This article appears in the "Your Edge" (formerly "Classroom") section of the March issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Get tips in your mailbox each month: Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription to LM.
Come Get Some
by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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| © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
The DeWalt boys are back, this time with some trickery to add to
your arsenal.
Say an opponent's top takeaway defender has been assigned to you.
Lucky you.
Give him enough rope on a bait dodge. He'll bite and, if done
correctly, whiff on an over-the-head check attempt.
DeWalt Lacrosse Club's Charlie Gibson, a former UMBC standout,
victimizes club teammate Evan Varipatis (Goucher College) in this
sequence.
Here's how:
1. Gauge your defender.
Stay-at-home defensemen are not likely to take the chance on an
over-the-head check. It's too risky for their blood.
Also, you'll want to avoid those with larger wingspans than your
stick protection permits.
Otherwise, baiting works best on your typical takeaway guy. If
he's pushing out on the restraining line and throwing windshield
wipers at you, you'll know.
2. Dodge the wing.
The point of baiting the defender is to free yourself for a shot
on cage. It doesn't do much good if the next line of defense is in
your grill as soon as you surface from the first threat.
Draw your defender down either of the wings and align hip-to-hip
with him.
3. Hang your stick.
Normally, this is a sin of stick protection. You've probably done
pushups before for doing it. But in the right situation, hanging
your stick can be a valuable tool.
When you get even with your defender, drag your stick behind your
body. His eyes will be as big as meatballs. "I'll put it all the
way out there so the guy thinks he can get it," Gibson says.
4. Bait and tuck.
Bait your defender to go over your head for a check. As he swoops
over your helmet, tuck your stick under and in front of your chest.
When the defender drops his lumber on thin air, he'll wind up on
your back hip. You've got him beat.
5. Free your hands for a shot.
Baiting your defender is worthless if you can't get a good shot
off. Once you've got him beat by a stride, pull your arms and
elbows back out, freeing your hands for a shot on goal.
