Dodge Slide And Recover Drill
In lacrosse, a good slide is critical tp stop an offensive player who is carrying the ball and trying to move towards the goal. When a defender sees an offensive player running towards the goal with the ball, they may leave their designated man to slide over and defend the ball carrier. This is known as a slide. The sliding defender moves quickly towards the ball carrier while maintaining a good defensive stance and looking to disrupt the offensive player's stick or force them to pass the ball. Timing and communication are essential for an effective slide. The defender must slide at the right moment to avoid leaving their own man open, and the other defenders must communicate the slide to ensure that the player being slid to is ready to pick up the open offensive player. This drill is a great way to practice this technique.
Great drill for teaching team defense to slide and recover after a dodge.
- The offense passes the ball around the perimeter from a variety of offensive formations. Sometimes with one in the crease, sometimes with two and sometimes with none etc....
- When the coach blows the whistle, the player on the ball touch the restraining box and run back in. This can also be modified for the defensive player to touch the ground with both hands. That will give the offense player less time to react forcing everyone to adjust faster.
- The timing will be very similar to a player getting beat off of a dodge. The timing for this can vary depending on your teams level.
- The defense will then have to slide and recover when the defenseman who left the box makes it back in. This is why it is important that offense uses different formations so the defense can practice their first and second slide from different points on the field.
Here are the basic teaching points for sliding in lacrosse:
Anticipation: The defender should anticipate when they will make a move towards the goal. This can be done from keeping your head on a swivel and good communication with teammates.
Defensive Stance: The defender should get into a low and balanced defensive stance with their feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and weight on the balls of their feet. They should also keep their stick in front of them with both hands.
Breakdown Step: When the offensive player starts to move towards the goal, the defender should take a breakdown step with their lead foot towards the offensive player. This step is crucial because it helps the defender to maintain balance and control while moving laterally.
Slide Step: After the breakdown step, the defender should take a slide step with their back foot towards the offensive player. This movement allows the defender to cover more ground quickly while keeping their body in a defensive position.
Stick Check: As the defender slides towards the offensive player, they should use their stick to try and disrupt the offensive player's stick or knock the ball loose.
Recovery: After the slide, the defender should quickly get back into a defensive position and communicate with their teammates to ensure that all offensive players are covered.
It is important to note that defensive sliding requires practice to perfect the technique. Defenders should work on their footwork, timing, and stick skills to become effective at sliding in lacrosse.
