Offense vs. Zone Defense

By: Jack Kaley and Rich Donovan

Originally Published in: Lacrosse Essentials

Provided by: Human Kinetics

When the ball is on top, players look to carry the ball and stretch the defense so that they can attack at the seams. As the defensive man playing the stretch man releases him to pick up the ball as it enters his zone, the stretch man might have an opportunity to get the ball and become a feeder or shooter. He is usually the ball carrier's first option.

OPTIONS WITH BALL ON TOP

M2 passes to M3 and immediately tries to stretch opposite the ball. M3 carries across the top and immediately looks to his first option, the man who gave him the ball (M2), cutting down the alley into the seam (option 1, see figure 5.3). His second option is the onside wing (M1), who is cutting back door to the crease (see figure 5.3). His third option is to the crease (C) popping out (see figure 5.4). Finally, his fourth option could be the offside wing attackman in the skip lane at the GLE (see figure 5.5). He does have the option to go to the cage if the defense is out of position and there is no backup. If none of these options are open, M3 rolls and throws back to A2, who has replaced him on top.

ONSIDE WING DRIVE OVERLOAD

M1 passes the ball to X to initiate the rotation from above starting from a give-and-go. M1 makes the wing cut, and M2 drives into the area vacated by M1. This rotation is continued by the four perimeter players. The ball carrier reads the field and executes any of the options mentioned in the previous drill (see figure 5.4).

OFFSIDE WING DRIVE OVERLOAD

Attackman A2 passes to A1, who immediately penetrates the defense on the offside and initiates the wing-drive rotation by the other midfielders (see previous drill). The rotation by the midfielders is always in a counterclockwise motion because they are usually predominately right-handed (see figure 5.5). If you are fortunate enough to have players who can play right- or left-handed, you could reverse the rotation and penetrate the offense from behind on the other side.

A1, the quarterback of the offense, must keep in mind that as long as he has the ball and the defenders are not pressing him until he penetrates the GLE, he controls the game. They cannot score without the ball, and the offense can score if they exhibit patience, timing, and execution.

Any defense that allows an offensive player to hold the ball unchallenged within 5 yards of the GLE will give up high-percentage shots. If they continue giving up, it will be difficult to come out with a win.

OFFENSE VS. ZONE DEFENSE, NO PRESSURE BEHIND (FIVE-MAN ROTATION)

The five-man rotation is essentially the same as the four-man rotation except that the crease attackman has been eliminated, and he is now part of the rotation. You can use these rotating offenses if your players are predominately right- or left-handed. The figure and explanations that follow are for right-handed players (see figure 5.6).