The Basics of Offense in Women’s Lacrosse

Greg DantoAssistant Women’s Coach, George Mason University

About me• High school player• High School coach– Reservoir (4yr)– Mt. Hebron (4yr)

• Club Coach– M&D 2016 Black (3yr)

• College Coach – George Mason University (2yr)

What I’d like to cover• An interactive look into some basic principles

of offense beginning with transition and ending with the re-defend, and everything in between.

Fast Breaking• What are three things we should be looking

for in our fast break?

Fast Breaking cont’d• Speed is key. Both on-ball and off.• Low attackers should get to the pipes.• Ball moves faster than the girl, so look to pass the ball ahead to

create better numbers.• Spacing. The further the defense is apart, the further the slides

become.• Create confusion for defense but avoiding all straight-line runs. Clear

through to create an isolation. • Value the ball by making good decisions. A turnover in transition can

be deadly.

Transition Drills• 3 spot from the 50– Build-up• No D• 2 D• 3 D• Carrying behind 3v1

• Touch-back Drill

Options after Transition• What comes next? Let’s find three ways to get

into our settled offense.

Options after Transition, cont’d• Getting the ball behind is safer but can become monotonous.• Slow-break

– A quick option before the defense fully settles.• Backdoor from the wing• Small stack from the top

• Settle and spread (getting everyone a touch)• Getting into motion or set

Basic Offense• Having spots for the girls

• Attackers and midfielders (where they should go?)• Inside girls

• Roles– What are the strengths of each girl? Set them up for success.

• 3 basics: drivers, feeders, cutters– What spots are best for these qualities?

Basic Offense, cont’d• Sets

– Formations– Have someone in the middle. Don’t just shell the 8m

• Plays – Setting up for success. Using deception. Playing to strengths. Keep it simple.

• Pace– What is your philosophy?

• Run & gun• Slow down• Players should have to prove they can ad lib.

• Giving direction– If coaches see in HD, players see the game like this...

Settled Attack

• Ways to score (there aren’t that many)–1v1–Feeding/cutting

• Play to your strengths

Settled Attack cont’d• 1v1s (dodging and the men’s game)

– Top dodge (left/right)– Wing dodge (under/over)– Crease rolls (under/over)

• Feeding (avoid sidearms!)– Same-side– Opposite post– High to low vs. Low to high

• Cutting (at speed, always do your homework)– Backdoor– Frontdoor– Post-back– Draw and dump (set up with crease roll)

Next Level

•Two-man games–Flip/Fake-flip–Pick and roll (on-ball and off)–Screen and roll (on-ball and off)–Crease (cat and mouse)

Teaching by ProgressionStart Small and Build: Discussing ways to teach a simple backdoor. WORK BOTH SIDES.• One feeder behind, one cutter on the wing• Feeder passing to cutter, no defense• Traveling feeder, no defense• Defense on-ball• Defense on-ball and on cutter

Finishing• Teaching girls about the shooting sweet spots • Understanding goalies and what they are trying to do• Changing levels• Faking• Power v Finesse• Being two-handed• The proper mechanics of shooting• Practice practice practice

8 meters• Knowing the best hashes• Knowing yourself• Knowing the defense and goalie• Seeing the 8-meter• Angles• Seeing behind• Fastest first two steps wins

Redefending• LAS (Lazy Attacker Syndrome)– Fight the urge to allow an attacker to cover the

goalie or the trail defender. If they do, make sure they track back

– All attackers redefend for 70 yds. They should all end at the far restraining line.

– Attackers should shift towards ball-side. No use covering the far end of the field

Examples of Offense• Let’s draw up a few examples of a motion

offense• 3-2-2• 4-1-2