Complete Guide to Executing Effective Fakes in Lacrosse: Deceiving Defenders and Goalies
Fakes are one of the most important skills in lacrosse, both for deceiving defenders and creating scoring opportunities in front of the goalie. Whether with the stick or with the body, performing an effective fake can change the course of a game. In this article, I will explain how to execute different types of fakes to deceive the goalie, improve your decision-making skills, and increase your chances of scoring.
Stick Fake: Basic Principles
A well-executed stick fake can confuse both defenders and goalies, making them react incorrectly. The main concept behind a fake is to deceive the goalie into thinking you're shooting in one direction, when in reality, you will shoot in the other. Below, I will explain how to perform an effective fake using your wrists, shoulders, and legs.
1. The Movement of the Hands and Shoulders
The first aspect to master when performing a fake is what you do with your hands and shoulders. To make the goalie "bite" on the fake, you need to focus on synchronized movement between your wrist and shoulder.
Wrist and shoulder movement: If you manage to move your shoulder and make a small "pump" with your wrist at the same time, the goalie will likely dive in that direction. This gives you the opportunity to change direction quickly and shoot low, often under the goalie.
2. Performing the High and Low Fake
Once you master the basic fake, you can start creating variations, like the high and low fake. This technique allows you to deceive the goalie even further, making them think you're shooting at one part of the net, when in fact, you're shooting somewhere else.
Double pump fake: Start by pumping up with your wrist and shoulder, causing the goalie to dive up. Then, step to the opposite side and lower your shoulders and head to make it appear as though you're going to shoot low. It's important that while the goalie is distracted, you move the stick to the other side to place the ball in an open area.
3. Varying Your Fakes to Confuse the Goalie
Once you have mastered the basic mechanics of the fake, you can become more creative and implement different variations to keep the goalie guessing. Some options include:
High fake followed by a low shot.
Start with a low fake and then shoot high.
High fake, step to the side, and shoot to the near side.
The key is to always keep the goalie guessing and create uncertainty about where you're going to shoot. To do this, it's crucial to practice a combination of wrist, shoulder, and leg movements that are difficult to read.
Types of Stick Fakes in Lacrosse
In addition to body and wrist fakes, there are several stick fakes you can incorporate into your repertoire to deceive both defenders and goalies. These techniques are more advanced, but when mastered, they are very effective. Below, I will explain the four main types:
1. Wrist Fake
The wrist fake is simple, quick, and effective for making the goalie or defender react. The idea is to activate the top hand’s wrist and make a small twist. There is no need to move the entire stick, just a quick flick of the wrist to deceive the opponent.
How to do it: Move only the wrist of your top hand (the bottom hand just guides the stick) and make a small twist. This can fool the goalie or defender, sending them in the wrong direction.
2. Full Turn Wrist Fake
This fake is a bit more advanced, where you perform a full turn of the wrist to create a more convincing fake. The head of the stick rotates completely, but you must always keep the ball protected.
How to do it: Fully rotate your wrist until the head of the stick is facing upward. This adds extra range to your fake, making it more likely that the defender or goalie will "bite" and react, leaving you the opportunity to shoot or pass quickly.
3. Over-the-top Fake
This fake primarily uses the bottom hand to perform the movement, while the top hand only guides the stick. The movement is bigger, and thus requires more space to execute.
How to do it: The bottom hand does most of the work, rotating the stick in the air while the top hand just guides. This fake deceives defenders or goalies by making them think you're going to perform a different movement.
4. Open Fake
One of the most advanced fakes, often used in indoor lacrosse. Here, you expose the head of the stick and the ball completely, drawing the attention of the goalie or defender.
How to do it: Open the head of the stick and let the ball become visible to the opponent. This fools them into thinking you're going to shoot in one direction, but you can quickly twist your wrist and shoot in the other direction before they can react.
Summary of Fakes
Wrist fake: Simple and quick, perfect for deceiving with subtle movements.
Full turn wrist fake: Adds more deception but requires more time.
Over-the-top fake: Uses the bottom hand for a larger movement.
Open fake: Advanced technique requiring exposure of the ball to deceive.
Conclusion
Fakes are a powerful tool in lacrosse, both for deceiving goalies and defenders. The key to performing a successful fake is coordinating wrist, shoulder, and leg movements, as well as varying your fakes to keep opponents guessing. By practicing these moves and techniques, you will significantly improve your ability to create scoring opportunities and make key passes on the field. Don't hesitate to experiment with different types of fakes and watch your lacrosse skills improve!
