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Defensive concepts, clears, slides, rides, and goalie-supported teaching notes.
Zone defense can give a lacrosse team a valuable change of pace, especially against strong offensive personnel or explosive scoring teams. Learn why coaches use different zone structures, how those zones are built around familiar team-defense principles, and how offenses can create openings by manipulating the defense.
Use the long pole strategically while riding by staying deepest and central, protecting against the fast break, and moving ball side as the clearing team advances.
The Man Down Clear uses a specific alignment to help a short-handed defense move the ball upfield. With defined positions for the defenders, short-stick defensive midfielders, and attackmen, the setup creates multiple passing options immediately after the whistle.
“Close the Gate” teaches defenders to use positioning, body leverage, and communication to keep the ball carrier away from the middle. By protecting the gate and keeping defenders connected to the hole, the defense can force outside dodges and create shorter, more predictable slides.
Adjacent slides give defenders a simple system for helping the ball when a defender gets beaten. Learn how to identify the first, second, and third slides while keeping the defense connected and ready to recover.
The 2-2-2 crease slide gives defenders a simple plan for helping the ball carrier while protecting the middle. Learn how to identify the hot slide, find the opposite adjacent, and recover after the slide.
The paint is the area defenders use to protect the middle of the field. When you're guarding the ball, you can step outside it. When you're off ball, you should stay inside it and be ready to help.
The 2-3-1 crease slide package gives defenders a clear plan when the ball moves. Learn where the first, second, and third slides come from, how to protect the crease, and how to recover after a slide.
The basic L clear gives defenders space to move the ball up the field. By spreading out, using the extra player, and moving away from the ball, the clearing team can create open passing options and make it harder for the riding team to defend.
The Four Across clear gives the defense four players behind the cage and three players near midfield. It creates easy passing options, gives players room to build momentum, and can be especially useful against aggressive rides.
Learn how the 2-3-1 lacrosse slide package works when defenders protect the top side. Improve slides, passing lane coverage, communication, and recovery.
