The art of cutting to the ball

Cutting is a crucial component of offensive strategy in women’s lacrosse. For new coaches, understanding the fundamentals of cutting can significantly improve your team’s performance, especially at the high school or college level. In women’s lacrosse, cutting helps generate scoring opportunities not only for yourself but also for your teammates. Below is an explanation of why cutting is so important in women’s lacrosse and how to effectively coach this skill to your players, along with specific techniques to enhance their game.

Key Points to Understand and Coach Cutting in Women’s Lacrosse

- Importance of Cutting in Women’s Lacrosse:

- In women’s lacrosse, only one ball is shared among seven offensive players, meaning each player only has the ball about 15% of the time.

- Cutting becomes essential for off-ball players to generate offense when they don’t have the ball, either by getting open for a pass or creating space for teammates. This is especially true in women’s lacrosse, where spacing and movement are vital to effective offense.

- Defensive Rules Favor Cutting in Women’s Lacrosse:

- The “three-second rule” applies to defenders, meaning the area inside the 8-meter arc is often open for offensive players if they maintain good spacing.

- In women’s lacrosse, defenders are limited in what they can do against off-ball players, as stick checks and body checks are restricted, making it easier for cutters to move and receive passes.

- Types of Cuts in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Front Door Cut:

- This is when the offensive player cuts in front of the defender to position themselves between the defender and the ball carrier.

- Timing is key, as the player must cut at the right moment to receive a pass while preventing the defender from interfering, an important skill to develop in women’s lacrosse.

- Back Door Cut:

- The offensive player cuts behind the defender when the defender is focused on the ball or caught out of position.

- Deception and timing are important, as a sudden move can leave the defender trailing, opening up space for a pass and shot, which is a common technique in women’s lacrosse.

- Curl Cuts in Women’s Lacrosse:

- These cuts involve moving away from the ball and then curling back toward the ball carrier to receive a pass.

- A curl cut can help gain an advantage by forcing the defender to follow the offensive player around obstacles, giving the attacker an extra step for an open shot, a technique often used in women’s lacrosse to beat defenders.

- Reading the Field in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Offensive players in women’s lacrosse need to constantly scan the field, looking for open spaces and cutting lanes inside the 8-meter arc.

- It’s essential to time cuts when the ball carrier is in a position to pass and make eye contact before starting the cut. This awareness of field dynamics is key in women’s lacrosse.

Cutting Technique in Women’s Lacrosse

- C-Cutting for Hips and Shoulders Alignment:

- When making a cut in women’s lacrosse, players should focus on a "C-cut" motion where they curve their run to align their hips and shoulders toward the goal. This technique allows the player to quickly receive a pass and explode toward the cage without needing to turn their body after catching the ball.

- Encourage players to keep their movements subtle, using small steps to make sure their hips are already facing the goal when the pass arrives, allowing for a quick shot—critical in the fast-paced nature of women’s lacrosse.

- Protecting the Stick in Women’s Lacrosse:

- While cutting, it’s important for players to position their stick in a way that protects it from checks. Players in women’s lacrosse should avoid holding their stick too far from their body. Instead, they should keep it in front or to the side, depending on the defender’s position, to prevent turnovers.

- Teach players to catch the ball in a protected position and immediately cradle to secure possession.

- Using Deception in Women’s Lacrosse Cuts:

- Players in women’s lacrosse can use quick fakes or hesitation moves to throw off their defenders. For example, a player might initiate a cut in one direction, then suddenly change direction to throw the defender off balance. This change of pace or direction can help create separation for a pass or shot.

- Emphasize the importance of head fakes, shoulder dips, and jab steps to make cuts unpredictable.

- Timing and Body Positioning in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Timing is crucial in cutting, especially in women’s lacrosse. Players should aim to cut at the moment when the ball carrier is ready to pass, ensuring that they can receive the ball in stride for a quick shot or pass.

- Encourage players to use their body to establish position in front of the defender, making it difficult for the defender to recover and block the pass.

- No Wasted Cuts in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Even if a player doesn’t receive the ball on their cut, it still serves a purpose in women’s lacrosse. Each cut forces the defender to react, creating potential openings for other attackers on the field.

- Stick Protection and Positioning in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Players must be mindful of where they hold their stick while cutting. Keeping the stick in front or to the side protects it from being checked by a defender, a critical aspect of stick handling in women’s lacrosse.

- Cutting Direction in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Encourage players to cut north to south, toward the goal, rather than east to west across the field. Cutting horizontally can make it easier for defenders to intercept the ball or disrupt the play, particularly in the structured environment of women’s lacrosse.

Drills for Cutting in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Small-sided games like 3v3 or 4v4 are excellent environments for practicing cuts in women’s lacrosse. These drills force players to work on spacing, timing, and reading the field in real game scenarios.

- Encourage players to experiment with different types of cuts, from front door to backdoor, to better understand how and when to use each in women’s lacrosse.

Final Tips for New Coaches in Women’s Lacrosse:

- Focus on helping players develop a cutter’s mindset by constantly scanning the field and staying engaged even when they don't have the ball.

- Emphasize the importance of stick protection, body positioning, and timing in all aspects of cutting in women’s lacrosse.

- Create drills that simulate game situations where players can practice both their cutting and passing under pressure, helping to develop essential skills in women’s lacrosse.

Cutting is an essential skill for success in women’s lacrosse. By coaching your players to understand spacing, timing, technique, and how to deceive defenders, you can create a more dynamic and effective offense that thrives in the fast-paced and competitive environment of women’s lacrosse.