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Men's Lacrosse Skills and Technique

Skill progressions for shooting, dodging, stick work, footwork, and player development.

The Question Mark Dodge
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Men's Lacrosse Skills and Technique members

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
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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
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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
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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.