2 on 1 Fast Break Defense

[tx-mo-mn-01]

When there is a fast break does the lone defensemen switch to the offensive man with the ball or stay with his man and let the goalie set up on the ball carrier? I know the hockey rule of thumb, but being new to lacrosse is it the same?

Thanks

[rhcp32291]

the person with the ball is most dangerous so u move to him

[L i LaXbOy11]

it depends on what you want to do, it really doesntmatter,

if you go for the ball carier he will pass
if you go for the other man he will shoot

i like to go in towards the ball carier with my stick in the passing lane
if he passes i will knock it down

also sometimes, i make the ball carier think im going towards him but when he passes im ready to cover the other man

ALWAYS KEEP UR STICK UP on fast breaks!!!!

[somrandomguy]

It depends on where the two players are. If they both are coming down from midfield, the defender should drop to a few feet in front of the hole and get in position to intercept the ball carrier, but cheat to the side the other defender is. If the ballcarrier gets ready to shoot, sprint up and put pressure on him. If he passes, switch to in front of the other player.

If, on the other hand, one player is already on or near the crease, and the other is coming down from midfield, the defender should drop to the hole and stay there. He should not leave until he is sure the ballcarrier is going to shoot. Otherwise he should stay at the hole and be patient.

[RockStar]

For box, it's usually coached the same as hockey - guard the pass, let the goalie deal with the ball carrier. There are exceptions though.....if the carrier is a far stronger player than the pass, or if the carrier is a known ballhog, you're better to cheat towards the carrier.

For field - I dunno. I know how I'd play it if I were caught defending a 2-1, but I don't know if my way's right.

[UNCdefense]

@ scenario's here are good rules of thumb:
1)2 offensive men coming down together..u flash..like osmeone else said act like u're going after the ball carrier then once he starts to pass spirnt to the other guy...you have to be quick & really sell that you're coming after the ball carrier

2)one guy coming w/ the ball the other standing right beside cage....if your goalie can handle it & yall work well together the defenseman can rush the ball & force the pass/shot...this makes it harder for hte goalie cause they have to be ready for a shot & to jump out & itnercept the ball at the same time

[CTLaxer]

The coaching strategy I give my kids, and the one I was taught as a hockey and lacrosse player is this: Force as many passes as possible. Go to the man with the ball and force that pass. They might miss throw it, they might get nervous and drop it, the other player might not catch it or be running too fast, etc etc.

It just makes sense, especially at the high school level, where typically you can find players that have trouble leading the player, or have to slow down and can't pass on a full run (or atleast not accurately). If nothing else, this method might slow them down enough to let one of the trail middies or poles to catch up and make a difference. My theory is if they can make those 2 or 3 or 4 passes to get off a clean shot in a 2v1, they deserve the shot and possibly the goal.

I'll also state that I've never seen a defender and goalie succesfully stop a decent player when the pole covers the off ball player and lets the goalie worry about the shooter. That's just asking to get scored on, no matter how good your goalie is you should never put them in a situation like that when you don't have to.

[CoachK]

CT is right. That's it, at most levels, force the pass. If at all possible, force a bad angle pass. I'd stay in the passing lane, trying to force him to a worse angle shot & make him pass through me (while lifting his stick).

You can also make the evalutation on whether or not the other guy coming down is a better player or if he's weak. For instance, if I was bringing the ball up the field with Gary Gait opposite me, if I were the D, I'd cover Gait & let me shoot. Most importantly, listen to your goalie in that situation. Have this conversation with him, he is the one that is right.

[BigguhPlease25]

Stick between the two, and only play the ball when you know you can't give anymore ground. Force them to make a decision, pass or shoot, not you.

[3rdPersonPlural]

Everyone here is right.

If you're on the short end of a 2v1, timing is your only advantage.

Fall to the hole while marking the ball handler, yet keeping within clobber range of the free man. When the ball handler is approaching point blank range, lunge at him with undisguised malice. He'll either shoot and suffer the consequences, or pass.

If he passes, at that point it's the goalie's problem.

Look, if you're alone against two attackmen, you're decidedly disadvantaged. You're only hope is a bad pass or a bad shot. Making the ball handler pass at the last minute maximizes the chances of either of those happening.

[bresdan09]

what i try to do as a goalie is find out in the game witch one is a better shooter and try to let the guy that’s is not as good take the shoot. So all tell my defender to lock of the other guy.

[MainLax28]

Just had the coach at Muhlenburg college tell me this last week.

Draw the guy carrying the ball as close to the crease. You will cut down the passing lane the entire time. If he gets close enough, go lay him out or stop him somehow. If not, just show that he is not going to have a straight carry in on net.

He basically said that at high levels of lacrosse, the man closest to the net is most dangerous, and should be watched more than the ball carrier.

You almost have tosplit the two guys.

He later went on to tell me that any two guys who don't score on a two on one should quit playing lacrosse though, so either way you look at it, a defender is screwed.

[VinelandHighLax]

exactly what main lax said you have to split the two people...you will end up giving ground to the ball carrier but you have to know where your man is..the closer the ball carrier comes the closer the two players are from each other...once the defenseman feels that he is getting to close go at him stick in the passing lane and take out the man with the ball.

[Gorillalax7]

lets not forget to address the wing defenders. While its important that the point defender makes his stay call, the wing D need to anticipate the pass. Clog the lanes and force the bad pass by sliding early.

I agree on a true FB if you dont score look for an unhappy coach.

[picknroll]

We have the lone defender drop back near the crease splitting two. The goalie makes the call "hold, hold, hold, go". The defender commits to the ball carrier on the "go" call - about 10-12 yards from the crease. That should force the pass. We then bring the goalie out of the goal to meet the pass. Sometimes you can get lucky and the goalie can stop the shot before it happens. Of course this results in an easy open goal shot if the goalie is slow coming out and the offense just dishes back to the other guy. 2v1 is bad news any way you look at it.