drop step

[el hucklebarrio]

as a former close D and now a short stick middie and sometimes long stick middie, the one thing i have always had the most trouble with in my entire lacrosse career was my dropstep. When an attackman or esp. middie in dodging from up high i always had the hardest time not getting spun around and totally burned on a move. also, sometimes i would get completly flat-footed and all it would take is one juke and i was toast. the thing is, i am very athletic, its just i lack some concept and game skills such as this. i watch how middies pllay defensee very hard and notice most guys will line up with one foot slightly behind the other, keep a somewhat wide base, get low, and wait until the man dodging is right in front of their face to start playing defense, but even when i apply this i stil have a hard time so im looking for some pointers

when a middie or attackman is dodging at you, do most of you middies chop your feet or kind of softly bounce on your toes to keep nimble?

how can you work on keeping balance and not lunging at a move?

should i have my body completly facing one side to so that when the man dodges i am able to run with him or do i face him when he dodges and either go wiht him from there or extend my hands and hit him?

anyhelp just overall on how to position you body and keep your feet nimble while defending dodges will be appreciated

[L4X_M4ST3R]

I think i bounce on my feet ever so slightly as a middy, but not alot b/c you could be mid-bounce when he goes and no traction.....

if i notice that the guy i'm on is only one handed i will just put my one foot back to make him go w/ his odd hand

[RgLax]

yea dont lunge at the guy, stay back and move your feet ever so slightly so they are ready to move. As lax mastrer^ said above, if you see the guy is only one handed play him to his weak side

[faceofflax15]

Continue top-side, if you can force to his weaker hand.

Then, I keep my feet chopping sometimes, and bouncing others. It just sort-of changes from time to time. It's not really chopping or bouncing most of the time, I just keep my feet moving though, defense is so much easier if you feet keep moving,.

To play top-side defense you should;
-Be one step up-field from him.
-Pushing him away from the goal.
-Forcing him down the alley.
-Always having your stick up-field [to be able to put him in the ''L'' or the ''V'' if he chooses to roll back.
-Always keeping your feet moving.