Defending Behind the Goal

One of the hardest spots to defend in women's lacrosse is when the ball is behind the goal. The defender has the option to either go behind or stay in front, but younger players should be taught to stay above the goal line extended. The key to effective defense in this position is shadowing the attacker until she fully commits to one side. Once the attacker commits, the defender must beat her to where the crease meets the goal line extended and use the eight-meter arc as a reference point for positioning.

A crucial aspect of defending behind the goal is maintaining inside positioning by playing on the attacker's inside shoulder, the one closest to the goal. This prevents the attacker from easily rolling inside for a high-percentage scoring opportunity. The primary objective for the defender is to keep the attacker out of the eight-meter arc. If the defender successfully contains the attacker outside of this area, she has effectively done her job in limiting scoring chances.

By focusing on footwork, body positioning, and maintaining a strong defensive stance above the goal line extended, defenders can control the attacker's movement and reduce the likelihood of dangerous scoring opportunities from behind the net.