Box Positions

[Led_Zeppelin]

Allright I'm familiar with all the positions in field lacrosse like attackman, midifeld, close d, etc. But with box lacrosse it's more like hockey positions (understandabley). In the book Lacrosse for Dummies it lists the positions as pointman, creasemen, cornerman, and a goalie, but on the NLL website it lists most players as either forwards, defensemen, goalies, or transition? My question is what are the roles of all the different positions in box, and what type of players usually play each of those position (i.e. small speedy guys, big guys).

[laxgoalieking]

ok players are listed as either defense(play D),transition(they bring the ball up floor), and attack(play offence). now on ofense there is the piont man who usualy moves the ball around then the 2 shooters the shoot the ball or get it down to the crease men, the crease men stands on the crease and usualy sets picks, cut or fight for the ball down low.on D i was always taught that the point man remains the point men,the shooter goes down and plays crease defensemen, the crease men plays the top defender. now the set up is the house it goes like this:
PM
S/TD S/TD

CM/CD CM/CD

[#15Roadies]

On offence:

In box you generally play stick to the middle, so if you are a "left" creaseman, you are a right handed player, "right" cornerman you are a left handed player, etc. When you transist (sic) back to defence you can stay stick to the middle and play stick-to-stick with your check. Some coaches prefer the sitck-to-stick match up, some don't and prefer a size match up. More on this later.

See this diagram for minor box lacrosse:

http://www.redbirdslacrosse.com/Floor%20Markings%20Diagram.pdf

Crease or Creaseman - plays the on the crease at the point where the crease line meets the goaline extended. In minor lacrosse the creaseman will play the low corner of the 24 foot arc (prime scoring area).

Playing the crease requires quickness and good dodging skills in a very small area to manouver, a good inside shot, good ability to fake and be able to take punishment. Any sized player can play the crease.

Shooter, Corner or Cornerman - plays the 'top' of the offence, generally line up with his/her crease counterpart. Think of the crease and shooters forming a box, with the shooters at the top of the box.

Shooters have to be quick and be able to go one-on-one. Players with good, hard accurate shots (that take time to set up) usually play shooter. Good passers are generally positioned at the corners.

Point or pointman - plays the top of the offence. If you imagine the shooters & crease forming a box, the point plays the middle and forms a house shape. On some offences, the point man will play over to the strong side - that is, the side of the floor with the majority of one hand or another (i.e. left or right handed). If the point is a leftie, the right side is the strong side and visa versa.

The point must be fast, have good all around offensive skills and be a really good passer. In minor lacrosse you may find the point running the offence, kind of like a quarterback.

Now those are the positions, but they don't tell the whole story. If you are a "creaseman," you may find yourself cutting towards the top or exchanging positions with the corner and a set play. So you may be listed as a "creaseman" but you should be able to play any position unless the coach set plays from those positions.

To understand "defenceman" & "transition" requires that you know some of the different systems of play used in box - fast break, transition, O-D. In the NLL you generally see the O(ffence)-D(efence) system being used. You get a good idea of the set offensive positioning in the NLL when the offence is on the powerplay. Otherwise, guys will position themselves as the play dictates through movement, open space opportunities and good dodges (up here in Canada, known as "dekes.")

Hope this helps a little!

[Led_Zeppelin]

So the creasemen go down low by the goal, while the cornermen stay at the top of the zone along with the pointman?

[slinkyspine]

no

you can sorta tell by the names. crease men take the crease cornermen the corners pointmen the point now its not that simple but you knwo

[#15Roadies]

Yes, exactly. The "low" positions are toward the net and the "top" positions are at the top of the zone along with the point. You will also find the creaseman responsible for getting the ball out of the corners - this is one reason why many coaches will refer to the cornerman position as the "shooter" - so there is a little less confusion. The shooters are generally responsible for getting loose balls along the side boards, usually near the offensive line.

Now as slinkyspine said, these are simple references mainly because there should be so much movement on offensive possession (other than a powerplay) that players will be all over the floor. Think of the positions in box lacrosse as positions 'on the floor rather' than designated players. That will give you a better idea of how the NLL sees the positions of 'forward, defenceman & transition.'

[KnightsLAXDad]

One thing to point out, is that there are two styles of play, offence-defence (which is what you see in the NLL and Juniour and Senior box) and and the traditional 5 on 5 (played mostly in minor box).

Lacrosse for Dummies (actually not a bad book) refers to 5 on 5 which is pretty close to basketball positions and movement. Offence-Defence, as the name suggests, puts either 5 offensive specialists or 5 defensive specialist on the floor according to ball possesion. Transition players are guys who look for a fast break when there team gets possesion but before they change up.

[tomahawks11]

you guys do a great job of explaining.... i was gunna explain but i cant put it any better than what they did.... i play shooter by the way

[Led_Zeppelin]

So forwards would likely be the players in the "low" zone and defensemen the ones at the "top" of the zone?

[BClax17]

NO
I'll try to explain this properly
There are no defencemen in box. When you have the ball EVERYONE is offense when you don't EVERYONE is defence. Some people will go to the bench and switch for someone depending if you are on O or D. If you set up around the net no defence are on the floor. What you are reading is that people have assigned positions such as rightwing in hockey, box does not have that. A person may play corner but can change places and end up in shooter position, though people do have preferred places.


When set up on offence...
...C====S

<========P C=corner S=shooter P=point <=net

...C====S


When set up on defence...
...D=====D

<========D D=defense <=net

...D=====D

[KnightsLAXDad]

So forwards would likely be the players in the "low" zone and defensemen the ones at the "top" of the zone?

Pretty much, but like BCLax said its like basketball 5 up on offence, five back on defence, not forwards and defencemen.

On offence, Crease (aka forwards) play low, Corners/Shooters (aka defence) play high with the Point/Center up top. Opposite on D except for the point who always plays high.

Here's a diagram I did to explain position to my minor house league team

[#15Roadies]

LOL!

First there are defenceman in box lacrosse - in the offence-defence system. Some prefer to call them 'defensive specialists' or 'defenders,' but all things being equal, they are defenceman and stick to the defensive half of the floor most times. Upon gaining possession, these players quickly head back to the bench so the forwards (crease, shooters & point) can get on the floor. That is a pretty strict viewpoint though. Sometimes one or two of those defenders are 'transition' players that will try to run the ball down the floor and may take up a position on the offence.

However, there are never defenceman that come into the offensive play like hockey. The crease, shooter & point are designated as offensive positions.

Where it gets confusing is that to understand the positions, you have to go beyond strict definitions and look at the different systems of play. KnightsLaxDad is showing you a graphic based on a full floor unit, usually a fast break/transition/motion offence type of setup where one line of players (a group of 5) play both ends of the floor. In O-D the setup is a bit different, there may be lines of defensive and offensive players only. Then there is the 'transition' guy - the midfielder as it were. But never say 'midfielder' around pure box guys! :naughty:

[Led_Zeppelin]

So in the NLL system, would they send whole lines of nothing but offensive or defensive specialists onto the floor at one time?

[KnightsLAXDad]

Yep, except for the occasional fast break (usually when the other team has made a poor or slow line change). Watching a game, you'll see the "defensive" player run the ball up, then hold on for the line change, then pass the ball off and switch up as well.

Even though it puts specialists out on the floor, a lot of people don't care for it as it kind of takes away the fast break and flow of the game. It also means that the defensive guys rarely get a chance to score, where in 5-on-5 you play both (like a field middie).

[Led_Zeppelin]

So the NLL doesn't play like hockey where certain lines stay out for both offense & defense for a certain amount of time and than rotate? It sounds like you'd have 5 people running on and off the floor all the time.

[slinkyspine]

So the NLL doesn't play like hockey where certain lines stay out for both offense & defense for a certain amount of time and than rotate? It sounds like you'd have 5 people running on and off the floor all the time.

now you're getting it