Table Of ContentMen’s
Lacrosse
Don Zimmerman
Peter england
Human Kinetics
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Zimmerman, Don, 1953-
Men’s lacrosse / Don Zimmerman and Peter England.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Lacrosse. I. Title.
GV989.Z55 2013
796.34’7--dc23
2013001685
ISBN-10: 1-4504-1119-3 (print)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-1119-6 (print)
Copyright © 2013 by Don Zimmerman and Peter England
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I would like to dedicate this book to my family and to all the players and coaches
whom I have had the honor and privilege to work with during my involvement with
the great game of lacrosse. Thanks to my co-author and friend, Peter England,
for having the vision and dedication to put into words our collaborative thoughts
and ideas.
Don Zimmerman
To my parents for all the obvious reasons: Everything I am, I am because of their
efforts.
To my daughter, Mary, for attending countless lacrosse scouting games with me, for
sharing the 2005 NCAA Lacrosse Championship experience, and for being a con-
stant in my life. To my son, William, for playing lacrosse for all the right reasons—for
the love of the game, for the brotherhood, and because you are a warrior at heart.
Peter England
contents
Drill Finder vi
Acknowledgments viii
Introduction ix
Key to Diagrams x
Part I
IndIvIdual SkIllS and TechnIqueS
ONE the sport of Lacrosse 3
TWO Player characteristics 15
ThrEE Player stick skills 25
FOur Dodging, Feeding, and shooting 53
FIVE cutting, Picks, and Ball exchange 81
SIX Face-offs 99
SEVEN Goalkeeping 121
EIghT on-Ball Defense 139
NINE off-Ball Defense 157
iv
Part II
Team Play
TEN team offense 179
ElEVEN team Defense 201
TWElVE transition offense 217
ThIrTEEN transition Defense 235
References 245
About the Authors 246
v
DriLL FinDer
Number Catching Face- Goal-
Page of and Decision- off keeper Team Team
Drill title # players passing making skills skills attack defense
ChaPTer 3 Player Stick Skills
Balance 29 1 X
Drill
Feel Drill 30 2 X
Control 31 2 X
Drill
Two-Step 37 1 X
Throwing
Drill
Soft Hands 41 2 X
Drill
Two-Step 42 1 X
Catching
Drill
Two-Step 45 1 X
Cradling
Drill
Scooping 49 1 X
Drill
ChaPTer 4 Dodging, Feeding, and Shooting
Five-Cone 56 1 X X
Dodging
Drill
Five-Cone 66 2 X X
Feeding
Drill
Two-Cone 71 2 X X
Shooting
Drill
Five-Cone 74 1 X X
Shooting
on the Run
Drill
vi
Number Catching Face- Goal-
Page of and Decision- off keeper Team Team
Drill title # players passing making skills skills attack defense
ChaPTer 5 Cutting, Picks, and Ball exchange
Five-Cone 85 2 X X
Cutting
Drill
Three- 92 2 X X
Cone Pick
Timing
Drill
ChaPTer 6 Face-Offs
Chop Drill 117 1 X
Clamp 118 1 X
Drill
Clamp and 118 1 X
Draw Drill
Back-to- 119 2 X
Back Drill
Footwork 119 1 X
Drill
ChaPTer 7 Goalkeeping
Twitch Drill 136 2 X
Top Hand 136 1 X
Drill
Top-Hand 137 2 X
Dominant
Drill
Tennis Ball 137 2 X
Drill
Lunge Drill 138 1 X
ChaPTer 8 On-Ball Defense
One-on- 153 2 X X
One Drill
ChaPTer 9 Off-Ball Defense
Adjust- 161 3 X X
ment Drill
Defending 162 3 X X
the V-Cut
Drill
2v2 Inside 175 5 X X
Pick Drill
vii
acknowLeDGMents
Thanks to Taylor Marino for assistance with chapter 6 (Face-Offs) and to Rocco
Vicchio for assistance with chapter 7 (Goalkeeping). We thank the members of
the UMBC men’s lacrosse team who modeled for the photographs for this book.
Thanks to Mary England for typing and transcribing numerous interview sessions
with the authors.
viii
introDuction
Men’s Lacrosse is written for men’s lacrosse players and coaches from the junior
high through college levels. It is designed to appeal to the novice player and coach
as well as the more experienced player who wants to improve his overall game.
Chapter 1 introduces the game and includes the basics of the field, personal
equipment, specific player positions, and penalties. Chapter 2 describes what makes
a complete lacrosse player. Chapter 3 is an important chapter on the game’s stick
fundamentals and represents the heart of the book. Chapters 4 and 5 address the
offensive skills of dodging, feeding, shooting, cutting, picking, and ball exchange.
Chapters 6 and 7 represent the two specialty skills of lacrosse: the face-off and
goalkeeping. Chapters 8 and 9 address defensive skills such as proper athletic
stance, footwork, body and stick checking, and defending dodgers, cutters, picks,
ball exchanges, and plays on the crease. Chapters 10 and 11 deal with team of-
fense and team defense, respectively. Chapters 12 and 13 explain the intricacies
of both transition offense and transition defense.
Men’s Lacrosse is organized in this manner to honor the traditions of lacrosse’s
rich past and to reflect the tremendous growth of the sport in the last 15 to 20 years.
Many things have changed in this sport. The equipment has produced a game that
is both faster and safer. More than anything else, the evolution of the lacrosse stick
has created changes in the game. The plastic sticks have produced greater overall
stick work, easier replacement of damaged sticks, and lighter yet stronger sticks.
In addition, these sticks have deeper pockets that allow novice players to pick up
the stick fundamentals in a shorter period of time.
Athletes in general seem to be getting stronger, faster, and quicker; and this
applies to the world of lacrosse. However, many things remain the same. Solid
stick fundamentals are still the key to success in this sport. Many times lacrosse
boils down to a player-on-player matchup, and individual offensive and defensive
skills dictate the outcome. Overall offensive and defensive strategies have evolved,
but many constants are still evident in the game. In a game that shares much with
soccer, basketball, football, and hockey, a player must understand these general
principles in order to play the game better. This book describes and explains those
individual and team fundamentals that make up the great sport of lacrosse.
Grantland Rice, the famous American sportswriter, once wrote, “Once in a while
they argue about the fastest game—hockey or basketball; then about the roughest
game—boxing or football or water polo. But when it comes to the top combina-
tion the answer is lacrosse, the all-star combination of speed and body contact. It
requires more skill than any other game that I know.” Men’s Lacrosse is a tribute
to lacrosse’s rich past and its golden future.
ix
key to DiaGraMs
Player with the ball
Offensive player
Defensive player
Goal
Offense player path
Ball path
Defense player path
E5470/Zimmerman/Legend/462449/TimB/R1
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