counter after picking up ground ball

[busdriver44]

i know that the best way hit someone is to get them when they aren't expecting it. A great example of this is when someones head is down when tehy are picking up a ground ball. As soon as they look up they are knocked down.

Now, on defense, that's always fun, but on offense, how do u counter it. My team almost never uses man-ball on groundballs in real games, just because they usually aren't close enough. I know to check my surroundings, get low, go full speed, etc, but during the process, i have to bend down to pick up the ball. More times than not, i get knocked down. Now that doesn't really bother me, but i'd like to learn how to counter this, so i can keep possession for my team.

[lacrossefanatic]

Well u know what they say: Keep your head up at all times. Once u pick up the ball cut in a direction you know is open and settle the ball. Instances when you usually get hit after picking a ball is when there like half the team going for a GB... u can't do much except pick and exit or try to kick the ball. Through practice you'll eventually develop a sense of whose where and your "spiddy sense" will tell u want to do then.

Also when u pick up place ur bottocks in the direction where the opposing team is. (Good rule of thumb: pick up pointing your head towards your goalie) That way if you continue running forward you won't worry about a possible lurking defender awaiting to hit you.

[NC-LACROSSE]

I do a doge right after I get it if theres only one man on me so that way I throw him of and can run right by him. if theres alot of guys i just try and kick it out or run through them.

Edit: listen to lacrossefanatic he explained it better.

[xSURFERx]

if there is a bunch of guys trying to pick up the ball, ill kick it out then quick pick it up and take off, works alot for me. bc as ur picking up the ball the other guys arent hitting u, there looking at the ground looking for where the ball went

[CoachK]

Everyone of you should pick up the ground ball and move it. If you can't scoop through and run to space, we have our players turtle it to get out of the pile. What I mean is scoop, pull the ball into your chest with both hands on the stick, stick between your legs squated around it. You can now mini cradle out of the pile and you're very protected.

This is worst case scenario. You should be looking to move that ball to an open man out of the pile that can see the field. You don't know if someone is open on the crease, but they do, and they may be able to feed them are attack unsettled.

[vroom125]

If you keep your back to anyone on you, they can't really knock you down. (Push from behind).

[stegmakk]

If you are neck and neck with a guy and you know you will not be able to scoop and run through cleanly...one way I have seen is:
as you scoop you stop and plant your feet...bring the head close to your chest keep your elbows out...roll in the opposite direction and explode out of it...
when you plant yourself, you have a good chance of getting nailed from behind thus getting a whistle, the ball, and 5 yards...otherwise this move fully protects the stick, is not common (meaning unexpected defense will be offguard)...

[WHEELAX2]

u have to be aware of your surroundings.. if a guy is coming from the left or right, or right in front of u.. turn away just as you pick up the ball .. generally you take a step toward the guy who is trying to pound you, and as you scoop/bring the ball to your face, you want to swing your hips so that you can shield yourself and abosorb the hit.. at the same time, your stick is protected, heads up, and you should be looking for a pass.. it's almost like boxing out in basketball.. put your butt out to get position and you should be able to avoid almost every hit..

another thing you have to be aware of if you plan on spinning out of a ground ball, is the blind side hit.. where u turn around, and there's a guy right in your face, then u get planted.. you will have to lead with your shoulder to avoid/absorb these kind of surprising hits..

also, the lower you get on ground balls, the smaller target you become...

[ex-lax]

make shure you are going into it at full speed and unless he is coming at you head on then you should be out of there in time

[WHEELAX2]

I really got thinking about this... being a good ground baller is just one of those things you can't learn overnight.. sure you can teach yourself how to dodge, fake, etc.. but this takes a lot of feel.. it takes a lot of experience to really dominate ground ball situations..

[GeorgiaMiddie2]

a little trick i used to use... if i see a guy lining me up for a hit when i go down for the groundball, i just turn my back to him... this means he cant push me over without a penalty, and it helps to protect your stick. you'd be amazed how many gb's you pick up just by boxing people out.

[roycegracie47]

a little trick i used to use... if i see a guy lining me up for a hit when i go down for the groundball, i just turn my back to him... this means he cant push me over without a penalty, and it helps to protect your stick. you'd be amazed how many gb's you pick up just by boxing people out.
Boxing out is a definate key if you've got a step or two on the guy your racing to the ball with. It can not just get you a possible push from behind (posession or not) but is also a great way of keeping one man off the ball if you've got another teammate arriving to help. And when all else fails, go for the oscar and sell the push.

[stinisonfire]

do you know the term "pumping the well"?

[mike06]

what works for me for 1v1 is get low scoop and pop out in the opposite direction of the guy whos on me if im goin to get a gb in a pile i box out and kick to an open guy it always works oh and if your gonna try and get the push from behind make sure your smaller than the other guy or the ref wont call it atleast here in virginia they wont