--- title: "Developing Elite Lacrosse Defenders: Tips & Drills from Jesse Bernhardt" description: Learn key on-ball defensive techniques and drills from Maryland DC Jesse Bernhardt. This webinar recap covers footwork, contact strategies, stick positioning, and elite defensive concepts for lacrosse players and coaches. image: https://www.1stclasslax.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-03-20%20at%208.18.18%20AM.png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/jesse-bernhardt-lacrosse-defense-drills#main-content) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) - [About Us](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about) - Events - Best In Class - 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As one of the top defensive minds in lacrosse, Bernhardt provided a deep dive into building fundamentally sound defenders, breaking bad habits, and maximizing efficiency in movement and contact. ## On-Ball Defense: Key Takeaways from Jesse Bernhardt's Webinar I've been fortunate enough to have played with Jesse at Maryland and for team USA. He's without a doubt one of the greatest leaders and players I've been teammates with. I also believe he is one of the greatest defensive minds in our sport. His attention to detail is incredible.  Here’s a breakdown of his key teachings below. If you like these, I think you will love the [webinar we hosted with Jesse](https://first-class-lacrosse.circle.so/c/webinar-recordings/jesse-bernhardt-maryland-on-ball-defensive-drills-techniques) in our coaches community.  ## Defensive Philosophy & approacH Bernhardt emphasized three core principles for developing a strong defender: 1. **Start from Square One** – Fundamentals matter, no matter the level. Players must have sound footwork, proper stance, and an understanding of body positioning. 2. **Breaking Bad Habits** – Many players come in with ingrained habits from high school or club teams that need refinement 3. **Efficiency** – The best defenders play with optimized movement, using angles and positioning to their advantage. He also stressed the importance of individualization in coaching, recognizing that every defender has a unique style but must adhere to key defensive principles. ## Core Defensive Drills & techniques All of these drills below are broken down with video footage by Coach Bernhardt during his webinar.  ### 1. Movement Patterns & Footwork *Defense is built from the ground up.* Bernhardt detailed several drills aimed at refining movement and positioning. - **Motor Feet Drill:** - Defenders stay engaged in slight movement, not backpedaling too much. - Allowing the offensive player to run into the defender’s stick and gloves naturally. - Avoiding wasted steps and remaining in an athletic stance. - **Start-Stop Drill:** Defenders work on staying in a trail position while mirroring an offensive player’s movements. Key cues include: - Always keeping eyes on the opponent’s jersey number. - Transitioning smoothly between shuffling and running. - Keeping a strong stance without hopping or getting off balance. ![Bernhardt Webinar\_ Stop Start Drill-high](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bernhardt%20Webinar_%20Stop%20Start%20Drill-high.gif?width=640&height=480&name=Bernhardt%20Webinar_%20Stop%20Start%20Drill-high.gif) Here's a quick clip of Jesse breaking down the technique and coaching points of his "Start / Stop Drill". ### 2. Approaches & Closing Space Approaching an offensive player correctly is critical to maintaining defensive integrity. - **Adjusted Approaches Drill:** - Players must adjust their shade and tilt based on offensive movement. - Shade refers to where a defender’s nose aligns on an attacker’s shoulder. - Tilt refers to how open a defender’s hips are in relation to the attacker. - Defenders must avoid “hopping” and should instead take a single step to dictate offensive movement. Bernhardt emphasized that **effective approaches set the tone for the matchup**—they allow defenders to get to the fight before engaging in it. ### 3. Playing With & Against Contact Many young defenders struggle with contact—either initiating it inefficiently or failing to absorb it properly. - **Shadow Drill:** - Defenders hold a stick between their hip flexors and the offensive player’s hip. - The goal is not to use the stick but to mirror movements, focusing purely on footwork. - This drill reinforces body positioning and movement without unnecessary reaching. - **Absorbing Contact Drill:** - Defenders use a pad to simulate realistic contact without excessive physicality. - Teaching defenders how to “take a charge” similar to basketball, keeping feet underneath them to maintain balance. - Differentiating between a **butt-end hold** (wide grip for contact absorption) and a **V-hold** (more for controlling stick positioning). ## Game Application & defensive Adjustments Bernhardt showcased film clips demonstrating these techniques in real game situations. A few key points included: - **Avoiding Overextension:** Defenders should never lunge or extend hands first, as it compromises balance and positioning. - **Using Hands Efficiently:** While some defenders are taught to “punch” with the bottom hand, Bernhardt prefers a wider grip for better control. - **Anticipating Offensive Moves:** Many elite attackmen use ladder dodges and deceptive footwork, so defenders must prepare to absorb contact while staying in optimal position. ## Advice for Players & Coaches 1. **Be Coachable** – Recruiters and college coaches look for defensive fundamentals, positioning, and awareness more than just takeaway checks. 2. **Stand Out Without the Ball** – Many showcase players worry about not getting dodged enough. Bernhardt reassures players that coaches evaluate their positioning, communication, and anticipation just as much as their one-on-one defense. 3. **Defend the Heart** – Define key areas of the field (e.g., hashes and the “heart” at the center of the defense) and ensure defenders keep opponents out of those spaces. ## Final Thoughts Jesse Bernhardt’s webinar was a masterclass in defensive fundamentals, showing that elite defense isn’t just about talent—it’s about technique, efficiency, and preparation. His drills and teaching points provide a roadmap for defenders at any level to improve their on-ball coverage and play a smarter, more controlled defensive game. For those looking to take their defensive skills to the next level, incorporating these drills into daily practice is a great first step. If you like this content, we think you'll love [our online coaches community](https://www.1stclasslax.com/coaches-membership-community) where we hosted this webinar and others like it every month.  ### Get Premium content for players, parents or coaches Check out our community and become a member to view drills, webinars, film breakdowns, courses and more. Use code*BLOG15 for an exclusive discount to our membership community on Circle!* **[Join Today 👉](https://www.1stclasslax.com/players-and-parents-membership-community)** - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) #### [A Defender's Guide to Defense](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/matt-dunn-guide-to-defense) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and) : Apr 24, 2025, 6:29:56 PM Defensive lacrosse tips to elevate your game, shared by Matt Dunn. Key focus areas include footwork, contact control, eye discipline, anticipation,... [Defense](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/defense) [Coaching](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/coaching) [Men's Lacrosse](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mens-lacrosse) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/matt-dunn-guide-to-defense) #### [Positionless Defense: Building a defense in modern lacrosse](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/defense-in-modern-lacrosse) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and) : Apr 25, 2024, 2:12:15 PM Offenses in lacrosse are changing rapidly and defensive coaching lags behind. Here we discuss positionless defense and how to build a defense in... [Defense](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/defense) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/defense-in-modern-lacrosse) #### [Positionless Defense: The Principles of Sliding](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/positionless-defense-the-principles-of-sliding) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and) : Oct 1, 2024, 1:07:05 PM Learn the fundamentals of sliding in men's lacrosse, focusing on stance, leverage, decision-making, and effective execution in a positionless... 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This webinar recap covers footwork, contact strategies, stick positioning, and elite defensive concepts for lacrosse players and coaches.", "headline" : "Developing Elite Lacrosse Defenders: Tips & Drills from Jesse Bernhardt", "image" : [ "https://9260438.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9260438/Screenshot%202025-03-20%20at%208.18.18%20AM.png" ], "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "Defense, Coaching, Men's Lacrosse", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/jesse-bernhardt-lacrosse-defense-drills", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "First Class Lacrosse" } } ```