When to Sub

[LiquidMercury16]

Alright all, I'm brand new to coaching. I just started a team up at Ole Miss and am somehow the coach. I was just wonderin when I should sub lines in particular as when to have LSM and SSDM go in.

[BuckWyld]

I have played longstick midi for a while and usually I go in to a game in one of three situations, 1st is a face off, second is a deadball where the other team will have have the ball when play starts and third is when the other team has the ball and one of their midis subs out his defender follows him out and I go on. Coming out of the game is pretty much the opposite, on a dead ball when my team will get it when play starts or after a turn over I first look to help clear the ball then sub out as quickly as possible. SSDM is pretty much the same execpt they probably wont do faceoffs and the will wait for the second (or third) midi to sub on turnovers since it is more important to get the longstick on, they will also stay on the field to help clear longer since the longstick gets off the field first.

[LiquidMercury16]

There is no way I'm gonna remember everything in games especially since I have to be playing as well. I sure hope everyone remembers when to go in and out.

[BuckWyld]

let me try and find a simpler way to remember. When your team is on D you should get the d-middis on to the field asap with priority going to the longstick and without leaving men unguarded when you get the ball back they should come off the field asap with priority going to the longstick. the longstick is also on the field for faceoffs.

[LiquidMercury16]

That sounds simpler, thanks.

[LiquidMercury16]

what about changin full middie lines out. I'm gonna be runnin 3 lines of 3. Should i only be subbin the whole line out on dead ball?

[BuckWyld]

you should generally only sub middis on the fly when you are on offense and then only one at a time. but if you are on d and one of the other team's players subs out your player can follow out and let fresh legs on.

[LiquidMercury16]

alright sounds good

[JackofAll]

L'M'16:
Another note on the subs. Subbing middies on the fly is great on O when you've got an attack that understands ball control. They need to pull the ball out and delay play until the fresh middies are ready to go. You sub out the D middies one at a time while you're in possession. If you try and sub them out all at once during live play he's gonna get jumped something serious.

Remember that you can get a HORN on any side line out of bounds. This means if you've lost the ball, you can get a horn and freely sub in a new D unit. Likewise, if you've been awarded the ball, you can sub in a new O unit. The Horn stops play for up to 20 seconds allowing you to freely sub many players as you want. You don't have to wait for one player to get off, before putting another on. Just send them all on and make sure the tired legs are off the field with in 20s.

Good luck this year!
~JackofAll

[LiquidMercury16]

Thanks a lot that helps

[ex-lax]

wow how do you keep up with this in a game?

[LiquidMercury16]

I don't know how i'll be able to considering i'll be playing and coaching at the same time.

[WHEELAX2]

when to sub is a key fundamental in lacrosse.

Face off:
usually your best face-off man.. best ground baller, and long stick middie should be out there.

once you gain posession, sub the long pole for an offensive middie.. slow the ball down to get your guys on.
if you lose posession (NOT a dead ball situation) the middies you have in must stay on the field to play defense.
If you lose posession on an out of bounds or infraction, get your d-mids out there..

another good tactical sub move is to take a d-pole off the defensive side when you have the ball. have him stay onsides and sprint to the box and then replace him with a fresh offensive player. have the "tired middie" cross the midfield line to the defensive side to switch places with the fresh middie. the "tired" middie can then come off the field to be replaced by the long pole. make sure that the "tired middie" stays on the defensive side and does not cross back over the midfield line while subbing. here too the offense should slow the ball down to make sure the guy is off the field, you don't want to get caught with four shorties on offense.

[ex-lax]

i dont understand when you can sub whole lines

[WHEELAX2]

you can sub whole lines when there is a dead ball situation.. when the ball goes out of bounds on the sidelines.. you know.. when the horn sounds..
you can also sub whole lines during time outs, but the most popular and smartest time is during a dead ball situation.