Creaseman?

[Spartan]

What is the purpose of the creaseman in box lacrosse? I found out that through my winter league coach that I am suited better for that position, though I don't know how to play it that well. What do I do when I dont have the ball? What do I do when I have the ball? It's alot different than playing defense which I played my whole life.

[Spartan]

anyone at all?

[VTLaxFan]

as far as I know, it is to score goals through mostly one timers and work into the pick and roll pairs by adding a third man, which is much harder to defend. Boxla creasemen move much more than field creasemen, some teams use a point man rather than creaseman. they also screen the goaile.

[#15Roadies]

The creaseman will play low toward the net, near the low corner of the crease. Depending on the offence type, the crease could be asked to be a goal scorer or primarily feed cutters. Usually a combination of both. Really with today's motion offence schemes, the "creaseman" is more of a position on the floor than it is a strict position for one player.

There are several very good threads on the ILF that explain each box position and how they relate to one another. Do a search, it will be worth your while.

[OldPtboBoy]

A creaseman's job will depend on the offence your team/coach is running.

It can be setting picks to open shooting lanes. It can be setting and then releasing picks for passes resulting in short range shots. It can be one time shots from deeper/cutters passes. It can be one hundred percent goalie screen. It can be cutting. It can be behind the net. It can be any number of things, and a great many more than I listed above. You must have advanced stick skills. You must be tough enough to get your head kicked in in front of the net. You must have a body style that will put up with this. One of these is likely what your coach is getting at. Yes there are small creasemen but they are advanced players. Rebounds, quick passes, quick shots and fakes are paramount. Corner skills are very important. The ability to read a defence and expose their weaknesses or pull players out of position is key.

A creaseman will become the shooter and cornerman on any offence that is playing against a zone and sometimes even more often, (if picks are set well) against a man on man defence. (depending on age and experience of play)

I wouldn't worry about it. The most important rule of box is to have and or beat your man at both ends of the floor. Properly coached in later years (I don't know how old you are) you may have to cycle through a number of floor positions in order to prevent a goal. I wouldn't worry about a positional label. Concentrate on your game. The coach is putting you there for any number of reasons. Take what you can from him and play.

Don't think about why you're there, think about what you have to do when you're there.