Soft Lacrosse Team Defense with Slides
No-contact soft lacrosse team defense: when an attacker beats their defender, the nearest teammate slides to cut them off and the rest of the defense rotates to cover. Students work on help defense, communication, and anticipation.
How to play
- Set up three 25 x 15 m (about 80 x 50 ft) fields with a small goal and a 3 m (10 ft) crease; in each, groups of eight: four attackers, three defenders in pinnies, and a goalie.
- Explain the slide with a cone diagram on the floor: the helping defender moves diagonally to the ball carrier, the beaten defender recovers to the open attacker, and the others pinch toward the middle.
- Phase 1, 6 minutes at walking speed: attackers move the ball around the crease and, on the whistle, one drives to the goal; the defense practices the slide while calling "Help!".
- Phase 2, 10 minutes of live play: 4-on-3 with a goalie. The defense scores 1 point for a takeaway or if the offense does not shoot within 30 seconds; the offense scores 1 point per goal.
- Rotate every 3 possessions: defenders move to offense and two attackers move to defense with the goalie, who also switches.
Rules
- No contact: the sliding defender steps in front and never checks a stick or pushes.
- Calling "Help!" is required before sliding.
- No one enters the crease.
Variations
Easier
3-on-3 offense at walking speed, and attackers may only pass, not carry.
Standard
Help slides in a 4-on-3 with defensive points for takeaways or running out the clock.
Harder
5-on-4 game in which a second slide must also close the pass to the open attacker.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility can be the goalie with a large foam blocker ball or the middle defender who only cuts off the passing lane.
- For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, pair the "Help!" call with a raised stick.
- Students with lower fitness can play as a passing attacker, who moves less.
Learning goals
- Slide to cut off the ball carrier.
- Recover to an open attacker after the slide.
- Communicate verbally in team defense.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Soft lacrosse sticks: 25
- Soft balls: 6
- Small goals: 3
- Cones: 24
- Pinnies: 9
Teacher tip
The hardest part is getting the beaten defender to recover; insist they do not chase the player who beat them.
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