beginner needs help cradling

[eLAXm]

heyy everyone. i'm a freshmen and its my first time playing. everyone makes [FONT=Comic Sans MS]the team at my highschool, and lacrosse is a really awesome sport and i don't know why i didn't start earlier. well, i am not that sure about my cradling abilities and i was wondering if anyone new any online sources such as videos to help me. i am also wondering what kinds of cradles or "spins" people do when recieveing a pass. any advice would be appreciated!

-eLAXm

[JLax3]

Hi, welcome to TLF!
I will look for a video for you on cradling, it might take me a little while. When you are starting out cradling dominant hand you want to remember that you want your bottom hand (weak hand)on the end of the shaft and your top hand (dominant hand) towards the middle. This is what I was taught: pretend your bottom hand is like a "door" opening and closing. You want your top hand to move simultaneously (sp?) with your bottom. Also, stick your top elbow out a little bit, you don't want your elbow tucked in, that is a bad habit. I hope my explanation helps because it is kind of hard for me to put it into words and it is easier to show so I will look for a vid for you online.

As for the cradling after receiving a pass you want to make sure you catch the ball first before you start cradling because the ball will fly out if you start cradling too soon. Um since you are just starting I would concentrate on the catch then a few cradles and worry about a spin later (if you even want to do a spin). Hope the info helps.

edit: I haven't found a vid yet but I found this off a website (where it says pen/pencil just use your stick):

To learn to cradle, hold a pen or pencil with your right fist around the top, and the left hand around the bottom (for lefties, reverse it -- left hand on top.) Now bring both fists and the pen to your right shoulder, keeping the pen vertical. Then bring it to your left shoulder, keeping the pen vertical. Although you won't be able to see the centripetal force at work using this example, very basically, this is cradling.

[eLAXm]

nicee.. thanks for the info

[JLax3]

nicee.. thanks for the info
No problem! Good luck this year in lax! The best thing to do is just keep practicing.

[lilaxgurl23]

Here are some other threads on this very topic.

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4879

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=22689

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=7349

[Laxmann019]

maybe look into buying an instructional video. That's How I became a beast at faceoffs.
I suggest this if you are a middie
http://www.lacrosse.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=12&pcount=&Product_Id=247893

[eLAXm]

thanks! they were helpful

[eLAXm]

haha... i don't even know what position i'd like to play. but thanks, i'll look into it when i know

[aLAXc5]

I was taught to cradle like JLax3...your arms are a door hindge...when i first started to play I was a jr in high school and i did not understand how to cradle my coach showed me a hundred times but nothing worked I just didnt understand the concept when the stick was in my hand...so needless to say i forgot about the stick and air cradled holding my left arm aound my hip and my right a little higher, making a fist with both hands and made a door hidge moving them together and i did this all the time where ever i went...and then when the stick was in my hand it was much easier because i had the motion down...you will be fine!

As for catching the ball first its all hand eye and soft hands if you have ever played softball it is alot like that...soft hands guiding the ball into the net the wrapping it in...it all will come with time and lots of practic eon your own good luck

[marleydog]

when i was taught, as a boy in middle school (we didn't have th access to lax like you all enjoy now) our coach lined up the newbies and taught us the basics, and within one hour, i could cradle, scoop, catch and throw.

now, before you roll your eyes and say boys can't play with a girl's stick, it's not true. when my girls purchased sticks, i bought an extra for myself, and the same principles apply.

for cradling, understanding the speed you need to move the stick to keep the ball in the pocket is necesary first. i use the anaology of a bucket of water swinging from your hand as you spin in a circle. same concept.

grip with one hand near the top of the stick. mostly using the thumb and index finger to control the motion. and simply start with an exagerrated one hand cradle. out from the body, from one side to the other, rolling the wrist back and forth as well, not just the shoulder or arm. watch the ball, where does it roll to, or does it lay at the bottom of the head? adjust the tempo accordingly.

as you feel comfortable slowly tighten up the cradle motion until it is at your strong side shoulder. then add your bottom hand, butt resting on the pinky, and slide your top hand about 6-8 inches or more down the shaft away from the head (you can also use the bottome hand to help the cradle at this point if you'd like). repeat same for the off hand. won't take more that 15-20 minutes to be a pro. my girls got it in no time, and they were 6 and 8

do it for a few minutes a day, while you are watching tv, or listening to music to increase comfort level. practice cradling short motions, running one handed cradle, cradling all the way back and forth, switching hands while cradling, etc a fake pass that becomes a quick cradle will help in your journey

if you jog for excercise, never leave your stick/ball at HOME!!!!!

[eLAXm]

thanks guys its helping

[Helix_Composite]

Hi, I'm not sure if this helps, but you could try

http://www.kudda.com/

They have lots of great tutorial videos on the game of womens' lacrosse, so why not give it a whirl?
:grin:

[laxabunga11]

some people who were first starting were told in their off time to stand infront of a wall and cradle from ear to ear and touch the wall.then once you can keep the ball in, move to a sitting position. then once you can to that, move to a position when you're lying on your back and cradling over your face with the ball in your stick.