How to Throw a Lacrosse Ball: Key Steps for Accuracy and Control
Throwing a lacrosse ball with accuracy and control is a foundational skill that every player needs to master. This guide covers the essential techniques, from hand positioning to follow-through, so that players can learn to throw effectively, maintain precision, and control the ball with confidence.
How to Execute the Rusty Gate Check in Men’s Lacrosse
The Rusty Gate Check is a flashy, high-risk defensive maneuver in men’s lacrosse where a defender swings their stick around their back to dislodge the ball from an opponent. While impressive, it requires precision and timing to avoid penalties and maintain defensive positioning.
The V-Hold: An Essential Defensive Technique in Lacrosse
The V-hold is more than just a defensive move—it’s a way to control the game. By using your stick as a lever and positioning your body effectively, you can steer the ball carrier away from high-percentage shooting areas and dictate the pace of play. This technique allows defenders to maintain pressure without overcommitting, forcing opponents into uncomfortable positions while staying balanced and in control
Cutting off ball
Off-ball cutting is all about creating space and opportunities. By constantly moving, reading defenders, and using quick fakes, players can break down defenses and open lanes for passes. Timing and communication with teammates are essential to catching defenders off-guard and increasing scoring chances. Keep moving and stay unpredictable!
The Question Mark Dodge
You drive hard, leaning into the defender, selling the topside move. Then—plant. In a heartbeat, you roll back, hands shifting, eyes on the lower corner. The defender stumbles, lost in your quick spin. The ball leaves your stick, flying low past the goalie. The move was a question mark, but the finish? Pure exclamation.
Teaching the Pick and Roll
The pick and roll in lacrosse is a powerful offensive strategy that creates space and confuses defenses by having one player set a screen while the other rolls to open space for a pass or shot. Teaching this play focuses on timing, communication, and reading the defense, making it an essential tool for generating scoring opportunities.
Top 5 tips for Stick Protection when Dodging
Master the art of lacrosse dodging with essential tips for stick protection and footwork. Learn how to cradle naturally while on the run, shield your stick with body positioning, and keep defenders guessing with sharp changes in direction and plane. Elevate your game with these key techniques designed to help you dominate on the field.
Cradling a lacrosse ball for beginners
Cradling in lacrosse involves a fluid motion of the hands and body to keep the ball secure and protected, with the stick held close to the helmet for added defense. Proper technique, including avoiding warding penalties and maintaining two-handed control, ensures readiness for quick transitions into shooting, passing, or dodging.
Unleashing Power: How to Shoot Hard in Lacrosse
Developing a powerful shot in lacrosse requires a blend of technique, strength, and consistent practice. By focusing on proper body mechanics, wrist control, and endurance, players can significantly increase their shooting velocity and effectiveness on the field.
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.
How to throw an over the head check
The benefit of throwing an over-the-head check in men's lacrosse is that it can effectively dislodge the ball from the opponent's stick, creating turnover opportunities and disrupting their offensive play. This check also applies significant defensive pressure, forcing the ball carrier to make quick decisions, which can lead to mistakes. Additionally, a successful over-the-head check can intimidate and frustrate the opponent, giving your team a psychological advantage.
How to Execute an Effective Jump Shot in Lacrosse
The jump shot is an essential skill in lacrosse, especially for players looking to improve their shooting while on the move. This technique allows players to take quick and powerful shots, increasing goal-scoring opportunities by surprising defenders and goalies. Mastering the right movements and technique for a jump shot can significantly enhance offensive performance.
Wall ball basics
Coaches will debate so many things regarding strategy, commitment, planning and much more. But the one constant is that wall ball is a fantastic activity to build skill
Benefits of playing wall ball one handed
Playing wall ball with one hand in lacrosse enhances stick control, promotes ambidexterity, and improves hand-eye coordination. This focused practice develops muscle memory, leading to quicker reaction times and increased overall proficiency on the field. Additionally, the solo nature of wall ball allows for convenient and efficient skill development, contributing to a player's overall performance.
7 Ground ball teaching tips
These 7 tips on picking up the ground ball is the foundation to every good lacrosse team. Ground balls means more possession for your team. Everything else becomes irrelevant if your team can not get a ground ball.
Finishing in close
The ability to consistently finish from in close is what separates average offensive players from great ones. Being so close to the goal with the ball in your stick requires a lot of concentration and pinpoint accuracy from the shooter. Stick protection and deception are crucial elements to finishing from in close. Let’s take a look at different techniques you will need, and ways to finish effectively.
Wall Ball Workout Fundamentals and Plan
There is no way around it, your lacrosse game will suffer without stick skills. Players have to be able to handle the ball at all levels. Every lacrosse coach at every level says the same thing: "play wall ball". There are many items on this site that can be disputed, but everybody agrees that wall ball is a must!
Your lacrosse stick should become part of your body
To become proficient in passing and shooting, the player must be able to propel the ball from the stick with the wrist "snap." Many beginning players pass and shoot with an arm motion, or "push" the ball, which causes the ball to leave the stick on a low trajectory resulting in a low pass or shot.
Transition Lacrosse Basics
Lacrosse transition drills are designed to help you and your teammates move down the field in a quick and effective manner. 80% of the goals in a game are scored in transition. However, as a coach you have no control over this situation once the game begins. This is why transition is the most vital thing to practice.
The 4 Essential One on One Dodges
There are a wide variety of moves an offensive player can use and that list seems to grow every year. However these 4 seem to be a constant over time and provide the foundation for a quality offensive player.