change of pace is NOT a convincing argument.  The reason you do it, is because you’re actually GOOD at it.

– You beat a zone with ball movement and forcing the defense to rotate or dodging gaps and forcing doubles, then moving the ball: False.  Simply moving the ball will NOT force a good defense to leave their zones and rotate.  A good zone D will move together seamlessly and this ball movement around the outside will do nothing.  Dodging the gap  and THEN moving the ball to find a backside look is a better start and starting to get on the right track, but again, not completely accurate.

The key to beating a zone is getting two players to play one player, Paul Rabil is right about that.  But by simply moving the ball to the next man in the offense, you allow the D to recover.  The more passes you make after the double comes, the greater chance the D can recover.

And the answer is not a simple overload either.  A zone can easily shift to cover this, and more outside players may result in more 12-15 yard shots, but the zone wants to give that up.  Take that shot.  They want you to.  The goalie knows it’s coming and that brings me to one point that Quint nails… you need to have a good goalie.  But isn’t that true of any great defense?  It is?  Moving on…  Overloading the inside also doesn’t work as the zone can crumple in, and like I said earlier, explode out to cover when needed.  So what can you do to beat a zone?

Play 3-man games.  It’s almost like a timed or delayed small overload.  Here’s one way to run it from a 3-1-2 set.  The two-man game starts it out as one defender extends to cover at top right.  The offensive player carries the ball towards another zone (side right) and as the pole comes to receive the player into his zone on the defensive pass, a soft or false pick can be set by the bottom right O player, who then quickly flushes to the goal, receives a pass, expects the low crease slide and moves the ball to the cutting crease player who gets the inside look.  If the LSM, who usually plays the top crease middle slot comes down to cover, the crease player must find a cutting top middie with a feed.  Either way, this results in a 5-8 yard shot off of a pass.  If your team is practicing box lacrosse skills, they’ll be better prepared.

If you can’t pass and time your cuts, you won’t beat the zone.  Man to man defense relies solely on defensive footspeed.  It can be beaten with better offensive footspeed, shooting from unexpected places or crisp passing.  A zone defense uses the footspeed of the team, but increases its effectiveness, AND limits outside shooting, so the only way to consistently get good looks is by crisp passing and inside movement.  Ball movement on the outside may result in a couple good dodging opportunities, but a team will be lucky to put up 8 goals that way.

I’m happy that Quint has given up on the idea that a zone defense isn’t effective at the D1 level, the next step is truly understanding how it works.

A good zone D looks like man, an aggressive doubling man that presses out and forces the O into lanes.  On an average week, I can’t tell you how many people say “wow, why was Wesleyan playing so much man?” on the Laxpower forums and I can’t tell you how many of them are wrong.  To the untrained eye, it looks like man.  And sometimes there may even be elements of man in the zone, but it’s a zone defense.

The key is passing non-dangerous players to a new defender once they leave their current zone location.  This changes the entire look of the defense and forces the offensive players to reset their looks.  So like I said above, unless you have predetermined pass option package installed, simply moving the ball is not effective as the looks continue to change.  Forcing the zone to move is not enough.  You must force the zone to expand and then get inside because this changes the zone “passing” of offensive players into sliding.  And this is where you find uneven offensive opportunities.

A zone passes players as they move around the perimeter, and inside, of the set.  Certain players may not be passed if a particular defender matches up with them well.  When this happens, the rest of the zone simply switch positions and it becomes level again once that particular player moves the ball on.  A defender’s responsibility is an area, and therefore they have to recognize each player on the field that could possibly get a look in their zone.  They are responsible for every player that could get a look in their zone.  This mindset is 100% different from man to man where you have one responsibility and “help” somewhere else.  That is predictable.  The zone is fluid.

So as I demonstrated above with dodge, pick, pass, pass sequence above, to beat a zone you must make a player commit to a choice and induce a slide as opposed to an intentional pass.  Getting two players to cover one is a first step, re-engaging the zone in its weakest area (the part you are already attacking) is the next key.  Timing, preparation, precise passing and heads up play will get your team the furthest on offense.

Drill of the Week: Defensive Lacrosse Drill for Kids

Welcome to Drill of the Week, a series on ACTIVEkids.com that explains individual and team drills for parents and coaches to help kids improve at the sports they love.

This week’s drill is playing on-ball defense, a lacrosse drill brought to you by CoachUp.com.

After a few weeks off, we’re back with a new lacrosse drill that will guide you towards success! Last time out, we chatted about catching the ball, an essential ability to the sport as a whole on the offensive side of things. To even it up, we’ve got an awesome video for you that discusses on-ball defense.

If you’ve played any sports before, you’ll know that playing defense sounds simple in concept but is incredibly difficult in execution. If you’d like to take your game to another level, consider the tips that Mike Stone, midfielder for the Boston Cannons and CoachUp coach, discusses in the video above.

More from Coachup: Becoming a Two-Way Midfielder

Ultimately, there are a couple main ideas and tips that an aspiring lacrosse player should take from this exercise. First and foremost, on-ball defenders must do their best to keep offensive opponents out of the middle of the field, attempting to push them out wide in the process. By doing so, your opposition is steered away from goal, towards the sideline, and gives them less space and positive opportunities down the field.

With that in mind, Coach Mike runs through suggestions on physical steps you can take to deter advancement — including getting in a good athletic position, putting your stick horizontally across their hip, and and moving with their body down the field. When you play defense like this, you’re able to influence their movement, react quickly to a change in direction, and get your stick in the way of any shooting opportunities.

More from Coachup: The Face-Off

For visual reference, check out the video above as Coach Mike does a great job of walking through the entire process. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be locking down your opponent in absolutely no time.

More on This Topic:

Find activities for your ACTIVEkids.

IIS 8.5 Detailed Error – 404.11

HTTP Error 404.11 – Not Found

The request filtering module is configured to deny a request that contains a double escape sequence.

Most likely causes:

• The request contained a double escape sequence and request filtering is configured on the Web server to deny double escape sequences.

Things you can try:

• Verify the configuration/system.webServer/security/requestFiltering@allowDoubleEscaping setting in the applicationhost.config or web.confg file.

Detailed Error Information:

More Information:

This is a security feature. Do not change this feature unless the scope of the change is fully understood. You should take a network trace before changing this value to confirm that the request is not malicious. If double escape sequences are allowed by the server, modify the configuration/system.webServer/security/requestFiltering@allowDoubleEscaping setting. This could be caused by a malformed URL sent to the server by a malicious user.

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Boys Youth Lacrosse Guide For Parents Lacrosse Video

In 2017, US Lacrosse has produced a stand-alone boys youth lacrosse rule book for ages 14U and below. The rule sets in this book align with the principles of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM), helping to ensure age-appropriate rules that allow athletes to progress and reach their maximum potential.  Each youth level has different rules, which includes number of players, field size, equipment, goal size, penalties, body checking and stick checking.  At the 6U level, the game is played 3v3 with no goalie.  There is no body checking or stick checking at this level.  At the 8U level, the game is played 4v4 with no goalies or 3v3 with goalies.  There is no body checking but some contact is allowed.  A full line of protection for your child is required at this level.
Guide for boys youth lacrosse
The goal of youth boys lacrosse is to build strong fundamentals, and understand teamwork. Throwing, catching, scooping, shooting and defensive positioning are fundamentals that are concentrated on the most. Once a player develops these strong fundamentals, they can be more easily taught strategy and higher-level skills. By the time your player gets to the 10U level you will need to consider upgrading his complete stick and lacrosse gloves to improve his skills.    When your player gets to the 12U level, they will be honing their technical skills and developing tactical skills needed in lacrosse. The play is 10v10 or 7v7, and will include stick checks, face-offs and technical fouls.  At this level your players will either be one of four types of players:

Attackmen typically spend the entire game at the opponents’ end of the field. They cannot cross the midfield line during play unless they are replaced by a midfielder so that there are always at least 3 players in the offensive end.
Midfielders (also commonly known as Middies) roam the entire field.  Middies need to be good defenders, and they need to be able to be strong on the attack, but their real value is in their ability to transition the ball from the defensive to the offensive ends of the field.  Some coaches choose to have defensive and offensive midfielders.
Defensemen (long poles) are the enforcers. They are the players who are capable of dictating to the opponents attack where they can go.  Longpoles like the attackmen must stay on the defensive half of the field unless replaced by a middy. The defenders job is often also to “Clear” the ball down the field after a turnover out of the defensive zone.  Younger players use shorter poles prior to using a long pole.

Goal Tender (also known as the goalie, goalkeeper, or the keeper) is the last line of defense between the opposing offense and the goal. The goaltender’s primary roles are to defend the opposing team’s shots on goal and to direct the defense. In lacrosse, the goal is surrounded by the “crease”.  This is a circle around the goal that provides a protective area for the goalie.  The crease rules provide the goalie a short amount of time to make saves or pick up a blocked shot and initiate a clear.
Boys lacrosse starts with a face-off, that require a specifically designed lacrosse head.  During a face-off, two players 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. Face-off players battle for the ball, often by “clamping” it under their stick and flicking it out to their teammates. Attackers and defenders cannot cross their “restraining line” until one player from the midfield takes possession of the ball or the ball crosses the restraining line.
This is a brief overview of the youth boys lacrosse game. To learn more, read our eBook for parents.  If you would like to speak to one of our Pro’s about lacrosse and what beginners should know, feel free to give us a call at 855.255.5294. We are a company of lacrosse players, current and past, and can offer advice on any topic. To learn more valuable information about the game of lacrosse visit our LAX Insider page. Welcome to the game of lacrosse, we will see you on the fields!
 
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GBOU School 648 – # Governing Council_648 @ schoolactive648 …

?️ Good afternoon! My name is Maxim, I’m from 10 G, I study in a medical class! I want to become a cosmetologist because I believe that this profession is the profession of the future.

? The work of the medical classes is arranged in such a way that we have a special program, and from the 8th grade we receive expanded knowledge in chemistry and biology. Also additionally – we have workshops in chemistry and biology. And plus – weekly circles on the same subjects. Often our class goes to classes at 1 and 2 Medical Universities.For example, recently at the 2nd Medical University named after Pirogov, as part of the program of design and research activities “Scientific research using microscopy” for students in grades 10-11, I was even able to practice on high-quality microscopes!

6-4-8

? What is important for each of us to know about blood? I believe that first of all, everyone needs to know their blood type and their Rh factor! After all, it is with the knowledge of this information that in case of an emergency they will be able to help you quickly, or you yourself will be able to help someone as a donor.

❓It was this topic that we discussed at the master class. We learned more about the four blood types and their fundamental differences. Why do you need to know the blood type? Because if, during an emergency, someone is given a blood transfusion with antigens foreign to him, the immune system will begin to fight them, and a rejection reaction will occur.

?‍?‍? Knowledge of the Rh factor allows you to avoid various complications when carrying a baby. If partners have different Rh factors, it can cause problems during pregnancy.By the way, knowing the Rh factors and blood groups of the parents, you can calculate the future Rh factor and the child’s blood group.

? You also need to know your glucose level, get used to control it. Diabetes mellitus is a situation when blood sugar rises due to the complete or partial absence of insulin (a hormone of the pancreas). The consequences of diabetes mellitus are truly horrifying: in the absence of proper treatment, the sheath of nerve cells and the vascular wall is damaged, and the risk of heart attack and stroke increases.Control your sugar!

❤️ Our teachers of biology Larisa Anatolyevna Zyukhina and Denis Yuryevich Alekseev were the leaders of the master class held in our school. With the help of reagents, they clearly showed us the algorithm for determining the blood group and even in our presence they determined their blood groups! Well, I will not give this information to everyone!

⏱️ Our school plans to hold master classes of this type on a regular basis. In December, they will be devoted, for example, to the problems of cardiovascular diseases.And I will tell you everything that I learn myself!

90,000 Read Billionaire Stepbrother (BP) – Masters Colleen – Page 6

“I hope breakfast doesn’t turn out to be too awkward,” I whisper, savoring the relaxing wave that washes over me as I drift off into deep, contented sleep.

The silence that developed between Emerson and me after he rescued me when I risked breaking my neck persists for the next two weeks. My handsome neighbor might just as well be a ghost, but I understand him nonetheless.He leaves for school early in the morning, staggers late on the street and avoids me like the plague. Was I drunk with him that night at the party? I swear he was the one who sent me a couple of flirting signals, but maybe I misunderstood him. Maybe he just thinks I’m a fan of the incest show.

I think I’ve never had the best flirtation.

Riley almost dies when I tell her all the naughty details a few days after the party. It turns out that she deliberately left us behind when the police showed up so that Emerson and I could find our own “adventure.”

“So he took off your panties and felt your ass with his fingers,” she sums up as we drive for coffee at school lunch.

“This is a very loose interpretation,” I answer her, blushing like a madman, looking out the side passenger window.

“He’s into you,” Riley grins. “I can’t believe it after all these years.” She catches my frown and steps back. “I mean I understand why he was attracted to you, it’s just…

“ I know I’m not good enough for him, Paradise, ”I tell her, leaning against the seat.“I definitely don’t match the girls he usually hangs out with.

Without warning, Riley swerves off the main road, causing me to squeal in horror.

“Listen to me,” she firmly declares, taking my face in her hands. “You’re just as sexy and awesome for Emerson Sawyer. He’s lucky to be with you, Abby.

“You don’t need to do this,” I insist. “He’s a badass, pretty lacrosse star, and I’m a weird, short, pretentious girl. If it was a youth film, then maybe we would have had a chance.But I know my place in the food chain. Guys like Emerson don’t get along with girls like me.

“Oh please,” Riley moans, rolling her eyes. “In a few months we will all be in the real world. You can put on your high-waisted shorts and apply dark lipstick to become a socialite in the largest city in just a couple of seconds. The rest of these assholes have already hit their limits in high school, so let them consider it a blessing that you’re a freak now.

– Thank you! Do you really think so? I laugh. – Really, Paradise. You always know how to cheer me up.

“Damn it, of course I know,” she replies, throwing her dark curls over her shoulder. – That’s what best friends are for, I assure you that maybe one day you will completely cool off to your half-brother, provided that your father does not wear the ring earlier.

I shake my head and Riley laughs as he pulls into the road and turns on the radio.

Try my best to keep Riley’s encouraging words close to my heart as the silence between Emerson and me continues.You might think that we have become hostages of a nuclear arms race as the atmosphere between us has grown even colder. I catch a glimpse of him at school and repeatedly sadly watch Courtney stick her tongue down his throat. But my eighteenth birthday is approaching, and the silence continues.

A few days before the main event, when I can enter adulthood, I arrive home from school irritated and displeased. The stress of college applications and exams, combined with the ongoing radio silence between myself and Emerson, drove me to the brink.So the last thing I want to see when I go home is Dad and Deborah cuddling like a teenage couple on the kitchen island.

– God, – I mutter, heading into the room. – Is it possible for everyone except me that something is happening?

– Oh! Abby! Deborah giggles from the kitchen. – It’s good that you’re home.

– Hi Dad. Hi Deb, I mutter dejectedly, stopping at the foot of the stairs. – I’m going to go up to my room and do a little work …

– No, wait.Talk to us first! Deb insists, emerging in the foyer, and grabs my hand.

Although Emerson and I are the same age, Deborah is ten years younger than Dad. In truth, she looks even younger than her real age. Her voluminous, platinum blonde hair is always styled in delicious curls and her makeup is perfect. Which goes without saying since she works as a freelance makeup artist, mostly at weddings and the like. She’s taller than me, especially considering her love for three-inch heels.And I must admit that this lady got a killer figure. Breasts and her habit of wearing flashy neon colors, no wonder my dad fell for her. I’m interested in another thing, what did she find in him?

I’m not saying my dad is unattractive. He’s just … Not remarkable at all. He was very attractive when he was young, but my mother was a real beauty. Their wedding photos are like from a movie. I inherited my mother’s facial features, but missed out on her bright red hair and hourglass figure.I think you have no choice what to inherit from your parents. And, of course, you cannot choose them a priori.

“We haven’t spoken for so long,” Deb chatters, seating me at the kitchen table. – Tell me everything. How is school? There is a guy? Speak, honey!

I look at my father, silently pleading with him not to let me participate in small talk with his girlfriend. But he just smiles at us, as if we are a big, happy family. Deb may be annoying, but I haven’t seen my dad with that smile in years.The least I can do for him is tolerate some pointless chatter.

– Well, – I start, – I don’t know …

The sound of the opening front door is my salvation. I look over my shoulder and see Emerson stepping over the threshold and going straight to his room. But Deborah has other plans, and she rushes to meet him with a squeal.

– Not so fast! She shouts, grabbing her son by the hand. “It’s not every day that I manage to catch you and Abby to talk. Well, let’s! We have family time!

– Have you drunk or what’s the matter? Emerson grumbles.I can judge from his intonation that the question was asked sincerely. I wonder what it was like for him to grow up with only his mother who misuses psychoactive substances. My father sometimes drank when my mother was still alive, and then I was already fourteen years old. But from what I understand, Deb has been drinking for most of Emerson’s life. My heart clenches painfully at the thought of what he went through. Unsurprisingly, his defense strategy is more serious than that of the Pentagon.

“This is so wonderful,” Deb continues, placing Emerson at the table across from me.We immediately avert our eyes, looking anywhere but at each other. The awkward silence between us is deafening in this confined space. Whatever I give for a hatch or ejection seat right now.

“While you’re both here,” Dad finally interjects, hugging Deb around the waist. – We have to discuss your birthdays this weekend.

– Birthdays? Emerson asks, wrinkling his forehead.

– Plural? I add, looking at my father.

– Of course! Haven’t you guys figured it out yet? – Dad laughs.- Your birthdays are one day apart! Abby has May 4th and Emerson has 3rd.

A satisfied smile spreads across Emerson’s face as he leans back in his chair. For the first time since that night at the party, his gaze is directed straight in my direction.

“Look,” he says, keeping his blue eyes on me. “In the end, I’m your older brother.

– Oh, that’s so cute! Deborah freezes. – I’m so glad that you feel like family. It gives me such happiness.How are we supposed to celebrate your eighteen year old? Bowling? Cinema?

“I’m going to buy a fucking ton of porn, cigarettes and lottery tickets and throw a private party,” Emerson says bluntly. “You can all join with pleasure. Although it may turn out a little … Awkward.

Lacrosse is most satisfied with his 2

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Short description:

LaCrosse active / passive safety configuration is very complete, including starting and stopping the engine, automatic parking, brake force distribution (EBD), child seat interface, lift assist, body stability control (ESP / DSC, etc.)-Lock Braking (ABS), Lane Keeping, Front Reverse Radar, Traction Control (ASR / TCS, etc.), Knee Airbags, Rearview Mirror Media Streaming, Side Air Curtains, Reversing Radar, LED daytime running lights, tire pressure monitoring, brake assist system (EBA / BAS, etc.), HUD head-up display, automatic anti-glare exterior mirrors, collision warning / active braking and other configurations.

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Lacrosse Aura uses a completely new design language and looks confidently to the future.With regard to the body line, the overall design advantage of LaCrosse, the shape of the entire front fascia looks beautiful, the design of sharp and fashionable headlights on both sides, the interior light group is staggered, and the lighting The flanks still look the same as this Buick, and the charming figure is even more striking! The visuals are acceptable.The horizontal shape of the rear and the two large taillights are neat, and the new car’s LED light source is more rounded.

As for the car, the design of this car is also very, very high. The configuration is certainly one of the strengths of Lacrosse: the car has a plastic steering wheel that can be adjusted up and down, as well as paddle shifters, which are very pleasant to operate. The T-shaped center console and above are made of plastic, leather and wood, which greatly enhances the quality feel of the entire vehicle.Equipped with a 8.0-inch central control LCD screen, clear display and relatively youthful design. The front row is also equipped with Automatic Dual-Temperature Zone Air Conditioning (ACC) control system to adjust the indoor environment as comfortable as possible. Leather seats provide passengers with the support they need and provide a soft and comfortable touch.

Length, width and height are respectively 5030 × 1866 × 1467 mm, and the wheelbase has reached 2905 mm.Among the models of the same level, the LaCrosse wheelbase occupies the 39th place. The design of the skylight also increases the subjective perception of space for front and rear passengers. Among the models of the same price and the same level, the LaCrosse boot space occupies 17 place. Most of the luggage space is sufficient for family travel, but no additional hidden storage space.

别克 君 越 搭载 2.0 涡轮 增压 发动机 （直喷） 匹配 手自一一 的 组合 。2.0 发动机 搭配 在 君 越 上 动力 表现 中规中矩 ， 低 扭 较弱 而且 能 感觉到 迟滞。 君 越 的 实测 零 百 加速 成绩 为 百 加速 成绩 为S ， 在 80 万 以上 中 型车 车型 中 排 在 61 位。

LaCrosse active / passive safety configuration is very complete, including starting and stopping the engine, automatic parking, brake force distribution (EBD), child seat interface, lift assist, body stability control (ESP / DSC, etc.)-Lock Braking (ABS), Lane Keeping, Front Reverse Radar, Traction Control (ASR / TCS, etc.), Knee Airbags, Rearview Mirror Media Streaming, Side Air Curtains, Reversing Radar, LED daytime running lights, tire pressure monitoring, brake assist system (EBA / BAS, etc.), HUD head-up display, automatic anti-glare exterior mirrors, collision warning / active braking and other configurations.

Among them, starting and stopping the engine save 10% to 15% of fuel consumption, because it is a hot start, so engine wear can be ignored; brake force distribution (EBD) ensures vehicle stability and safety; active noise reduction eliminates noise and makes the driver’s environment quieter.

If the above data, participation, etc. can not fully understand lacrosse, we can give you more complete background information based on the oral information of users who have acquired lacrosse in history.It can be seen that LaCrosse suits all of its 2.0 tons the most. In addition, the large space and 9at are also points that everyone likes.

[This article is excerpted from vest # 1, dedicated to the author Yichehao. Copyright belongs to the author. Please contact the author for reprinting in any form. Content reflects only the author’s point of view and has nothing to do with Bitcar]

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Images and materials in this article were taken from the Internet and are used for communication, teaching and research.If there are errors or inaccuracies in the translation of the text in the article data, please contact for removal and correction.

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