Lacrosse Unit
History
Lacrosse is an "Aboriginal American Game". It is the native game of the American Indians and was used by them not only to satisfy their keen desire for competition, but as a training school for war. As the Indians played the game, the skill, strength, stamina, speed, and brutality required provided an ideal test of the potential of the warriors. It was not uncommon for the Indians to place the goals up to a mile apart.
Health-Related Benefits
Lacrosse contributes to the development of Cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and endurance, flexibility.
Skill-Related Benefits
Lacrosse contributes to the development of Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed, Power, and Reaction Time.
The Game of Lacrosse
Lacrosse is played by two teams of 10 players. Each team has 3 attackers, 3, midfielders,3 defenders and a goalkeeper. The purpose of the game is for each team to score by causing the ball to enter the goal of its opponent, and to prevent the other team from securing the ball and scoring.
Modified Class Rules for Lacrosse
* The game is started with a Face Off, is which opposing mid-fielders place the back of their sticks together and place the ball on the sticks in the center of the field. The players flip the ball into the air to put it into play.
* If the ball goes out of bounds over the End-line, the team whose player crosses the end-line first wins
possession of the ball for their team.
* If the ball goes out of bounds over the Sideline, the team who threw the ball out of bounds losses possession of
the ball.
* It is a foul to push, trip, go body-to-body, stick-to-body or stick-to-stick.
* A turnover will result if a player touches the ball with his/her hand.
* A goal is worth One point.
Basic Terminology
Assist - The act of passing the ball to a teammate who scores.
Crease - The circular boundary line around the goal ( we use the numbers on the field).
Cradle - Motion used to keep the ball in the pocket of the stick as the player moves.
Draw or Face Off - method used to put the ball in play at the start of a game or after a goal is scored.
Skills required to play the game
Cradling - running with the ball without dropping the ball.
Scooping - picking the ball up off the ground using the head of the stick.
Passing - using the stick to pass the ball from one player to another.
Catching/Receiving or intercepting a ball in flight.
Support
Creating Space - for the player with the ball.
Moving into Open Passing Lanes - a path between the player with the ball and a teammate with no defenders in the lane.
Defensive Strategies
Stay Goal-Side (between the offensive player and the goal you are defending)
Watch the offensive player hips (where the hips go the player will go!)
Force the offensive player to the side lines
Try to figure out which is their dominant hand/foot
Offensive Strategies
Change Direction
Change Speed
Make Diagonal, or Overlapping Runs
Use head and shoulder fakes
Use a fake passes
Decision Making
When do I move?
Which skill should I use for best results in a game situation?
Where do I move when on offense with/without the ball?
How do I move/execute a skill?
Who should I pass to?
What is the best type of pass?
Who should I guard?
Should I leave the person I am guarding to move to another player?
