Three-Cone Pick Timing Drill

Three-Cone Pick Timing Drill

By: Don Zimmerman and Peter England

Provided by: Human Kinetics

PURPOSE
To learn how to properly time a pick.

SETUP
Three cones are spread out in a linear fashion.

EXECUTION
A coach or teammate has the ball at cone 1. Cone 2 is the midpoint and the location where the player wants to set up the pick. The player is stationed at cone 3. The coach or teammate makes his move toward cone 2, and the player also makes a move toward cone 2. The coach with the ball arrives on one side of cone 2 at the same time that the player arrives on the other side of the cone.

COACHING POINTS
At first, both parties should arrive at cone 2 at the same time and should mirror each other's movements. Later, the player should work on arriving at cone 2 a little earlier. In a game situation, the pick setter will arrive earlier. He can adjust his body and stick position up until the moment of impact with the defender.

Angle
The pick user has to work with the pick setter to achieve the proper angle and thus allow the pick to be effective. For an on-ball pick, the pick user's angle should be going to the goal. The principles of dodging remain the same. The pick user wants to dodge in a north-south direction directly to the goal. The pick setter's chest should be facing upfield, not toward the sidelines. The timing and angles of picks in lacrosse are similar to a running back setting up his blockers in football. The running back knows where to cut and knows the angles to use to set up his blockers. Some running backs are better than others in setting up their blockers.

Field Position
A pick can be set anywhere on the field. Typically, players set picks behind the goal (especially at the X-behind position), out top near the center front, or on the wing (Canadian-style pick). For example, a pick-and-roll can be set up behind the goal, and the defense will often execute a switch. The pick user steps away from the pick to free his hands. The pick setter opens up to see the ball and anticipates a double team (the pick setter doesn't want to turn his back in case of a double team). If the pick setter sets a pick and rolls to the goal, he should have his stick up ready to handle an outlet; his hands should be ready for a redirect pass or feed. An on-ball pick out top is a little different, but it follows the same principles. The main difference is that the pick user and pick setter are above the GLE and can shoot the ball.

Offensive Reaction to Defensive Pick Strategy

Defenses will attempt to neutralize the effects of an on-ball pick by either sliding through the pick and staying on their man, switching on the pick, or doubling the pick, especially if a midfielder sets a pick for an attackman. Most teams want to stay on their matchups (each defender stays on his assigned attacker). College teams will assign defenders to specific opposing offensive players based on agility, speed, strength, intelligence, and so on. However, if you set an effective pick, the defense will have to adjust and switch. In this situation, a switch is reactive in nature because the defense has no other choice. On the other hand, a switch or double can be actively used as a tactic to neutralize the pick.

Counter to Defensive Switch
Some defenses like to switch on picks, and your offense can take advantage of that tendency. For example, you can use a "Sunrise" pick behind the goal. An attackman is covered by a defenseman, and a midfielder is covered by a defensive short-stick midfielder. The offense sets a pick behind the goal, anticipating that the defense will switch. Once a switch occurs, the attackman is matched up against a defensive short stick (SS), a much more favorable offensive matchup. See figure 5.8 for an example of this counter to a defensive switch.

Counter to Defensive Double
Some teams double the pick user at the pick, while others double the pick user from behind. Typically, the defender playing the pick setter doubles the ball from behind and executes a blind-side double, or jump. The pick user and the pick setter have separate tactics to execute in order to take full advantage of the double. The pick user needs to carry both defenders away from the goal, as shown in figure 5.9. The pick setter should get wide (not deep) from the ball carrier, as shown in figure 5.10.

If you are the pick user, you must have your head on a swivel so you can use your peripheral vision to look for both defenders and the open pick setter. You should turn and sprint away from the defensive pressure. You want Wide, not deep to run from the two defenders at a 45-degree angle and run to daylight (an open area). You don't want to "corkscrew," which means turning into the defensive double team. You need to get your hands free so you can make a quick pass. In general, defenders are taught FIGURE 5.10 Counter to defensive double: Pick setter to stay on doubles. If both gets wide, not deep. defenders stay on the double team, you want to carry both defenders away from the goal. The farther you carry the two defenders away from the goal, the longer it will take them to recover. If both defenders are committed to you, then you're not in a hurry to pass the ball. Be quick to escape, but don't hurry to pass. You want to continue to carry them for as long as you need to because your team will have a two-on-one advantage somewhere. If the blind-side defender leaves you, you should make a quick pass because the ball will move faster than the defender can recover, and you might still be able to take advantage of the defense's overaggressive play.

If you are the pick setter and your defender doubles the pick user, you should yell, "Double, double, double!" If you yell your teammate's name, he will have a natural tendency to turn toward the player talking to him, and he will therefore turn right into the double team. You want to be in the pick user's line of vision to facilitate any possible outlet pass. You need to adjust your position so you are in an open passing lane and can get the ball where you have an advantage. For example, you would not want to cut to the goal because the pick user might not see you. Also, if you received a pass from the pick user, you might be shortening the slide for the next defender sliding to you. Keep a "big eye" on the man (next sliding defender) and a "little eye" on the ball (pick user).

As the pick setter versus a double, you should get wide, not deep. If you run parallel to the end line and get wide, you will be more of an offensive threat. You want to position yourself to get the ball and maintain the man-up advantage. Ideally, you should split your original defender and the next sliding defender. You don't want your original defender to be able to recover to you, and you don't want to shorten the slide of the next sliding defender. The pick user is making a 15-yard pass no matter what, and you just have to make it to the optimum spot. If you run to the end line and get too deep, you're going away from the goal, and your original defender can successfully recover and beat you to the GLE. By getting too deep, you allow your original defender to "play two": The defender doubles the pick user and recovers to play the pick setter. Remember, you should never allow a defender to play two offensive players.