First and Second Slide Strategies Without a Crease Player
Man to Man Joe Juter Man to Man Joe Juter

First and Second Slide Strategies Without a Crease Player

In men’s lacrosse, when there’s no offensive player in the crease, the first slide in a man-to-man defense should come from the adjacent defender to the on-ball defender, providing immediate support. The second slide follows from the next adjacent defender or the recovering defender, ensuring all offensive players remain covered. Strong communication, quick recognition, and coordinated movements are key to executing these slides effectively.​

Read More
Man to Man, Zone defense Joe Juter Man to Man, Zone defense Joe Juter

Crease Slide vs. Adjacent Slide in Lacrosse: A Detailed Guide to Defensive Strategy

In lacrosse, the crease slide and adjacent slide are two key defensive strategies. A crease slide involves a defender near the crease sliding out to help stop an attacker, ideal for protecting the middle of the field and preventing close-range shots. In contrast, an adjacent slide provides quicker help from the closest defender, best for defending perimeter dodges and well-spaced offenses. Both have their advantages and are used in different scenarios, depending on the offensive setup and defensive needs. Understanding when and how to use each can greatly improve a team’s defensive effectiveness.

Read More
Pros & Cons of Pressure Defense
Man to Man Joe Juter Man to Man Joe Juter

Pros & Cons of Pressure Defense

Many teams, especially less experienced or skilled teams, can not handle pressure. When I coached games where both teams are less skilled I found a lot of success in forcing the offense to make quick decisions. Typically I found that they would go to the goal and run into the defensive help. Obviously putting pressure can work in other situations as well.

Read More
Double pole the inbound
Man to Man Joe Juter Man to Man Joe Juter

Double pole the inbound

This is a daring defensive move that can catch teams off guard. You may also want to practice it because with under two minutes left if you need the ball this is a tactic you will need to try.

Read More
Lock 2 Defense
Man to Man Joe Juter Man to Man Joe Juter

Lock 2 Defense

The idea of a Lock 2 Defense is simple: your two short sticks shut off and the long sticks play defense. This works fantastically against teams that are not well balanced on offense -- short sticks shut off the best two offensive players to let the long poles play!

Read More