Creating space is one of the most important parts of a successful offense. One of the easiest ways to do this is by cutting through after you pass or when you don't have the ball. As you cut, you take your defender with you, giving your teammate more room to attack.

Why Cutting Through Works

When you cut through the middle, your defender usually follows you. This pulls a defender away from the ball and opens space for your teammate to dodge.

Defenders who are next to the ball are often watching to see if they need to slide and help stop the ball carrier. If they are occupied by a player cutting through, it becomes much harder for them to leave their assignment.

How to Cut Through

Follow these simple steps:

  • Cut with your stick up. This keeps you ready in case your teammate passes you the ball.

  • After passing, clear through. Don't stand and watch your pass. Move through the middle and take your defender with you.

  • Keep moving. Continuous movement makes it harder for defenders to help on the ball.

The Result

When one player cuts through and another player passes and clears through, the defense is forced to move with them. This creates more open space for the ball carrier.

With fewer defenders in the way, the dodger has more room to attack the goal and create a scoring opportunity.

Key Takeaway

Cutting through isn't just about getting open yourself. It's about moving your defender out of the way so your teammates have more space to dodge, pass, and score.