Sport Canada

Lacrosse is a unique sport that many people find difficult to understand or follow. There are numerous rules and regulations in lacrosse that separate the sport from others, but it also shares some of the same offensive and defensive tactics and concepts as other sports such a hockey, soccer, and basketball. Many people who are new participants or viewers of lacrosse find themselves confused and wanting to ask questions of someone who is familiar with the sport for an explanation. I have always been an offensive player in lacrosse, so when people ask me for clarification of rules or how the sport is played I respond by describing 7 offensive tips that are important to remember when trying to learn the game. These 7 tips are push in transition, draw and dump, keep the ball hot, protect your stick, keep your head up, throw a fake, and pass and cut.

Pushing the play in transition is an important part of the game of lacrosse. If you are able to gain a numerical advantage at any point during the game it is imperative that you try to take advantage of this by pushing the ball towards the goal by running it, or making passes. A large portion of the goals in lacrosse are scored in these types of situations.

Draw and dump refers to making a defender step out and play you when you have the ball, and then moving the ball to the closest open man on your team. This is often used in transition play to get the defense moving, until you are able to find a man open in a solid position to shoot and score.

Keeping the ball hot is in reference to passing the ball. Lacrosse has been described as the fastest game on two feet, but it is a fact that no one can move the ball by running with it faster than you can by passing it. It is important to move the ball from one teammate to another to take advantage of the defense. You make the defenses job easy by standing with the ball or moving it slowly.

Protecting your stick while on offense allows you to keep the ball away from the other team. If you have poor stick protection it allows the defense opportunities to check your stick, knocking the ball to the ground, where it gives the defense a chance to pick up the ball and move it towards their offensive end of the field.

The reasons for keeping your head up in the game of lacrosse are similar to that of many other sports. If your head is up you will be able to more easily survey the field and determine what course of action is most advantageous for your team. It also allows you to find an open man, and prevent yourself from getting hit by a defender.

Throwing fakes entails moving your stick in a way that makes it appear as if you are passing or shooting the ball to cause the defensemen or goalie some confusion. This will hopefully provide you with a chance to take advantage of their mistake by making a pass to a different teammate or shooting the ball into the open portion of the goal.

Passing and cutting is possibly one of the most important concepts on offense in the game of lacrosse. By moving the ball and then making a cut into open space it makes it difficult for the defenders to stick with you, giving you a better opportunity to score. Similar ideals are used in basketball and soccer to create mismatches and scoring chances.

Many people find it useful to be able to relate a new game such as lacrosse to a sport they are already familiar with or participate in. By understanding these 7 concepts it can allow viewers and new participants to do this, as well as gain a better grasp of the offensive strategies of lacrosse.

Brian Gattie

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