Offensive Concepts

4-Man Crease

The 2-Behind, 4-Flat up top

This formation uses a two-man game behind the goal while four players stay spread across the top, forcing the defense to choose between helping inside or staying matched up outside. If they help, it creates quick ball movement and open shots up top; if they don’t, the offense has space to attack and score from behind.

Alley Dodge Pick

The pick-behind combined with an alley dodge puts the defense in a no-win situation — they either get picked or give up a downhill shooting lane. It's a simple two-man action that generates a high-percentage shot with minimal moving parts.

Alley Doge, Crease Fade, Attack the weak side

This uses a high alley dodge to shift the defense and create a wide-open weak-side shot. A team with a decent LAX IQ can incorporate into their offense naturally with a call.

Pick Behind Crease Fade Away

When two attackmen work behind the cage, they force the defense to spread and commit, creating opportunities up top and on the crease. A well-timed pick for the ball carrier combined with a crease man fading to the far pipe gives the offense a high-percentage look that is nearly impossible to defend when executed with patience and timing.

Breaking the Rotation: The Tactical Advantage of Shifting from 1-3-2 to 2-3-1

Transitioning to a 2-3-1 alignment forces the top defenders to widen out, cracking open the middle of the field for cleaner skip lanes and high-quality step-down shots. By altering the attack geometry, you disrupt established defensive rotations and isolate the single player behind the net to quarterback the offense with significantly less pressure.

Isolating The Short Stick Behind

A short stick behind the cage is the matchup most defenses least want to see. It puts an uncomfortable defender in an unfamiliar spot and forces the defense to prepare early slides. Once they overreact, your dodger can read the help and find the open player. The isolation isn’t just about beating the short stick—it’s about triggering the defensive rotation you can take advantage of.

Changing From a 1-4-1 To An Open Set Is All You Need

A simple shape change forces a man-down defense to completely rewrite their responsibilities on the fly. Going from two crease threats to none flips the job of the middle defender, overloads the outside, and pushes communication to its breaking point—all without the offense running a single play.

Pick the Picker: Turning the Screen-Setter into the Scoring Threat

Pick the Picker turns the screen-setter into the scoring threat. After setting a pick, another teammate frees the picker to slip open and receive the ball.

Defending the Pick and Roll

Defending the pick and roll is one of the most important skills in box lacrosse. Players need to recognize screens quickly and respond with one of three defensive options: staying, switching, or jumping the pick. With proper communication and timing, defenders can shut down scoring chances and regain control.

How to Teach the Pick and Roll

The pick and roll is a core lacrosse concept that creates scoring chances near the crease. Players learn how to sneak up on defenders, set strong picks, roll tightly, and finish with placement over power. This article gives coaches a clear step-by-step breakdown to teach the drill effectively.

How to Use Your Eyes to Freeze the Slide

Using your eyes as an attacker can make the difference between losing the ball or creating a scoring opportunity. One of the most powerful techniques is learning how to “freeze the slide” with your vision, giving you more time and options on offense.