Creating Offensive Transition My Belief I have

Creating Offensive Transition My Belief: • I have always felt aggressive team defense is the first step in creating great offensive transition. • I want to move the ball from my defensive end through midfield as quickly as possible in order to create as much pressure as I can on the opposing defense. • If we don’t have a numbers advantage, I push the ball through “X” to create higher percentage scoring opportunities.

Personnel Decisions • I always look for highly skilled, unselfish players with good vision for my high and low attackers. • I must have my fastest players in midfield and on defense because they are the players starting our offensive transition. You can use a player’s speed most effectively when they are coming out of your defensive end, so I always place my fastest players and best athletes in those positions.

Coaching Points For Our Transition 1. Defensive players and GK’s must cleanly pick up GB’s or make interceptions AND THEN QUICKLY MOVE THE BALL. 2. Middies and Defenders must have speed and vision/willingness to move the ball. 3. Get the ball to the attacker at “X” as quickly as possible. 4. Everyone filling lanes/spaces as quickly as possible. This is how a team can really maximize those unsettled situations.

How Do You Create Offensive Transition? Your team must be able to breakout quickly when your GK makes a save or a player picks up a ground ball. These break out patterns are extremely important and must be constantly practiced. – Spread the field 1. 2. 3. 4. Low and flat 15 M’s Above restraining line In offensive end

M M M HA M H D L A LA LD M GK GK LD HD L D LA L A HA M “Virginia” Drill M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. The LD can pass it out to the HD, HA, skip it across to the other LD, etc – the most important thing is to develop vision and quickness to your transition. The principles of your transition are more important then the pattern.

M M LD HA M H D L A LA GK GK L D C LA L A HA LD HD M “Virginia” Drill M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. The LD can pass it out to the HD, HA, skip it across to the other LD, etc – the most important thing is to develop vision and quickness to your transition. The principles of your transition are more important then the pattern.

M M M LD HA M M L A LA H D GK GK L D C HA L D LA L A LD HD M “Virginia” Drill M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. The LD can pass it out to the HD, HA, skip it across to the other LD, etc – the most important thing is to develop vision and quickness to your transition. The principles of your transition are more important then the pattern.

M M M LD HA M M L A LA H D GK GK L D HA L D C LA L A LD HD M “Virginia” Drill M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. The LD can pass it out to the HD, HA, skip it across to the other LD, etc – the most important thing is to develop vision and quickness to your transition. The principles of your transition are more important then the pattern.

M M M LD M HA L A LD M LD HD LA GK GK HA C LA LD M HD M “Virginia” Drill HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. The LD can pass it out to the HD, HA, skip it across to the other LD, etc – the most important thing is to develop vision and quickness to your transition. The principles of your transition are more important then the pattern. L A

3 v 2 Clears: Defense must clear ball to restraining line. LD LD HD GK LD LD HD Black – riding team M White – Clearing team M HD Blue - subs HD

3 v 2 Clears: Defense must clear ball to restraining line. LD LD HD GK LD LD HD Black – riding team White – Clearing team Blue - subs M M HD HD

3 v 2 Clears: Defense must clear ball to restraining line. LD LD HD GK M LD LD HD Black – riding team White – Clearing team Blue - subs M HD HD

4 v 0 Transition: Offense practicing moving ball quickly, filling lanes, and shooting. C LA LA HA GK LA LA HA M C M M M

Offense practicing moving ball quickly, filling lanes, and shooting. 4 v 0 Transition: LA LA C LA HA GK LA M HA M C M M

5 v 3 Clears: LD LD GK LD LD LA LA HA HA M M

LD 5 v 3 Clears: LD GK LD LA HA HA M M

LD 5 v 3 Clears: LD GK LD Calls “Trail” LD LA LA HA HA M Calls “High & Away” HA M Consider making this more competitive by timing each group. M M HA M M

M M H A L A L A HD H D L D LA HA HA GK LD HD LA LD LD LA LA GK L A L D M M 5 v 3 to 4 v 3 Transition L D M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. Move the ball through midfield as quickly as possible and get it into the hands of your attackers.

M M M Calls “High and Away” M L A H A L A HD LA H D L D HA HA GK HD LD LA LA LD GK L D L A L D M M 5 v 3 to 4 v 3 Transition LA LD M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. Move the ball through midfield as quickly as possible and get it into the hands of your attackers.

M L A H D L D M M H A L A M HD GK HD LA HA LA LD LD LA GK L D L A L D HA M M 5 v 3 to 4 v 3 Transition LA LD M HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. Move the ball through midfield as quickly as possible and get it into the hands of your attackers.

M L A L A H D L D M M H A LA M GK HD LD LD HA GK LA L D L D L D M 5 v 3 to 4 v 3 Transition M M HA HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. Move the ball through midfield as quickly as possible and get it into the hands of your attackers.

M L A L A H D L D M M H A L A M GK HD HA LA LD LD GK LA L D L D L D M 5 v 3 to 4 v 3 Transition M M HA HA HA It’s important to emphasize to your players to see the whole field. Move the ball through midfield as quickly as possible and get it into the hands of your attackers.

M L A M M HD LA L D L A LA LD HD M HD C GK LD LA HA LA LD GK M HD L D HA LD HD LA HA M “DCT” HD HA In this drill the coach rolls out a GB to either side. If the side with 2 teammates wins they transition into a 5 v 4. If the single player wins, it becomes a 6 v 5 (teammates on other side of circle are released, but not the defender). L A L D

M L A M M HD LA L D L A LA LD HD M HD HA C GK LD LA LA LD GK M HD L D HA LD HD LA HA M “DCT” HD HA The offensive team should look to quickly move the ball into the offensive end to put pressure on the shorthanded defensive. Attackers should be thinking about maintaining balance and creating long slides for the defense. L A L D

M L A M M HD LA L D L A LA HD M HD LD GK LD LA HA C HD LA LD GK M HD L D HA LD LA HA M “DCT” HD HA The offensive team should look to quickly move the ball into the offensive end to put pressure on the shorthanded defensive. Attackers should be thinking about maintaining balance and creating long slides for the defense. L A L D

M L A M M HD L A LA LA HD M LD LA HD M C GK LD LA LD GK HD HD L D HA HA HA LD LA M “DCT” HD HA The offensive team should look to quickly move the ball into the offensive end to put pressure on the shorthanded defensive. Attackers should be thinking about maintaining balance and creating long slides for the defense. L A L D

Principles Of Our Settled Attack: • Patience – almost all of the rules in women’s lacrosse favor the offense. Wait until you CREATE a high percentage opportunity. A poised offense can pick apart a defense. • Keep the ball “HOT. ” Defenders are constantly taught to see both “ball & girl. ” Don’t make it easy for them by holding the ball! • Movement with a purpose. There’s only 1 ball, but there are 7 girls in the offense – 6 of them will not score! What are they doing? • Always face the ball. Backpedal out of cuts, shuffle, etc – don’t turn your back to the ball.

Principles Of Our Settled Attack: • I only teach 1 or 2 “plays” and they are for special situations. • I prefer to use “sets” and teach recognition of various situations. I assign “roles” for players, but I try to limit specific instructions – especially with my female players.

52 Offense / “House” Offense LA 1 LA 2 HA 2 M 3 M 1 M 2 HA 1 This offensive set gives you a ton of options for attacking a defense. It also gives you the ability to develop specific roles for players and/or hide weaker players.

52 Offense / “House” Offense LA 1 LA 2 HA 2 M 3 M 1 M 2 HA 1

52 Offense / “House” Offense HA 2 LA 1 LA 2 M 3 M 1 HA 1

Using Small Drills to Build Your Offense • Make sure you put your players in situations they will actually see in your offense. • Concentrate on all of your “parts” before you practice the “whole. ” Your players will get more reps in their individual roles and your offense will ultimately be more productive. • Continually practice your “parts” during the season.

Forcing the Corners LA 2 HA 2 LA 1 Drive hard to the corner, draw the double, reverse the ball through “X” and drive the corner on the other side. Want your attackers to drive with their heads up and swing the ball as soon as they cause a defensive slide.

LA 2 HA 2 Forcing the Corners LA 1 Drive hard to the corner, draw the double, reverse the ball through “X” and drive the corner on the other side. Want your attackers to drive with their heads up and swing the ball as soon as they cause a defensive slide.

Feeding the Backside Pipe LA 2 LA 1 HA 2 From the low wing, LA 1 feeds ball to “X” and looks for a possible give and go. If not there, LA 1 posts up on backside pipe with stick in outside hand. Most likely LA 1’s defender will take up an inside position leaving LA 1’s stick open for a feed.

Feeding the Backside Pipe HA 2 LA 1 If LA 1 is open HA 2 feeds her for a high quality opportunity. If not, LA 1 can slide out and you can run the pattern in the reverse direction.

Step Down Shots LA 2 LA 1 M 1 LA 1 feeds LA 2 and cuts across crease. LA 2 forces high on the corner, trying to draw the double from M 1’s defender. LA 2 then pops out and feeds M 1 for a step down shot. M 2 should look for a high bounce shot.

Step Down Shots LA 2 LA 1 M 1 LA 1 feeds LA 2 and cuts across crease. LA 2 forces the corner, trying to draw the double from M 1’s defender. LA 2 then pops out and feeds M 1 for a step down shot. M 2 should look for a high bounce shot or obstruction of the free space.

Creating Sweeps Across Field M 1 M 2 M 1 steps in and pops out to get their hands for feed from M 2 will pass and cut across in front of M 1.

Creating Sweeps Across Field M 2 M 1 drives hard from near the 12 M off of the back of M 2. M 1 wants to drive hard down the pipe looking for a hard, shin level shot behind the GK who should be moving with the ball carrier towards the pipe. M 2 is curling back behind M 1 for a possible feed if M 1 is forced to out.

Z Cut and Follow LA 2 M 3 By teaching your crease players to stack high on the 8 M when the ball is low, not only do you create space, but you can also coach your kids how to draw a lot of 3 second violations by being patient and faking/delaying cuts.

Z Cut and Pop Out M 3 M 2 LA 2