How To: Play Defense

Defense is undoubtedly one of the most important part of the game of lacrosse, even though it doesn't get nearly as much recognition. Your defensive unit can make or break your team. A great defense will stop a rival from getting in range to shoot or score. A bad one can put you out of reach for a win.

Senior Jackie Williams playing defense against the Le Moyne Dolphins

Some of the basic rules of defense include:

1. Body first, stick second:
In women's lacrosse, it is especially difficult to get away with using your stick. Swinging your stick can lead to penalty shots, which in turn lead to goals. Because of the safety regulations enforced by referees (including crosscheck, illegal check, and more), it is very much encouraged to use your body.  You must train yourself not to approach with the stick, but with your forearm or just sticking with them toe-to-toe. You must break down (knees bent, squared up to opponent, and on your toes) when you play defense and use your stick as a last resort.

Junior Felicia Mills playing textbook body defense
(breaking down: knees bent and squared up). 

2. Always stay between your girl and the goal:
Just having presence alone can deter an opponent from challenging to cage. The most important time to stay between your girl and the goal is during the ride. If your attack turns the ball over, your opponent can fast break down the field (run down with more offensive players than defensive). If you are not hanging back as a defender, you are leaving the opportunity of a fast break with no chance of making body contact.

3. COMMUNICATE!
A huge part of a defensive unit is their communication. There should never be a quiet time on defense. Each defender should be talking to one another, letting each other know where they are and if they need help. This helps keep the unit cohesive with slides (double teaming) or pinching in (making yourself present without committing to a double team).

Juniors Lauren Janelli and Danielle Jaycox double teaming the ball. 

The Adelphi Panthers have a very strong zone defense. A zone defense is when each player is given a "zone" to cover, and a backer is there for the slide. This is why communication is so important because they have to have help when someone overloads a zone. This is an alternative to man-to-man defense, where each defender has one offensive player.

The reason the Panthers use a zone is because with a backer, the person playing defense is able to run at the opponent and either cause a turnover (get the ball back on offense) or cause the opponent to drop the ball.

None of these things are learned over night, defense is something that takes a lot of time and practice. But if you follow these simple steps, you can help your team be a dominant force. 



Photos c/o laxmagazine.com