How to Play Lacrosse (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Lacrosse was born as a Native American game. In the original format it presented itself as a battle, often violent, which sometimes even involved hundreds of men. Today Lacrosse is a fast growing sport, thanks to its qualities of elegance and sagacity but also of audacity and strength. If you've never learned how to play, you've come to the right place. Read for more information.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Learn the basics

Step 1. Get a Lacrosse club

If you're just learning to play, go to a sporting goods store and buy a beginner's bat (costs around $ 30). If you know someone who owns one and has no problem lending it to you, even better. The first thing to realize is that the game changes significantly from man to woman: the men's bat is different from the one used by women.

• The Lacrosse club consists of three elements:
• The racket. It is a piece, usually of plastic, located in the upper part of the club: it is with this that the ball is controlled.
• The network. It is the inlaid string located inside the racket. The net helps to play defense, to intercept and to throw the ball.
• The auction. Traditionally made of wood, today the rods are made of metal and can have different weight and strength.



Step 2. Hold the club the right way

If you are right-handed, place your left hand at the base of the club and your right a little higher, a few inches lower than the racquet. Switch hands if you are left handed.



Step 3. Learn to hold the bat

The way you hold the bat is the equivalent of dribbling in basketball. Usually when running with the ball in the racket, you shake the bat so that the opponent cannot get the ball out of the racket. The movements to use are the basic curling movements: move your wrist so that the ball swings back and forth as you run.

1. It is best to use a mirror. Put the ball into the racket, inside the net, keeping your dominant hand a few inches below it.
2. Start by placing your racket in front of the mirror so you can see the ball. Now bring it up to your face by moving the wrist of your dominant hand towards your body.
3. When your dominant wrist is bent as far inward as possible, return to the starting position.

4. If you can keep the ball in the racket, then you have been able to execute the movements well. Keep practicing until you feel like you have taken the hand. If you need help (it's normal, it's very difficult) try watching videos.

   

   Step 4. Learn to pass the ball

   Passes are critical in Lacrosse. Usually, you push the ball forward, look for an opponent out of position while passing the ball to a teammate, or release the pressure. To pass the ball:

   1. Lower your dominant hand to the center of the club. Leave the non-dominant hand at the lowest point.
   2. Bring the club behind your shoulders towards the dominant side of your body. Don't wrap it around your neck.
   3. Holding the racket level with your ear and making a sharp motion, lower the wrist of the hand that is positioned higher as you bring the lower hand closer to you.

   4. Make sure you perform the movements well. A fair movement will cause you to see the top of the club move directly downward in a linear motion.

      • Note: eventually, learn how the club moves and calibrate your movement based on it.
      • Note: The best thing you can do to practice is to play wall ball. Stand in front of a wall and throw the ball, which will bounce allowing you to practice.

      

      Step 5. Learn to catch the ball

      It's all in hand-eye coordination. With your dominant hand at the chin, follow the path of the ball to the racket. Make sure you don't swing it as it enters the club pocket - just loosen your grip. When the ball comes in, let him pull the club back a little. Again, the wall ball will help you a lot.

      

      Step 6. Learn to handle the balls that remain on the ground

      Remember that you win and lose with these. As you approach the ball, remember to walk using the right foot - if the club is in your right hand, place your right foot next to the ball and vice versa. Lower your hips and place the racket parallel to the ground. The bottom of the club should also be lowered. Hit and bring the racket to face level. Immediately, look for a teammate to pass the ball to.

      

      Step 7. Learn to shoot

      Shooting is essential for scoring goals. Put your dominant hand a little lower than where you would put it if you wanted to make a pass. Do the same movements as when passing the ball but this time do it with more force. There are different shots in Lacrosse: 2/4, sidearm, underhand, but for now just think about overhands shots.

      • Direct the shot into the corners of the net. The goalkeeper will have a harder time parrying shots that are not aimed at him, so aim top right or left, and bottom right or left.
      • Try to bounce shots. Make sure that the ball bounces on the ground before going into the net - this will make it harder for the goalkeeper to defend the net.

      

      Step 8. Learn to pass, receive, throw and swing the club with both hands

      Nothing impresses coaches more than ambidextrous! Being able to play with both hands requires patience because you will not be able to do it in a short time. Using your non-dominant hand will help you a lot.

      • A good way to learn how to use the other hand is to see what the dominant hand does. Look in the mirror and find out how you pass the ball. Then do the same moves with the other hand.
      • After doing this, spend a week using only your non-dominant hand in any activity. It will be very frustrating, but it will come in handy.

      

      Step 9. Learn to defend

      There is no single way to defend, but your goal is to get the ball back without the other team getting any points. You can do this in several ways:

      • Hit the clubs: Hit your opponents' clubs with your own while respecting the rules. This way the ball will slide out of the racket.
      • Use your body: Hit the other person with your body, rolling the ball out of the racket.
      • Intercept a pass. Anticipate a pass and catch the ball in the air or hit it on the ground.

      

      Step 10. Learn to understand the dynamics of the court and when to move the ball

      If you play a lot of Lacrosse games, it is important to watch the best members of the other teams move without the ball. Players who do not have the ball also play a very important role. You should learn when to cut him off and make room to pass and shoot, or when to defend the person who has the ball. You should also learn how and when to make barriers to protect your mates.

      Method 2 of 2: Know the rules of the game

      

      Step 1. Remember that Lacrosse played by men is very different from that played by women; although they may look very similar, there are actually many points of diversity

      This article will focus on gaming for men.

      

      Step 2. Understand the purpose of the game

      The aim is to have more points than your opponents at the end of the fourth quarter of the game: the quarters last 15 minutes each. Get a point by throwing the ball into the opponent's net.

      

      Step 3. Learn the positions

      The 10 Lacrosse players occupy different positions: 3 forwards, 3 midfielders, 3 defenders and a goalkeeper. They also have different functions:

      • Attacker: He is usually in the opponents' half of the field and is responsible for creating quick breaks in the game, moving the ball to the opponent's half of the field and shooting into the net.
      • Midfielder: Moves throughout the field, helps attack and defense and is responsible for comparisons with opponents.
      • Defenders: they stay in their own half of the field and repel the offensive of the opponents. Usually, but not always, defenders use longer clubs than other players.
      • Goalkeeper: Defends his team's goal, trying to prevent the other team from scoring. His club has a larger than normal racket to better defend his net.

      

      Step 4. After each goal, and at the beginning of each quarter, it starts with a confrontation

      A comparison in Lacrosse is similar to that in Hockey: the only difference is that in Lacrosse the two players lower their hands and knees to the ground and place the stick parallel to their bodies. When the referee blows his whistle, they compete for the ball.

      

      Step 5. Learn the basic rules

      Once the match is won, the team with the ball passes it until it comes as close to the opponent's net as possible so that they can shoot. Meanwhile, the defenders will try to avoid the attacks. A shot that passes the goalkeeper and enters the net awards the team a point. Once a goal is scored, the ball is returned to midfield where a new confrontation begins.

      

      Step 6. The attacker cannot cross the opponent's net line

      This line is a clearly drawn circle. If a player enters the area, possession passes to the opposing team.

      • There is no minimum amount of time for ball possession before being able to score. Scoring points must happen quickly.
      • There is no minimum number of passes that must be performed before a player can shoot. In theory, a player can run all over the field without passing the ball and shooting.

      

      Step 7. Understand the rules associated with time

      There are three rules and all of them are about passing the ball forward.

      1. After the goalkeeper has intercepted the ball, he has 4 seconds to pass it or to take it out of the penalty area. Failure involves the transfer of the ball to the other team.
      2. When the defense has control of the ball in their half of the field, they have 20 seconds to pass it or bring it to the center of the field.

      3. Once in midfield, they have 10 seconds to get the ball into the attacking area.

         

         Step 8. Learn the other rules

         They are all about possession of the ball.

         1. If a player shoots and the ball crosses the boundaries of the field, the team with the player closest to the boundary line wins possession. In this case, the player's club counts as an extension of his body.

         2. During the last two minutes of play, the leading team must only play within their own area. Errors will be considered game delays, and the ball will return to the opposite team.

            

            Step 9. Learn the rules of ball possession and offside

            When the match is in progress, the attacking team must remain within the defensive line. When possession is won by the other team, both forwards and defenders can go towards the midfield but both teams should have three players beyond the midfield and four behind.

            • Offside. Defensive offside occurs when there are fewer than four players behind the midfield line. Offensive players occur when there are fewer than three players across their midfield line.

            Defenders can go beyond the midfield and attackers can go back if another player stays behind or in front of the midfield in his place. This is allowed in order to allow a defender to carry the ball over the midfield if, for example, a midfielder goes back in place of the defender

            

            Step 10. Evaluate the punishments

            In free-kicks, players go to the penalty area where they have to sit without being able to play for a period of time. There are two types of fouls in Lacrosse:

            • Personal fouls. They include tackles, thrusts, disallowed club attacks and back attacks. Usually the player receives 1 minute of penalty, but they can be raised to 2 or 3 or even result in the expulsion for very important fouls.
            • Technical fouls. They usually do not involve penalties, but more often result in a loss of ball possession. They include offsides, area violations, back-thrusts and dodging confrontations.

            Advice

            • Keep your head up and watch out for people who come towards you - they could knock you down or hit you.
            • Practice and play a lot. You rarely win when you only know the theoretical aspect. Exercise always wins over theoretical skills. You should be hungry for victory, and determined to win fairly and safely.
            • The "Man Ball" is the moment when the ball is on the ground and two players from one team meet a player from the other team. The latter will shout "Man" because he is the closest. The guy with the other player will try not to be aggressive with the ball so that the other player can catch it and take it out of their territory.
            • Now you know the most important elements, keep practicing and soon you can play! Keep looking for articles to learn more about the rules or other aspects of Lacrosse.

            Warnings

            • Lacrosse is a contact sport involving people using metal clubs and throwing thick plastic balls at each other. Always wear protective gear and play with respect for safety standards.
            • Never forget to wear the jockstrap as you could seriously injure yourself.
            • If you don't want to take these risks, don't play Lacrosse. And if you want to play any contact sport, always take appropriate safety measures.