THE OFFICIAL HOME OF
GRIZZLY LACROSSE
4U, 2nd-4th Grade
THE FOLLOWING SKILLS REPRESENT A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL CONCEPTS WE WILL COVER WITH YOUR PLAYER. THE COACHING CONCEPTS FOLLOW A LOGICAL PROGRESSION, WITH EACH AGE GROUP RECEIVING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX DRILLS AND CONCEPTS TO ACTUALIZE. AT THE END OF THE PLAYING YEAR, YOUR PLAYER SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS LISTED.
LEARNING TO EXECUTE THESE SKILLS FROM BOTH SIDES (RIGHT/LEFT) OF THE PLAYER'S BODY IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS AT THE NEXT LEVEL.
SCOOPING
The act of using one’s stick to “scoop” under a ground ball to pick it up.
PASSING
When one player uses his stick to throw the ball to another player
CATCHING
The action of receiving the ball into one’s stick.
DODGING
Attempt by an offensive player to try to get past a defensive player.
PICKING
Offensive technique used by an off-ball player to free up a teammate with the ball. This is done by standing in the path of the on-ball defender, allowing the offensive player with the ball to free himself up to dodge, shoot or pass.
POKE CHECK
A stick check in which the player pokes the head of his stick at an opponent's stick through the top hand by pushing the bottom hand
SLAP CHECK
A stick check (inferior to the poke check). The defender uses his stick to slap the stick of the offensive player who has the ball. Poke checks are preferred since it is easier to keep you feet moving and stay balanced during the check.
SLAP CHECK
A stick check in which a player slaps the head of his stick against his opponent's stick.
MAN-BALL SITUATION
All players usually shout ball any time the ball is on the ground. Ball can also signal the intent of a player to go after the ball instead of the man and signal a teammate to block the man so they can get the ball. "I have man" "I have ball"
GENERAL TERMS
GOALIE TERMS
CLEAR - An important defensive maneuver where defending players run or pass the ball out of their goal area. Clearing is best done along the sidelines, away from the front of the goal.
RIDE - One team trying to stop another from clearing the ball out of its defensive zone.
"HERE'S YOUR HELP" - The player communicates to the ball carrier that they are open to helping progress or protect the call by receiving a pass from the ball carrier.
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ONE MORE - Communication to make "one more" pass to an open player to progress the play.
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"I HAVE YOUR BACK," "LEFT," "RIGHT" - Player communicates to the ball carrier that they are open "behind," "left," or "right" to help protect and progress the ball by receiving a pass from the ball carrier.
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HOLE - The area right in front of the goal. Because an open offensive player in front of the goal is more dangerous than an open offensive player somewhere else, defensive players are told to “get in the hole,” meaning they should run to the goal and then find the player they need to cover.
GOALIE PLAY
The last line of defense, the goalie has a larger stick head (roughly 16.5 inches across) to help stop shots from the opposing team as he stands in front of his team's goal.
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DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
One of three players designated to remain on the defensive side of the field at all times. Generally, defensemen use sticks that are six-feet long to aid with checking attackmen.
OFFENSIVE POSITIONS
Midfield: Midfielders are responsible to cover the entire field. They are considered the most versatile of all the positions. A midfielder should have an adequate balance between having good stick skills and playing solid individual defense. Endurance and speed are important qualities for a midfielder. A midfielder in soccer would be an accurate comparison.
Attack: An attackmen's responsibility is to score goals. Attackmen play on their offensive side of the field (midfield line to endline) the magority of the game. Attackmen generally have the best stick skills out of all the positions, can use both hands proficiently and are usually very agile. These qualities help them protect their stick from a defender who uses a stick that is twice as long.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
6U, 5th-6th Grade
THE FOLLOWING SKILLS REPRESENT A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL CONCEPTS WE WILL COVER WITH YOUR PLAYER. THE COACHING CONCEPTS FOLLOW A LOGICAL PROGRESSION, WITH EACH AGE GROUP RECEIVING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX DRILLS AND CONCEPTS TO ACTUALIZE. AT THE END OF THE PLAYING YEAR, YOUR PLAYER SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS LISTED.
LEARNING TO EXECUTE THESE SKILLS FROM BOTH SIDES (RIGHT/LEFT) OF THE PLAYER'S BODY IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS AT THE NEXT LEVEL.
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ALL OF THE SAME SKILLS THAT ARE TAUGHT AT THE 4U, 3rd and 4th GRADE LEVEL, WILL BE APART OF THIS AGE GROUPS DEVELOPMENT WITH THE ADDITIONAL INTRODUCTION OF THE FOLLOWING SKILLS.
MAN UP
OFFENSE
Man-up situation is due to an opponent’s penalty (i.e. slashing). Successful teams use this opportunity to score frequently because they have a “man up” advantage. In contrast, their opponent has a “man down” situation. When man-up, the offense can capitalize on the defense’s lack of players and create open shots through tactics like quick ball movement and stick fakes.
MAN DOWN OFFENSE
When a team is man-down, the missing player makes for an overall mismatch. With 6 players on the defensive side (excluding the goalkeeper), an offense generally has to make impactful plays (usually through dodging) to get high-percentage shots on net. With a man-advantage, that same offense now may focus on working as a unit to expose the defense’s shortcomings.
RIDES
When an attacking team loses possession of the ball, it must quickly revert to playing defense in order to prevent the ball from being cleared back out. In most ride situations, the goal-keeper will be left un-marked.
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PRESS RIDE - "MAN TO MAN" - When a team sets up into a man to man ride, players match up and cover their defensive assignment. Generally, attackers guard against opposing defenders and midfielders guard against opposing midfielders.
In this type of riding setup, it is especially crucial that every single player picks up a man. Otherwise, one man will be left open and the entire riding effort will crumble with just one accurate pass.
CLEARS
Attempt by an offensive player to try to get past a defensive player. An important defensive maneuver where defending players run or pass the ball out of their goal area. Clearing is best done along the sidelines, away from the front of the goal.
FACE-OFF
Takes place at the start of each quarter, after every goal, and after certain dead balls. Two opposing players crouch down at midfield, hold their sticks flat on the ground and press the backs of their stick pockets together. The ball is then placed between the pockets and, when signaled to start, the players “rake” or clamp on the ball to vie for control.
DODGING
An attempt by an offensive player to try to get past a defensive player. A player with the ball cradles the stick across his face in an attempt to dodge a stickpoking defender. Generally an open field dodge that does not involve changing hands.
FEEDING
Basically a pass, but more specifically a pass inside to an offensive player who is right in front of the goal or around the crease. An offensive play in which one player passes the ball to a cutting teammate for a “quick stick” shot on goal.
FAST BREAK
When a midfielder or defenseman breaks ahead of the rest of the middies and brings the ball downfield to the attack. The result is a 4-on-3 advantage for the offense that usually creates a scoring chance.
PICK AND SCREEN
PICK - Offensive technique used by an off-ball player to free up a teammate with the ball. This is done by standing in the path of the on-ball defender, allowing the offensive player with the ball to free himself up to dodge, shoot or pass. An offensive player without the ball positions himself against the body of a defender to allow a teammate to get open and receive a pass or take a shot. Picks must be stationary and ‘passive’.
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SCREEN - When a player impedes the vision or running path of an opposing player by standing directly in front of that player; sometimes used to prevent a goalie from getting a good look at an oncoming shot.
INTRODUCTION OFFENSIVE SETS
The lacrosse attack position is described by a 2 or 3 number sequence which shows how many players are in the rear, middle, and front of the formation.The players further forward will be attackmen, and those further back will be midfielders.
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So, for example in a 1-4-1 formation, there will be one midfielder at the back, two midfielders, and two attackmen ahead of that, and the remaining attackman at the front. Or, in a 3-3 formation, three midfielders lined up behind three attackmen.
Let's look at the most commonly used formations in offense, and the advantages each can bring to a game.
MAN DOWN DEFENSE
Refers to the unit of five or fewer defensive players assigned to prevent the other team from scoring while the defending team is short-handed as a result of any penalties committed. Man Down teams are often tricky, since it is likely that a defender was penalized.
DOUBLE TEAM
Defensive strategy in which two defensive players guard one offensive player in an attempt to strip the ball or force the offensive player to lose possession.
MAN TO MAN DEFENSE
Team defensive strategy in which each defensive player is assigned to exclusively guard or cover one offensive player.
LONG STICK MIDDIE (LSM)
Long Stick Midfielder: A midfielder who plays with a long stick and is defense oriented. Usually guards the opposing team’s best midfielder.
SLIDE
This occurs when an offensive player gets past his defender, forcing another defensive player to "slide" over and pick up the threatening offensive player; a defending teammate will shift his position to pick up that advancing player.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
8U, 7th-8th Grade
THE FOLLOWING SKILLS REPRESENT A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL CONCEPTS WE WILL COVER WITH YOUR PLAYER. THE COACHING CONCEPTS FOLLOW A LOGICAL PROGRESSION, WITH EACH AGE GROUP RECEIVING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX DRILLS AND CONCEPTS TO ACTUALIZE. AT THE END OF THE PLAYING YEAR, YOUR PLAYER SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS LISTED.
LEARNING TO EXECUTE THESE SKILLS FROM BOTH SIDES (RIGHT/LEFT) OF THE PLAYER'S BODY IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS AT THE NEXT LEVEL.
​
ALL OF THE SAME SKILLS THAT ARE TAUGHT AT THE 4U, 3rd AND 4th AND 6U, 5th, and 6th, GRADE LEVEL, WILL BE APART OF THIS AGE GROUPS DEVELOPMENT WITH THE ADDITIONAL INTRODUCTION OF THE FOLLOWING SKILLS.
OFFENSIVE SETS
The lacrosse attack position is described by a 2 or 3 number sequence which shows how many players are in the rear, middle, and front of the formation.The players further forward will be attackmen, and those further back will be midfielders.
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So, for example in a 1-4-1 formation, there will be one midfielder at the back, two midfielders, and two attackmen ahead of that, and the remaining attackman at the front. Or, in a 3-3 formation, three midfielders lined up behind three attackmen.
Let's look at the most commonly used formations in offense, and the advantages each can bring to a game.
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1-4-1 Formation
In this formation, the forward attackman is fed passes from the middle group and is the primary shooter.
The supporting attackmen have the opportunity to sit a little further back, opening up the possibility of time and space shots.
While the lone midfielder at the back of the formation has a better view of the plays and is responsible for spotting counterattacks early and dropping back to link up with the defensemen as needed.
2-2-2 Formation
This formation pairs midfielders and attackmen together, with a mixed pair in the middle.
The middle pair are able to quickly drop back or run upfield to support their teammates during the offensive play depending on what's needed.
This formation is great for responsive play, where players may need to switch positions quickly to respond to the defensive position.
2-3-1 Formation
This formation works well for feeding passes forward to build plays from the midfield.
It provides a relatively strong defense at the cost of leaving the frontmost attackman isolated.
The middle attackmen, therefore, have to relieve some of this pressure, making runs wide, passing into the center, or setting up long-range shots.
The two midfielders, as well as feeding the ball, provide defensive cover if possession is lost.
1-3-2 Formation
This inversion of the 2-3-1 formation puts a greater focus on attacking play at the cost of some defensive strength.
The advantage of this is that the two forward attackmen have greater opportunity to interact, and are harder to pin down from the view the opposing defense will have of the play.
It allows for explosive play, with sudden runs and dodges to move the ball quickly through the defensive players.
3-3 Formation
This is the most balanced formation - the midfielders are evenly spaced behind the defenders.
It allows for a great deal of flexibility in terms of playing style, and the ability for players to switch quickly between attack and defense, which is important for repelling counterattacks.
If all 6 offensive players are pushed too far forward, however, there is a risk of opposing attackmen being able to make sudden breaks through.
2-1-3 Formation
This formation is very attack focused, with all three of the attackmen upfield as far as possible.
While this has the obvious advantage of opening up shooting opportunities from multiple angles and occupying the opposing defensemen across multiple positions, it is probably the formation most vulnerable to a sudden counter-attack.
The two rearmost defenders have to be aware of their positioning and constantly check that they are not pushed upfield too far, leaving the defense exposed.
RIDES
SOFT RIDE - "ZONE" - With a zone setup, players are assigned to certain sections of the field and guard anybody who enters their assigned section.
This forces the opposition into crossing a defensive blockade in order to carry the ball to the other side of the field. It can be both problematic and intimidating for ball carriers to find little cracks and crevasses to slip through. It is easy for ball carriers to get caught in a double team with no where to go with the ball.
The issue with the zone ride is that one player is unable to effectively guard against two players that enter their assigned section of the field. Thus, the clearing team can work these 2v1 match-ups by continually passing the ball until they have reached the offensive area.
ZONE DEFENSE
Style of defense in which each player is responsible for one area or “zone” of the field, rather than an individual offensive player. Defenders play in specific areas of their defensive zone, rather than covering man-to-man.
SHOOTING ANGLES
5X5: The area five yards wide of and five yards upfield from the goal where an attackman attempts to reach in order to shoot or feed.
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TIME AND ROOM SHOT - When a player has time to set his feet and room around him to take a very hard shot.
TOP SHELF AND CORNERS - Slang term that refers to the upper area of the goal underneath the top crossbar. Corners refer to the 4 corners of the goal the shooter should aim to hit.
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CHANGE PLANES – When a shooter has a close in shot, the goalie must respect where the ball carrier starts his shot. If the shooter holds his stick high, the keeper does the same. Therefore it is most effective for the shooter to start high and shoot low, or vice versa. This is ‘changing planes’.
DODGE TYPES
ROLL DODGE - An offensive move in which a ball carrier, using his body as a shield between a defensive player and the cradled ball, spins around the defender. To provide maximum ball protection, the ball carrier switches hands as he rolls.
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FACE DODGE- A player with the ball cradles the stick across his face in an attempt to dodge a stickpoking defender. Generally an open field dodge that does not involve changing hands.
V CUT
Running in one direction, and then breaking back in the opposite direction to receive a pass. The path will resemble the letter “V.”
TRANSITION
When the ball moves quickly from one end of the field to the other, often resulting in a fast break.
HANGING THE STICK
This is when a ball carrier holds the stick in such a way as to enable a defender to easily get a check on his stick and dislodge the ball.