Ground balls and takeaways over shadowed by Goals?

[Topcorners]

Have you ever felt that ground balls and takeaways get drowned out by goals and assists? Today I played a game and I had at least 12 gb's and 4 takeaways which created fastbreaks which resulted into goals. Im not looking for any congratulations or good job! It feels like Goals are the most important things in Lacrosse (not that they aren't) but you can't get goals without doing the little things like groundballs, solid defense, takeaways etc.

[jrmelax16]

...But goals are the most important thing about lacrosse. Think about it, if you don't score, you don't win. It's just like any sport, goals make the newspaper- hardwork and hustle doesn't. It's the nature of the game.

[crispy92]

Well from my experince ground balls are a big deciding factor in a game. My coach would rather have our team get every ground ball then be able to catch and throw. While takeaways are good and a good asset for a defender it is not a necessity. I can guarentee that not every single pro or college player is a takeaway player. I figure as long as he dosent make a good feed or beat me, i did my job.

[Topcorners]

...But goals are the most important thing about lacrosse. Think about it, if you don't score, you don't win. It's just like any sport, goals make the newspaper- hardwork and hustle doesn't. It's the nature of the game.

Yeah I know that, but I'm just saying how do you get those goals without ground balls and takeaways etc.

[Lax4life528]

Defense- all guts, no glory

It's part of the game.

[sjesuitlax]

haha thats why you do it all. kidding, but yeah everything is overshadowed by goals. who gets more of a congratulations the 6 goal a game player or the 80% face-off man that gets those possesions. its one of those little things that win games.

its like wall-ball. the more wall-ball the better you get. if you dont do it you don't get better. the more groundballs you get, the more transition plays you create, the more scoring opportunities, the more points you put up. if you don't do the little things to win, your most likely not going to.

[roycegracie47]

Takeaways no, because as mentioned not everyone plays takeaway defense and stopping the guy, forcing the bad pass or shot is just as important if not better.

Groundballs are a different story because it's one factor everyone on the team needs to be concerned with (as offensive minded players will be more concerned with avoiding takeaways as opposed to making them). But no matter what side of the field you are on when the ball is on the everyone is drilled from the first time they pick up a stick that the team who comes up with the ball is the team who will remain in control. And don't think that isn't noticed, a team as a whole or even one person who is gobbling up gbs is getting recognized by his coaches and teammates because hard work on the field shows.

[cheesehead]

offense sells tickets, defense wins games and catches the eyes of coaches

[Buffslaxer16]

Defense doesn't get a lot of attention, but trust me, we often control the outcome of the game. While goals overshadow gb's and takeaways, they also end up helping to set up those goals

[Rizzle]

Tell you what, I am a freshman defenseman for my team. We have a Varsity and JV team, and I play both because I have been playing for a while and I am a freshman. I don't complain.

I average atleast 2 takeaways and 4 groundballs a Varsity game with limited playing time (because I have a LOT of upperclassmen ahead of me at the position), and like 5+ takeaways and 6-10 groundballs a JV game. I can bring the ball up, but usually pass, never really score. If I'm extra lucky I'll get the assist dumping it off to a breaking middie or attackmen. I don't get any good jobs or congrats from anyone, except my goalie and linemates sometimes. I don't complain.

I slide like it is the last thing I will ever do, whether I am playing Varsity or JV. After I put the kid on his *** for even thinking about cranking on my goalie, I do my best to grab the GB and look for a lane to run or pass. Usually I'll get pulled off now because I'm a freshman, but I just get a quick drink and stand right on the sideline, ready to go in at a moments notice. Sure I'm probably almost the last on the depth chart because of my age, not skill becuase my coach has told me that's not the reason, but I don't complain. When I get in the game I do my best, whether it's a quick shift on close D or in a man-down situation where we need to make a play and get the ball back.

I rarely will get credit for doing any of this, I'm always playing my *** off and am exhausted from playing 2 games a day, but I don't complain. Because I know one day my chance is going to come, and I'll be able to start and be the best I can be because of all the little things I am making sure I do right now. I don't ever complain though. And make no excuses. Doing these things your best will make you the best possible player you can be, and will elevate your team as a result. That's it, really.

[kblulax2]

it's the truth though. especially when middie's start the fast break, the ball gets banged around and an attackman scores. Without the middie's gb/clear/whatever the attackman wouldn't have scored but the middie gets almost no recognition for it from them. We are truly underappreciated but it's the gbs and takeaways that get the goals, not the guy who finishes

[Warrior5]

Dont worry man, I play d and i know exactly what you're saying.. i'll be lucky if i pull 2 points in a season. in my mind.. gb's and takeaways decide a game

[Gamebreaker7]

My coach went to West genny and hes always telling us about theise GB's shirts. Every time someone got a ground ball, he would get a patch to put on the shirt.