How To Play Lacrosse: The Basics

New to lacrosse as a player, or a parent, and wondering where to start? Take note of these key basics that you can pick up as a player, a parent of a new player, or a newer coach to the game!

How to Play Lacrosse: the basics

Cradling

How to Change Hands

Stick in the Fingertips

This is a simple tip that will help players feel their stick better. When shooting, cradling, or passing, you want to hold the stick more in your finger tips. The opposite would be a "hammer" like grip, where the stick is rooted firmly in your palms. Having a tight grip gives us less fluidity and playmaking ability. It's always a good tip to soften up the grip!

Shooting (the Clock)

This is a great analogy that really enlightened how I think about shooting. This refers to our "stick path" on our shot. My mentor, and first (and only) shooting coach, Torre Kasemeyer, taught me this when I graduated high school. Most people say, "shoot overhand" but players can have trouble feeling the difference between a 3/4 release and overhand. Additionally, many coaches put players in a box, and say "always shoot low" or "never drop your hands." If you understand the "clock", players will learn to self adjust and visualize the stick path more!

Moving through the Ball

Whether catching a pass in a clear, cutting to the goal, or attacking a ground ball, we want to work on the skill of moving through the ball. Moving through the ball is exactly as it sounds. We do not want to scoop a ground ball and stand up and look around, but rather, we want to accelerate through the ball. Same with catching a pass in the middle of the middle of the field or cutting to the goal. Work on catching and scooping the ball with your feet moving. If you can accelerate through a ground ball you you can add a ton of value to your team!

- Coach Class

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