Plays Vs Free thinking

[Steely Dan]

Ok first off this isn't intended to annoy anyone I just want to find out a clear argument for and against each method.

Some background:
I play lacrosse in England and only have 2 years worth of playing experience. But based on nothing more that a quick glimpse of the game i helped set up a lacrosse team at my university.

So every year since we have at least 20 new guys join the team all about 18yrs old who have never played or in some cases even seen a lacrosse game.

We took a team to the 2005 Berlin Open and where lucky enough to have a team talk from the German National Coach Jack Kaley. In his talk he emphasised that he tends to avoid using set plays instead relying on the players intuition.

Obviously I respect his opinions enormously so what I want to ask is:

If I am to coach my team (with help of course!) to be free thinking instead of using set plays, what is the best way you can advise to encourage my players to be able to see when an opponent is using a set play and hence defend against it? Bear in mind that these guys (myself included) have little lax knowledge or experience

[chsattack22]

ok, its just like basketball. tell them a couple rotations and picks but nothing more. if they have never seen lax then plays might confuse them. the main thing you want to tell them is to keep moving their feet and get open.

p.s. work on their stick skills before you worry about plays

[Steely Dan]

hehehe! yeah teh lack of knowledge is the key reason why I am very accepting of teh "no plays" approach, I have too much to work on to include plays as well without confusing folks.

The main issue is that we play in a league that has a vast array of knowledge from complete newcomers to the sport to players who have played at international level in the 70/80's! Its a very good way to learn quickly but I don't want to give up easy goals just cos we take to long to realise there is a certain play being used time and time again

[chsattack22]

yea just run and gun. you dont want to waste time setting up a play and then lose the ball, take a long time to realize to get back on d, and then get scored on. take the ball up the field again and lose it because of poor stick skills. i have seen this in action, my hs just started a team this year and it was similar to this very situation.

yup just tell them to step inside the restraining box with the ball, and tell the players who dont have the ball to get open. v-cuts are a very affective way to get open.

[Bobsch]

Yes, V Cuts are a good way to teach beginners to get open. Jack Kaley really likes systems and his favorite is the 2-2-2 with "bowties." It is pretty complicated for beginners, but, when NYIT runs it, it is pretty tough to stop. We played them in Amsterdam in 2003 and we knew exactly what they were running and how to defend it (Jack Kaley tuaght us), but they had an adjustment for everything we did on defense. A simpler one for beginners and a good way to get everyone involved in the game is www.lacrosse.org/pdf/findspace2.pdf (2-3-1 motion offense). I've used it with beginners and they pick it up fast.