Positions
With the advent of Restraining Lines:
First, I have to give credit where credit is due before I write this relatively long explanation of the positions of girls lacrosse. That being said, I played a long time ago. When I started coaching, I was kind of stuck in a traditional mind set when it came to many things- especially positions. I have a friend, named Bob Mezeul, who might be the greatest coach I have ever worked with, who taught me differently. He gave me the idea to think outside the box when it came to positions. This is what I have com up with.
With the advent of restraining lines, the game of women’s lacrosse is forever changed. I can’t pass judgment as to whether that’s a good change or a bad change, but I can’t control it, so I function within it. In my experience, the old positions no longer apply without causing undue confusion and unnecessary offside’s calls. So, I have re named, and moved positions and jobs around to meet these rule changes.
In addition, I think that younger players, by nature of their brains development, are concrete thinkers. I think that vague positions such as Middy, Low D, Low Attack and High attack leave them with unclear notions of what their jobs are on the field. Therefore, I have mixed some of the old with some of the new so everyone knows who they are and what their job is. This leaves a feeling of cohesiveness and teamwork that increases team play and overall results.
Positions and their Jobs:
This is the system of positions that I use. Each position has a job. This is not to say that other people’s ideas are wrong, only that I feel this works well to prevent “offsides” calls.
1st Home: Behind the net, back up other people’s shots, roll the cage, feed people from behind, manage the offense- you are in charge when we are working the motion because you can see everything, talk to the second home and make sure she covers behind the net when you roll, or when you move in front of the goal. Stand next to the goal and slightly to the side on draws, and when the ball is down among our defense. Be on the strong side when ball transitions down the field. Always stay on our attack 70% of the field… but mostly in the 30 yards closet to the goal you are shooting ON.
2nd Home: Behind the net when 1st home rolls or cut up in front of the goal, stagger your self from the other homes- especially 1st home. Be at about the restraining line, on the side the ball comes down the field. You will be the second cutter (TO the girl with the ball) as the ball transitions down the field. You may need to roll the cage, or feed from behind. Stay on our attack 70% of the field for sure, and mostly on the attack 50%.
3rd Home: Big Transition person. Watch 4th home, and stagger yourself from her and 2nd home for good coverage. Remember to cut TO the girl coming out of the defense with the ball, NOT AWAY… your defender will be trailing you- staying goal side. If you do not receive a pass, and the ball moves quickly down the field, you must get down toward the goal ASAP for the motion. Stay on our attack 70% of the field.
 4th Home: Biggest Transition person. You must be able to anticipate which side the ball is coming down. Youare the first pass out of the defense. You must be able to CUT TO our defenders as they bring the ball out to you, catch the ball, pivot and look for the draw and dump, or another attack player cutting to you. Stay on our attack 70% of the field. You are in the circle for draws, next to our left wing.
Center: You are in the middle of almost all of the plays. You are everywhere, and must cover the whole field. You are attack when we are working the motion offense, or a transition, and defense when THEY are trying to score. You must have stamina coming out of your ears, and never give up. Listen for one of your wing to call “Middy back!”, and look for a stick in the air showing someone else is tired and has volunteered. Otherwise, you must be the one to stay back.
Left Wing: You must cover the entire field, primarily on the left side on draws and on clears. Keep intermittent contact with your right wing so you are on the other side of the field from her- wherever that is. Listen for “Middy back!” to avoid off-sides calls when one of our defenders goes down on attack (or attackers go down on defense). Raise your stick in the air if you want to be the middy staying back, and look around so you are sure no one else has done the same! On draws, you are on the circle next to our 4th home!
Right Wing: You must cover the entire field, primarily on the right side on draws and on clears. Keep intermittent contact with your left wing so you are on the other side of the field from her- wherever that is. Listen for “Middy back!” to avoid off-sides calls when one of our defenders goes down on attack (or attackers goes down on defense). Raise your stick in the air if you want to be the middy staying back, and look around so you are sure no one else has done the same! On the draws you are on the circle next to the 4th man!
4th Man: Your job is to anticipate long clears, and which side the ball will be coming down the field. Cover your person, but also be the first to pick up their girl coming down on the fast break! You may go down onto Attack by screaming, “Middy Back!” as you do so! On draws, you are on the circle next to our right wing.
3rd Man: You are a team player at heart. Help out your 4th man with double teams when needed up above the 12. Watch the fast break and pick up. Always protect your 8 meter shooting space. The girls with the ball is the dangerous one! Listen to your goalie for her instructions about clears!
Cover Point: You and the Point need to really communicate on whom slides when. Remember the slide is always to the strong side- or the side the other team’s player is taking it to- leaving a person that needs to be picked up by your middy who just got beat. Scream out: “Someone pick up # 6!” when you slide (or whatever your girl’s number is). Be a team player.
Point: You and the Cover Point need to really communicate on whom slides when. Remember the slide is always to the strong side- or the side the other team’s player is taking it to- leaving a person that needs to be picked up by your middy who just got beat. Scream out: “Someone pick up # 6!” when you slide (or whatever your girl’s number is). You are the last one available to help your goalie. Be a team player.
Cutting to vs. Cutting away:
In transitions down the field I see you guys running with the girl coming down. That’s crazy! Your defender is  staying goal side of you! If you move towards her, you are keeping yourself covered! If on the other hand, there is a draw and dump situation, where your girl is moving to pick up the person with the ball, then you should move away from the girl with the ball.
By the way, I see all of our attack standing north of our 50 yard line when the ball is down in our defense. 1st home, be up by the goal, 2nd home, at about the other team’s 30, 3rd home be at about the 50, and 4th home, be closer to OUR restraining line! Stagger, stagger, stagger!
Always move to the empty space!!! Remember that the motion offense needs to be more fluid, and your picks better placed! ON the defender, that’s who you are picking!
Click here to see what others have said about your stickwork will save you!!
Dr. Jen Milus, DC
www.backsafegolf.com
www.fireagility.com
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