Practice for actual game situations?

[red9535]

Hey guys. This is my first year playing, i started in like March or April. I practice in my backyard every day, wall ball and shooting. I can do both pretty well. I've been through 1 fall ball season, and i definiltely learned a lot and improved a lot over the 8 or 9 weeks. But today, i was doing a little 6 on 6 with some of the varsity guys at my school, and i realized that in most in-game situations, i dont really know what to do.
Let me elaborate.

I can pass and shoot, both fairly well. I can use both hands. I know a few dodges, but i should definiltey practice them more. I play mid. Every time i get the ball, i find myself confused as to what to do. They were trying to help me out today, but i think that i just got confused. Who to pass to, when to try and take the ball in, where to run, etc.

Can i get some general pointers? And also, what kinds of things can i do in the backyard to help me on stuff like this? Is the only thing i can do is to get a Dman and have him work with me 1 on 1?

I need some help

Thanks
-red

[GBaschski]

I was/am roughly in the same situation as you are. The best possible thing to make you more comfortable on the field is just game experience. You should call up some guys and get some pick up going on. Maybe some 7v7 or 5v5.

Good luck!

[pantherLax]

yea, or just watch game tape. i only have one game that is taped, its the Hopkins-Duke Champ game, so i learned alot from it

[W.e Lax]

yeah if you dont have anyone to practice with watch game tapes this will help you out .. rember to get it in the box. since your a middi i would also work on shooting on hte run this is VERY important , you can jsut ask a goalie how hard it is to stop a 60 mph shot while the guy is running 10 mph across the net

[_lax4life_]

Is it just me or was there a thread on this before. Either there was a thread on the same exact question or i'm having a dejavu.

[LoveableME]

This might be a little different than what you're used to, but run around you town with your lacrosse stick and just dodge things on the sidewalk. Go about 3/4s speed and dodge signs, trashcans, even unsuspecting people. This might seem stupid but you can get used to dodging in close corners. (note: not the safest way of practicing (People can get really ticked off)

[#15Roadies]

Hey Red9535 - sounds like you are doing everything you can other than playing in as many games as you can. What you are facing now is a lack of tactical knowledge. What you need to be doing as a middie depends on your coaches strategies and such.

What I suggest is that you head out to the library (or amazon) and scoop up a couple of really good lacrosse books and read them from end to end - maybe even a few times over. That will not only give you some tactical information about your position, but all positions in most systems. This will give you an advantage because you not only know what you are supposed to be doing, but what others should be doing as well. And you will get an insiders clue on how to defend those other positions too!

Here are two that I would recommend to start:

Lacrosse - Fundamentals for Winning (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568000715/103-3096340-7945405?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance) - David Urick (SI)

Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080182060X/103-3096340-7945405?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance) - Bob Scott

There are of course many more books on the subject, but try to stick to the ones that illustrate the fundamentals and basics of the various systems and how the positions fit within those systems. You know from basic sticks skills, positional play (picks, pick n rolls, etc.) to how those basics fit within a particular strategy.

And of course there are many tactical videos on the US Lacrosse (http://www.lacrosse.org/) site. But I would suggest starting with the books first because they are easy to read, clear instructions and so on. Once you have digested a good chunk of those tactics & systems, when you play with your friends or scrimmage, you'll begin to see how things all fit together, where you belong and be confident enough to know what to do in most situations.

And finally talk with coaches! Most of them welcome an opportunity to talk lacrosse so much so that some of them won't shut up! :chuckle:

Good luck!