not getting enough ground balls (on D)

[Titanoh]

I play for a U-15 team and I feel like im not getting enough ground balls. If there is a ground ball, I usually end up taking man instead of ball. When there is a GB near me, when its 1v1, I can't get it, so my middie or crease runs over and gets it. Theres not really to many oppertionitys, but I didn't get a single GB in my last tourney. Im not really sure what Im asking for help for, but how do you other poles get ground balls? Coaches always love a defender who gets ground balls, so Im trying to improve this.

[MiddieMan05]

hmm, seems like you may be a little timid in your approach. You just gotta let go of all fear of slashes and hacks and run in like a mad dog. If you're running side by side with an opponent and you've got a teammate behind you, go for man. But if you've got a step on your opponent, just go get the ball. Don't worry about exposing your wrists for checks or possibly getting hit from behind, because you'll just draw a penalty. That's good. But remember, don't go too crazy. Stay in control and use your body to get in good position rather than trying to poke at the ball timidly.

[bobo48]

practice groudballs choked up, and at the bottom of your stick, so you can be ready for either situation. If you do take man, try to box him out with your hips, so you can still pick up the ball. Run really fast.

[laxmj1992]

Don't think of you having to get the ground ball, think of them not being allowed to get the ground ball. At least, that is how I sort of think of it. When they go for the g.b., lift their back hand and push them out of the way. When they are out of the way, you have an easy path at the ball.

[Titanoh]

Too bad my season is over =(, gotta wait to fall ball.
I also have another question. How far out is to far (when your man has the ball)? Should I stay in the box?
And when your man has the ball, do you always keep him at stick length (constantly poking his hands), or do you leave a little more space than that?

[navylax161]

Too bad my season is over =(, gotta wait to fall ball.
I also have another question. How far out is to far (when your man has the ball)? Should I stay in the box?
as far as youre comfortable, and depending on the man. if hes a serious threat to dodge, you dont want him picking up speed while you re backing up. another benefit of pressing out is that if you get beat far out, theres more time for a slide to come. this is a question you should ask your coach, as it varies.

And when your man has the ball, do you always keep him at stick length (constantly poking his hands), or do you leave a little more space than that?
if you feel you can without getting beat, why not? get your stick in there and cause problems for your man.

[greenshoelaces]

Too bad my season is over =(, gotta wait to fall ball.
I also have another question. How far out is to far (when your man has the ball)? Should I stay in the box?
And when your man has the ball, do you always keep him at stick length (constantly poking his hands), or do you leave a little more space than that?
It depends on if you are playing zone D, or man D.

On the ground balls, that is my teams problem, and only problem. We have the best shooters in the league, an amazing D. But, for some odd reason, my team sucks at GB's. I think the problem is that we get super pumped before games, so we just want to take man instead of ball. And because our D is huge (smallest D on my team is 6'3") and extremely athletic, they usually lay them out bigtime, but then another opposing player just runs and gets the groundball, and they still have possession. And of course our coach gets pretty angry, but they still continue being dumb. I don't know what to do about this, I am supposed to be a team leader because I am our team captain, but I don't know if me trying to tell them what to do will discourage them. I don't need help with GB's, I need help trying to teach people to get GB's. haha.
But, Ill try to help you Titan, it seems you like to hit people, well your objective in the game of lacrosse is not to hit people, your objective is getting the ball. And I don't quite understand why your team does not help you out when you get man, it is called "man-ball" one guy gets man, other gets the ball, that's how things usually work.

[veronalax33]

If you are behind going into a 1v1 groundball, use your pole to your advantage. poke the back of his arm and then go directly into a lift...basically anything that will make your man miss the gb. After doing that, try and snag the ball out of there. If that doesn't work, get your body into your guy and box him out like basketball. That way you you have a chance at it, and a teammate who should be coming in to help you has a chance at it.

It shouldn't matter how many groundballs you get, but how many groundballs the team as a whole gets.

[Run-DMC]

The best way I can get ground balls 1 v 1 is to outsmart my attackmen, or whoever im fighting for the GB with. When both running for the ball, throw a lift. he runs completely over the ball. Then use the top corner of your pole to flick the ball into open area to pick it up and then run away with it :P

[I <3 Lax]

wierd problem bro because as a defencemen i can just breeze into a pile and pick it up and waltz out.. i do a drill where you try to stick handle like a hockey stick for a while.it always helps me.

[Titanoh]

I think half the problem is that there aren't a lot of oppertunity's for me to get groundballs. Everyonce and a while someone gets ripped or they miss a pass, but besides that, I don't think any defensemen on my team get too many groundballs. I'll work on all this during fallball and if I still have questions I'll come back. I want to be one of those guys who averages 5-6 ground balls a game.
Thanks for the help so far.

[I <3 Lax]

did you try what i said? it helps and you can do it in a game ;)

[Titanoh]

Don't really understand what you were saying?

[GMLaX51]

when u hav a 1 vs. 1 you hav to be a scrapper, do whatever to you can to get the ball. I prefer boxing the other man out

[AHS_laxer]

When you are scooping a ground ball, widen your stance, feet shoulder width apart, put your stick between your legs, and scoop the ball like you are shoveling snow or shoveling dirt.

have fun man.

[GMLaX51]

Keep ur stance strong too, dont be light on ur feet while tryin to box someone out, you'll get plowed evry time if u dont

[Titanoh]

Kind of an old post, but my season started like 4 games ago. Im getting a constant 3-4 gb's a game, and Im getting like 1 more each game I did than the last.
Some of the stuff you posted has helped, thanks!

[Dirt Devil]

When you are scooping a ground ball, widen your stance, feet shoulder width apart, put your stick between your legs, and scoop the ball like you are shoveling snow or shoveling dirt.

have fun man.

I explain it to people here as trying to get dog crap off your grass, you want to keep the relatively flat and almost skim it across the grass... like getting dog crap out without taking half the lawn with you

[I got man!]

bless you oh Titan for takin man. :worship:

it kills me to see a pile of kids playing field hockey or patty cake with the ball vs. someone ripping through the crowd breaking things up.


navylax is right, ask your coach on how to play someone based on where they are on/off ball. I play if he is loose I play loose (meaning he is far out and not near to be a shooting threat I give him some room to make a mistake and come at me), If he is tight I play tight (pressure). Of course always moving da feet.

[GuitarnLax36]

alright I play D for the JV level right now and I like to think that I get about 4-5 gbs a game. Specifically what I do if it is just a one on one for the ball and I know that i cant just go in and scoop it without getting wrecked then I use my 6 foot pole and knock the ball out and away from me so that I can get it. Also when there is a big scrum I tend to stay out of it and look for the ball and right when it pops out I pounce on it. Thats what you have to be doing. Also if you want to see a guy get gbs watch Matt Bocklet. He is a gb wiz and also happens to be the guy in my avatar haha

[spyopticgoggles]

bless you oh Titan for takin man. :worship:

it kills me to see a pile of kids playing field hockey or patty cake with the ball vs. someone ripping through the crowd breaking things up.


navylax is right, ask your coach on how to play someone based on where they are on/off ball. I play if he is loose I play loose (meaning he is far out and not near to be a shooting threat I give him some room to make a mistake and come at me), If he is tight I play tight (pressure). Of course always moving da feet.

lol. anyway, if your man is faster than you then i wouldnt play him far out since he can beat you easily, then step into some room to shoot because the slide is so long.

[Titanoh]

I think its partly because I love my d men this year. We've all been good friends for awhile, and they really know what there doing. We have arguably the best D in the league.
I play the same defense that you do I got man!, I hate it when kids go out and throw crazy checks, Im more into staying in front of my man and waiting for him to make the mistake (I guess you could I say I like zone D).

GuitarnLax36- on your question about 1v1 gb's, I ussually either let him go for it, and as soon as he gets low, I lift him from behind, or I get beside him and push him out with the butt on my stick (if possible).

[Run-DMC]

Or you can throw the one-handed wrap check when he picks it up.

I like to lift, or if i cant get there in time, get close enough where I can disrupt him when he turns.