Principles Based Offense for Women's Lacrosse
1. Possession:
Importance of Control: Emphasize the importance of retaining possession to control game tempo and wear down the opposition.
Shot Selection: Teach players to recognize and execute high-percentage shots. This involves shooting from advantageous angles and ensuring shots are taken in scenarios that are likely to result in goals.
Handling Pressure: Train players to maintain possession under defensive pressure, which involves effective ball handling and decision-making.
2. Dynamic Passing:
Assisted Shooting: Focus on creating opportunities through assisted shots, which tend to have a higher success rate than unassisted shots.
Quick Passing: Develop quick, accurate passing to disrupt defensive alignments and create openings.
Swing Passes: Use swing passes to stretch the defense horizontally and open up lanes for cuts or drives.
3. Picking:
On-Ball and Off-Ball Picks: Implement drills that combine on-ball and off-ball picking to create confusion and mismatches on the defense.
Pick and Roll Drills: Practice pick and roll scenarios to refine the timing and execution, ensuring that players understand their roles—whether as the picker or the ball handler.
4. Effective Spacing:
Spatial Awareness: Train players to recognize when to occupy space and when to clear out, enhancing the fluidity and effectiveness of the offense.
Cutting and Resetting: Teach players to make decisive cuts and know when to reset their positions based on the flow of play.
5. Reading the Game:
Defensive Reads: Players should learn to read defensive setups and adjust their play accordingly. This might include recognizing when a defense is vulnerable to certain plays like isolations or quick inside passes.
Adaptive Play: Encourage players to adapt their strategies on the fly, responding to the immediate conditions of the game rather than sticking rigidly to pre-planned plays.
6. Drills and Application:
3v3 Drills: Engage in 3v3 scenarios where players focus on small group tactics, such as quick passing and dynamic movement, to simulate game-like conditions.
Pick and Roll Focus: Conduct drills that isolate the pick and roll play, allowing players to practice both offensive and defensive roles in this common scenario.
Consecutive Nation Drills: This drill involves continuous pick and roll plays where the focus is on quick execution and movement, developing players' ability to think and react under pressure.
Example Plays and Scenarios:
Pass Down Pick Down: A common play where a ball handler passes to a teammate, sets a down-screen (pick) for another player, who then uses the screen to receive the pass and take a shot or make another play. This requires precise timing and good communication.
Nation’s Look: This play involves a series of coordinated movements where one player drives toward the basket, another sets a pick, and a third moves into position to receive a pass. The focus is on drawing the defense out of position to create scoring opportunities.
Reverse Nation’s Drill: A variation of the Nation's Look, where the movements are reversed, adding an element of unpredictability to throw off the defense.
By using these detailed strategies, plays, and drills, coaches can develop a lacrosse team that is adept at maintaining possession, making smart plays, and effectively reading and responding to the game's dynamics. This approach not only improves individual skills but also enhances overall team performance.
