Ohio State's Defense
It was exciting to watch Ohio State’s defense on Saturday. From game plan to execution, the unit showed they had the ability to operate with...
Last week I posed a question on Twitter, "What are some common misconceptions players & coaches have about defense in lacrosse?"
I was a little surprised about the amount of engagement received via comments, shares, and one-off texts I got from fellow players and coaches. Honestly, it turned into a great conversation about a position that doesn't always get a ton of attention.
It's worth noting that this is not a shot at anyone's coaching style. There is not just one way to play defense, and all of these things have context around them. I have used terminology like "turn them" at GLE. I just continuously see similar mistakes or hear players say things like "but I was told not to cross my feet" that I think it is worth discussing some of these topics.
I decided to pull together a slightly more comprehensive (yet not fully exhaustive) list of some these items with an attempt to go one layer deeper. As mentioned in the tweet above, many of these have some truth and proper intention, but their phrasing and the way we describe them to players doesn't always align with the best way to play the position. A Short List of Defensive Misconceptions:
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The list above is certainly not fully exhaustive, nor will everybody agree with each of those points. Those are just a few of the high level things that I think continued to be discussed around the defensive position in lacrosse. The game is changing, so let's make sure we don't mindlessly teach the same concepts that have been taught for years without thinking about the nuance of how to apply. I'd love to hear any of your thoughts on these topics. I think all of these conversations are awesome, and it is great to stay informed on what all of the other coaches, parents, and players out there are thinking and seeing. Until next time, |
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We hope you found this helpful. We started First Class Lacrosse because we believe in the power player development. We believe you can get exponentially better if you combine a great work ethic with the guidance of knowing what to work on and how to do it.
Our goal is to pass on what we have learned and experienced to future generations of lacrosse players, parents, and coaches.
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