Creating Offensive Opportunities During The Transition Period

Creating Offensive Opportunities During The Transition Period

By: Jack Kaley and Rich Donovan

Originally Published in Lacrosse Essentials - Provided by: Human Kinetics

The transition pattern requires the defense to adjust quickly within the restraining line. It is advantageous to attack the goal before the opposing team gets settled into its team defensive scheme. The skill level of the offensive players is higher when they can play this style of offensive lacrosse. The secondary break provides situations that allow you to play to your strengths. These include dodging a defensive player who is moving toward the offensive player, moving the ball in a way that forces defensive players to turn their heads and lures them out of a backup position, preventing the opponent from communicating because they are adjusting to the rapid change from playing offense to defense, cutting to the ball and off the ball to create open lanes for feeds and dodges, using the wing position for feeding without pressure, and creating shots from inside 10 yards for offensive players of average ability who will convert at a higher percentage.

Slow Break
During a slow break, the wing (M2) can pass to the cutter for a high-percentage shot, pass to M3 in a good dodging situation, or redirect the ball to where the cutter (Ml) relocates to the wing. The wing (M2) fills the top, and M3 slides across top to balance the field (see figure 12.4).

Relocation
If you are unable to run the transition pattern, you can reset and settle into the 6v6 offensive pattern. This creates a settled situation.

Active Players in Transition Offense
The emphasis during practice drills is to simulate game situations. Transition drills mimic realistic ball handling from various spots on the field. You can also run them with groups to increase game and field awareness. And they provide an opportunity to continue disguised conditioning through running while playing lacrosse.

SCOOP AND PASS DRILL

Purpose
Introduce the concept of defensive possession leading to transition offense.

Setup
The goalie is positioned in the cage with defensive players in designated areas inside the defensive perimeter of 15 yards.

Execution
Goalies work to improve ball-handling skills by simulating a game-situation outlet pass. Place the ball on the ground in the general crease area. The goalie must clamp and rake into his stick to gain clean possession, make the clearing call, and pass to a moving target.

Coaching Points
Emphasize the 7v6 advantage of the defensive team, the importance of turning a save or turnover into a successful clearing opportunity, and the prevention of rebound or second-shot scoring chances for the opposing team.

BREAK-OUT DRILL

Purpose
Emphasize defensive stick handling and spacing the field when clearing the ball,

Setup
The goalie and three defensemen are positioned in the crease area.

Execution
This is a traditional three-man clearing drill off a simulated shot. The wing defensemen break to the corners of the field. The crease defenseman protects goal area and waits for the completed first pass, reads riding attack positions, and breaks up the field to the open area.

Coaching Points
Just as spacing the field for offensive players is important, the same phi-losophy is true for advancing the ball from your defensive half of the field.

FULL FIELD BREAKOUT DRILL

Purpose
This drill is the final progression of the positional group transition and clearing patterns.

Setup
The full team of three attackmen, three midfielders, three defensemen, and a goalie are positioned in a full field scenario.

Execution
Progress from the three-man defensive clearing breakout drill. All 10 players line up in field positions and run through all possible clearing and transition scenarios. You can run this from all potential game situations.

Coaching Points
You can use this drill to teach all game situations. It is also useful for improv-ing stick skills and conditioning.