Defense
Tips for Defensemen to set you on your way to on-field success.
16 Defensive Tips
How is your defensive game? Do attackers with quick feet blow by you? Are you losing time on the field because you just can not seem to be effective enough in the back? Defense is tremendously hard. It seems like in any sport you play, whether it’s lacrosse or not, playing defense is a grind.
Make Passes Hard
Make feed passes hard. No rainbow balls or hospital passes, please.
Move to Meet the Pass
Always move to meet every pass, and circle away from your defenseman.
Never Pass to a Covered Player
Never make a pass to a man who is covered just to get rid of the ball. In lacrosse, passing the ball to a covered player can be a costly mistake that can result in a turnover or a missed opportunity. When a player is covered, it means that they are being closely guarded by […]
Don’t Rush an Attackman
Don’t rush an attack man after he has caught the ball. If he is receiving a rather long pass and you are sure you can reach him before the ball, go after him, checking his stick and hitting him with your body.
Anticipate the Pass
Posted in Defense.
As a pass is made to the man you are playing, move out to cover him as the ball is moving to him, so that you are in position as he catches it. Don’t wait until he has caught the ball, and then move out on him.
Playing the Man With the Ball
Posted in Defense.
Never take a step into a man while playing him on defense.
The First Move
Posted in Defense.
Once the attack man has the ball, worry him plenty by poke checking, etc., don’t give him much chance to look over his field, and make him worry about you. Don’t force or rush him, however. There is a big difference between worrying a man and forcing or rushing him. Make the attack make the […]
Keep Your Stick Up
Posted in Defense.
When not poking at the man with ball, keep your stick around the height of your attack man’s shoulder. Don’t ever carry it at your side, KEEP IT UP!
Playing Off Ball
Posted in Defense.
When your man hasn’t got the ball, always play slightly to the ball side of him, so that you gain a step as he cuts toward the ball. If he cuts away from the ball, the pass must go over your head which leaves you in good position to intercept or check.
Use Split Vision
Posted in Defense.
When your man hasn’t got the ball, stand sideways (135deg) to the man and ball. You must use split vision watching both your man and the ball.
Communication
Posted in Defense.
There must be plenty of talk on defense, this is important. The following are the most important examples: a) The man adjacent to the ball must let the man on the ball know if he is backed up. b) If a man leaves to back up he must let the defense know he is leaving, […]
Coaches Insider
- Defense: Every Catch Is a Dribble and Every Dribble Is a Pass with Tyler Coston – SAVI Coaching April 24, 2025 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
- Defense: Every Catch Is a Dribble and Every Dribble Is a Pass with Tyler Coston – SAVI Coaching April 24, 2025 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
- Run the Line GB Drill with Ryan Wellner – Univ. of Notre Dame April 24, 2025 Intercollegiate Mens Lacrosse Coaches Association
- Full-Feature! Offensive Line Fundamentals with Sam Pittman – Univ. of Arkansas April 23, 2025 Coach of the Year Clinics
- Unique Layup Drill with Carrie Lohr – Wayne State Univ. April 23, 2025 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
- Unique Layup Drill with Carrie Lohr – Wayne State Univ. April 23, 2025 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
- 2-Contact Game with Shay Goulding Meurer – Salt Lake Community College April 23, 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association
- Understanding Your Players’ Personal Struggles with Jeff Tambroni – Penn State Univ. April 23, 2025 Intercollegiate Mens Lacrosse Coaches Association
- Alternate-K Pitching Drill with Marissa Young – Duke Univ. April 22, 2025 Championship Productions
- Blocking Progression Training with Jordana Price – Tulane Univ. April 22, 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association
Latest Lacrosse News
NCAA DI Men’s News
- DI men's lacrosse career goal leaders: All-time stats April 24, 2025
- NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Committee reveals top 10 April 19, 2025
- Remembering the career of Chris Gray, DI men's lacrosse's all time points leader March 11, 2025
- Pat Spencer was a college lacrosse record breaker before making the NBA February 10, 2025
- How Pat Spencer, a college lacrosse record-holder, made the Golden State Warriors February 9, 2025
NCAA DII Men’s News
- This week in DII sports: The UT Tyler Patriot Way June 5, 2024
- The DII men's lacrosse programs with the most national championships May 27, 2024
- Adelphi wins 2024 NCAA DII men's lacrosse championship May 26, 2024
- Adelphi wins the 2024 DII men's lacrosse championship May 26, 2024
- 2024 DII men's lacrosse championship: Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Adelphi full replay May 26, 2024
NCAA DIII Men’s News
- #HarperStrong: Albion men’s lacrosse forms unbreakable bond August 21, 2024
- Tufts win the 2024 DIII men's lacrosse championship May 26, 2024
- 2024 DIII men's lacrosse championship: RIT vs. Tufts full replay May 26, 2024
- Tufts wins 2024 NCAA DIII men's lacrosse national championship May 26, 2024
- 2024 DIII men's lacrosse championship selections released May 6, 2024
USILA Lacrosse News
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division I – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division II – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division III – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- USILA 2025 Men’s Coaches Division I Poll – Week 11 April 21, 2025
- USILA 2025 Men’s Coaches Division II Poll – Week 11 April 21, 2025
Premier Lacrosse League
- Premier Lacrosse League Announces Throwback and Indigenous Heritage Weekends for 2025 Season April 24, 2025
- Roy Colsey’s new, unscripted Chaos offense has three central pillars April 24, 2025
- The best player at every draft slot since 2018 April 23, 2025
- 2025 College Draft Prospect Profile: Sam English April 23, 2025
- Why Redwoods have high hopes for Chris Conlin in Year 2 April 23, 2025
NCAA DI Women’s News
- DI men's lacrosse career goal leaders: All-time stats April 24, 2025
- NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Committee reveals top 10 April 19, 2025
- Remembering the career of Chris Gray, DI men's lacrosse's all time points leader March 11, 2025
- Pat Spencer was a college lacrosse record breaker before making the NBA February 10, 2025
- How Pat Spencer, a college lacrosse record-holder, made the Golden State Warriors February 9, 2025
NCAA DII Women’s News
- This week in DII sports: The UT Tyler Patriot Way June 5, 2024
- 2024 DII women's lacrosse championship: Tampa vs. Adelphi full replay May 25, 2024
- Tampa wins first-ever DII women's lacrosse national championship May 25, 2024
- Tampa wins the 2024 DII women's lacrosse national championship May 25, 2024
- These 4 DII women's lacrosse programs have the most national championships May 25, 2024
NCAA DIII Women’s News
- Middlebury wins the 2024 DIII women's lacrosse championship May 26, 2024
- 2024 DIII women's lacrosse championship: Salisbury vs. Middlebury full replay May 26, 2024
- Middlebury wins 2024 DIII women's lacrosse championship May 26, 2024
- 2024 DIII women's lacrosse semifinal: Franklin & Marshall vs. Middlebury full replay May 25, 2024
- 2024 DIII women's lacrosse semifinal: Salisbury vs. William Smith full replay May 25, 2024
USILA Men’s Lacrosse News
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division I – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division II – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- 2025 USILA Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week – Division III – Week of April 21 April 23, 2025
- USILA 2025 Men’s Coaches Division I Poll – Week 11 April 21, 2025
- USILA 2025 Men’s Coaches Division II Poll – Week 11 April 21, 2025
Lacrosse All Stars News
LI Lacrosse Journal (LILJ)
- Clash of Titans: The Wantagh Warriors Take on the Garden City Trojans April 10, 2025
- Week 3 Top 25 Girls’ Lacrosse Rankings on Long Island April 7, 2025
- Week 3 Top 25 Boys’ Lacrosse Rankings on Long Island April 7, 2025
- Game Preview: West Islip Lions vs. Farmingdale Dalers- A Game to Watch April 3, 2025
- 5th Annual Kevin Owens Run to Remember: A Tribute to Loved Ones and a Journey of Hope April 3, 2025