Most common mistake on D?

[LAX-L-DER]

What do you think the most common mistake on defense is?

I always see a lot defenseman will not have their stick out in front of them. This allows the offensive player to get up a good head of steam, and get close to you without making a move.

I kind of use this rule of thumb:

one hand on the stick = he's going to run and dodge. I have to be ready to run with him and have my stick out to create distance and force him to dodge before he wants to.

two hands on stick = he's going to pass or shoot. I am going to try to position my stick right at his chest. So when he does shoot or pass he brings his hand right into my stick, taking some velocity off his shot.

[Snake~eyes]

Giving the players topside is a big problem I see in, I even see this in HS games which is IMO pretty sad. The other thing is going for the check when the attackmen baits you and runs right by you.

[CTLaxer]

The most common mistake I see out here in arizona is too much fishing with the stick. Defensemen just stand flat footed and throw only a stick check that is easy to just run right through. They don't body up at all and focus too much on their stick instead of a combination of both

[timmy]

Being flat footed- I see fellow Dpoles playing an attacker flat footed and getting beat by a change of direction.

Crossing feet- I see team mates shuffling with an assignment and once he stops running that direction, they trip.

Stick at side- The attacker will be in front of them, and for some reason, all I see is slap checks, the attacker runs to off hand side and he slaps him on the back as he goes by.

Letting a man cut- I see attackers cutting through our zone UNTOUCHED! No one throws a stick on his way by.

Lack of communication- We play a zone, so communication is key. When our crease man gets beat, I see the two others look at each other or both go for him. So either no one gets him and he scores, or both get him he passes out and a middie has got an open crank shot.

Lack of toughness- Our goalie takes the ball behind the net and gets cheap shotted. Only one team member goes after the opposing attacker to protect our goalie.

[LAX-L-DER]

Yeah, I see the try for the takeaway a lot. I think it's due to lack of quickness on the defenseman's part or the impatience. The frustrating thing is I know, he knows, and the folks in the stands know what is going to happen when he goes for that bait. You know he's baiting you, so use the ding-dong check and if you miss, your stick and body are still in good position.

[Longest]

The most common individual mistake is sacrificing body position for a stick check. The most common team mistake is people not hustling to get into position (ahemMIDDIESahem).

Dan

[Frihed89]

Not playing aggressively enough; not using their body; not knowing how to get free on a clearing play.

[TheKOB]

not keeping a head on a swivel....

[exile lacrosse]

this tends to be overlooked a lot: sum people on d just think wayy to much. tehy wonder who has their back up, should i slide, do i go help out, do i pass or run up, etc. i wont deny it i do this more often then i should, and the problem is that i cant think of a single possible way to coach or teach it out. lacrosse is a doing sport not a thinking sport.

[WHEELAX2]

The number one problem with defensive play stems from bad footwork, and too much emphasis on stick checks.
Too many defenders rely on their sticks, and too often they are let down by trying a great take-away.
It is important as a coach to stress footwork and body position.
A good drill for this is have your defensive players/ longpoles or d-mids put their sticks on the ground. Have them play defense without their sticks. they will learn to use their body position and their footwork to stop even the best offensive players.

[bellairelax]

my teams most common mistake on defense is sliding to the stick and not the body. too many times i have stood on the attack side of the field and watch the opposing teams just do a face dodge and avoid the slide that way. ahhhhhhhh it makes me want to deck somebody.

[Wrf1237]

I think the #1 problem with Defensmen is communication, you have to keep talking out there, it should never be quiet. Call hot (adjacent) cold, help if you slide, call out when you're sliding, yell everything you think.

[KoachKream]

on my team it is overpersuing . new d men tend to play way too far away from the cage. also listening to the coaches at practice

[stegmakk]

most common mistake I see is flat feet and reliance on stick checks that dont work

[HdGLaxWarrior]

On my team it's over commiting, and useless checks.

[lax4life6]

my teams most common mistake is using slap checks. Our coach always says if yur gonna check at all poke the guy in teh stomach. Knocks teh wind out of people

[HdGLaxWarrior]

That's true. Slap checks are bad because they put you one step behind the guy.

[doosten]

i hate seeing all the time is when people on d slide with there sticks and not the body

[PimpD-LaxRider]

I think chasing stick and standing flat footed...also getting sucked out to far then geting burnt

[GCHSLax04]

Number one problem: Giving up body position for any reason (huge stick check, attempt to be flashy,m getting beat)
Number one team problem: Not sliding/Communicating.

Our entire defense this year (longpoles) are first year long poles with the exception of another player and I, and the first years have yet to develop field vision and the sense of communication.

[WestSideLa X eR]

The most common individual mistake is sacrificing body position for a stick check. The most common team mistake is people not hustling to get into position (ahemMIDDIESahem).

Dan

Agreed....i hate it when middies dont slide....it makes me want to rip thier heart out... :wow: .....cant blame em though, with all that running

Sacrificing body postion for a stick check is huge, thats why our freshman and jv coaches have the D not use sticks for 6 on 6 or 5 on 4 often, it gets beginning defenders out of the habit quite quickly



A thing that is crucial but may not be a mistake is knowing defense in general, meaning talking, slides, plays, etc.
Defenders have to be the most knowledgable lacrosse players in the game. Except maybe goalies