View Full Version : i think i'm afraid to hit.
ashurnibitashpi
04-13-2008, 11:32 AM
i've been playing for four years, and now, in highschool, i still don't hit people when i play defense.
it's odd since i'm a long pole, but for some reason, no matter the situation, I choose a stick check over a body check. i think i'm afraid. but i don't know how to get over it.
like yesterday for example, some guy, bigger than i am, was trucking down the field on a fast break, it was my slide, and instead of going for a hit, i slowed down and tried to poke check him. he got the ball to the net.
i feel like such a puss, but i don't know how to get over it.
indians8
04-13-2008, 11:41 AM
Generally if you get in front of another player he'll slow down to some extent. If you can just stay in front of him, NOT by back peddling (more of a side to side motion), you can lead poke him and then make body contact. From personal experience I find that to work decently.
EDIT:
Remember when you make body contact it doesn't mean you have to "lay him out." If you can just force him to dump the ball or get the ball from him, you've done your job.
If you want to practice just hitting. Get a really crappy old stick and cut it to like a foot long of shaft and during practice just use that. That forces you to use your body and you wont be able to poke.
ashurnibitashpi
04-13-2008, 11:45 AM
Generally if you get in front of another player he'll slow down to some extent. If you can just stay in front of him, NOT by back peddling (more of a side to side motion), you can lead poke him and then make body contact. From personal experience I find that to work decently.
EDIT:
Remember when you make body contact it doesn't mean you have to "lay him out." If you can just force him to dump the ball or get the ball from him, you've done your job.
i'm the smalled d on our team (5'11" 162lbs), and I'm constantly seeing other people try to hit someone and just bounce off and go straight to the ground and i constantly imagine that. i know defense is all about positioning, but there's always so many times that i should hit a kid but i don't.
i'm the smalled d on our team (5'11" 162lbs), and I'm constantly seeing other people try to hit someone and just bounce off and go straight to the ground and i constantly imagine that. i know defense is all about positioning, but there's always so many times that i should hit a kid but i don't.
You can say I'm the smallest d pole my team. I'm 6'1 150 lbs but I still hit people. Sure I can't get the biggest hit, but it's more about being able mentally to visualize yourself doing it rather than physically. I'm not big at all yet I'm the best d pole on my team because I know what I do out there during games. Just get yourself sycked before a game and if you have a chance to rail somebody during a game, then do it.
ashurnibitashpi
04-13-2008, 02:22 PM
yeah you're right, red, i think it's the whole mental thing. i need some pump up music before the game or something
murderlax
04-13-2008, 02:38 PM
lacrosse is a contact sport, however, hitting doesnt make you a good defender.
sure in some instances, a hit is necessary, but more often than not, going for a hit will end up in the defender becoming overcommited and missing the slide.
im a LSM and i prefer to play more stick rather than body; i will however bring along a hit with the slide package if it's necessary.
just remember to play smart, and not be on the field simply to head-hunt. hit when necessary, but i prefer to take the ball away and run it up field, rather than risk one of my opponent's players picking it up while im trying to recover from an unnesessary hit.
Bretmac
04-13-2008, 02:39 PM
being small really isnt an excuse im 5'5 and i lay people out all the time... i just remember its for the team..my coach says all the pain all the glory is for and shared through the team
cougarlax20
04-13-2008, 02:51 PM
i agree w/ murderlax im also lsm and i play mostly stick its not a bad thing u just gotta remember to use ur body when its needed its all about choosing the right check at the right time when theres a ground ball u probly want to throw ur body into him but when hes makin a throw just lift his bottom elbow and cause a bad pass
Sir_Jimmy_Page
04-13-2008, 04:32 PM
i'm a small guy (only a sophomore though) 5'7'', 140 and a middie, but i love to hit
often it isn't necessary, usually on fast breaks or ground balls, just shuffle a lot and make sure you put yourself in between them and the net, and if they go for a shot, make sure you are willing to step in front of it
Laxmann019
04-13-2008, 04:45 PM
If you somehow think you'll hurt them by hitting them don't worry about it, thats why we wear pads and helmets. Just don't go for dirty/illegal hits
middiesrulz
04-13-2008, 05:25 PM
everyone has a dark side, just get pretend the other player did something really bad to you and get really mad (warning: if you go overboard it is not my fault), it's easier to deck them
Hirschy44
04-13-2008, 08:53 PM
im a middie.... but im 5'4'' and 120 lbs and all you have to think about is force equals mass times distance..... if you run at a kid and put all your weight in to it... chances are the kid is gonna land right on his butt... ive done it about 5 times in our 3 games and its quite amusing... also, i would just try laying some teamates out in practice during scrimages just to get the feel of things.... if the person is off balance or is running to the side... thats the perfect chance to show him who is boss.... it helps out the team to get psyced up with a few hard hits....
OC Lax17
04-13-2008, 09:35 PM
Don't worry about being smaller. Just run through the man, don't stop when you get to him. The most important thing is knowing when to go at him and hit him, and when to guide him and play him safely.
Ares3
04-13-2008, 09:58 PM
you just need to start hitting.like practice with a friend or something.its probably easier for people that have played other contact sports before.its impportant though especilly since ur a dpole
snafs
04-14-2008, 11:02 AM
im a middie.... but im 5'4'' and 120 lbs and all you have to think about is force equals mass times distance..... if you run at a kid and put all your weight in to it... chances are the kid is gonna land right on his butt... ive done it about 5 times in our 3 games and its quite amusing... also, i would just try laying some teamates out in practice during scrimages just to get the feel of things.... if the person is off balance or is running to the side... thats the perfect chance to show him who is boss.... it helps out the team to get psyced up with a few hard hits....
momentem=mass x velocity is more relavent
and force=mass x acceleration
word...