Lax: The 2021 Season

[jimmymax]

Thanks for that Native really great write-up! I'll throw out some next level questions:
- Are there standard defensive schemes (zone, man-to-man, hybrid/match-up). With picks and fast, penetrating, offensive players there's lots of defensive sliding/switching to pick up the open guy. Some level of junk (unorthodox) defenses also seems to happen as well.
- So there's a min of 4 defenders at all times, but can a defense pack it in with additional players to protect a one goal lead, or must a 4:6 split be maintained?
- Despite the shot clock, are some offenses "UNLV-like" (run & gun) while others are "Princeton-like" (slow & value each possession)?
- I assume offenses sometimes run plays, but maybe not a lot, or maybe it varies from team to team. Thus far I don't find the goal "build up" as pleasing as with soccer, or at least it's harder to follow. I guess in high school the better players can dominate with their speed/shot more than is possible at the top college level.
- Are some teams known for a ferocious ride (full-court press) while others just drop back on D without putting up a fight? Or are some teams just better at it than others?
- So hits have to be from front or side. Is this only permitted on the man with the ball, or are all offensive players fair game, i.e. is there a penalty for obstruction?
- Are substitutions typically line-based, like hockey? Or just when a guy needs a break? Or totally up to the coach's discretion based on game situation?
- Any other notable specialists besides face-off guys? Was wondering about man up/down situations.
- Doesn't seem like fouls accumulate to the point of disqualification. Can an egregious foul lead to game suspension? Just an observation but the 30 second penalty seems silly. Not many offenses I've seen get into shape to score in that amount of time.

[Native]

Thanks for that Native really great write-up! I'll throw out some next level questions:

Thanks! Answers below.

Are there standard defensive schemes (zone, man-to-man, hybrid/match-up). With picks and fast, penetrating, offensive players there's lots of defensive sliding/switching to pick up the open guy. Some level of junk (unorthodox) defenses also seems to happen as well.

Most defensive coordinators specify defenses based on where the help defender comes from—these are generally called slide packages. If the microphones on the field are active, you might hear defenders shouting "who's hot?" The "hot" designation is the player that will slide. If your team tries to keep a defender close to the goal who will slide to any penetration, regardless of where it comes from, your team is said to be sliding from the crease.

You might also slide from the the adjacent, meaning your slide is going to come from the defender guarding a the player who is one pass away from the current ball carrier. Sliding from the adjacent looks similar to a zone defense but the principle is somewhat different. Zone defenses are rare in lacrosse because opening up the middle of the field is usually a death sentence for a defense. Defenses want to keep their opponents at a wide enough angle away from the goal to make shooting prohibitively awkward. They'd rather shuttle players down the sides of the field. To beat a zone in basketball, for instance, one way is to try to force the team to pass the ball to a player at the elbow and have them take low-percentage mid-range jumpers. By contrast, those mid-range shots are among the highest-percentage shots in lacrosse.

Concordantly, offensive players are taught to follow the slide, meaning that they will try to fill the open space once their defender leaves them. To deal with this, teams will often specify a second slide. You'll hear a defender ask "who's 2?" to specify who the second slide will be. Well-coached defenses can naturally have first, second, and even third slides, with the defenders who were beaten recovering to other players who were left open by a sliding defender. Imagine the entire defense rotating like a wheel, with a person who was beat picking up the man of someone who slid.

Junk defenses are also rare, but if an offensive player is truly dominant, you might lock off that player. You'd dedicate a defender solely to preventing that player from getting the ball and play five-on-five on the rest of the field.

So there's a min of 4 defenders at all times, but can a defense pack it in with additional players to protect a one goal lead, or must a 4:6 split be maintained?

I was a bit unclear when I stated the offside rule earlier. You must maintain 4 players in your defensive half of the field at all times, but you must also maintain three offensive players in your offensive end at all times as well. So on defense, in a normal situation, you're allowed 7 players: three close defenders, three defensive midfielders, and a goalie. Of those 7 players, four are allowed long sticks. That's the maximum you're allowed on defense.

Despite the shot clock, are some offenses "UNLV-like" (run & gun) while others are "Princeton-like" (slow & value each possession)?

Some are! Before the implementation of the shot clock you'd see much more variance in offensive style. A lot of teams would park the bus and sit on a lead, which is why the shot clock was implemented in the first place. Most purists want the sport to be very run-and-gun.

You have a question below about some teams favoring a more aggressive ride; some teams also favor a more aggressive clear. A few years ago, Albany had a goalie by the name of Brett Queener who would take off running immediately every time he made a save. A few years later, Blaze Riorden would mimic him. Those Albany teams were very run-and-gun! He scored more than a few goals, but he also gave up a bunch.

I assume offenses sometimes run plays, but maybe not a lot, or maybe it varies from team to team. Thus far I don't find the goal "build up" as pleasing as with soccer, or at least it's harder to follow. I guess in high school the better players can dominate with their speed/shot more than is possible at the top college level.

Correct. In my experience, the man-up unit typically relies on set plays a bit more than standard six-on-six play, because having an extra offensive player is a big advantage that coaches don't want to squander. Often, even-strength offenses are predicated more upon who the "quarterback" is. You'll typically have one offensive player that functions like a point guard who works to set up teammates who are working off-ball.

A lot of the goal build-up involves either one-on-one offense with a late slide, or teams that can open up a skip pass. Watch what the players on the side of the field opposite the ball are doing, because if the offense can pass them the ball quickly they're very likely to score.

Are some teams known for a ferocious ride (full-court press) while others just drop back on D without putting up a fight? Or are some teams just better at it than others?

Yes. I don't have any examples off of the top of my head, but the decision of how hard a team will ride is certainly a coaching decision, and a very important one. Personnel is also a factor here; because the field is so large, every single player has to buy in fully and commit to a hard ride. If you commit two defenders to a basketball-like trap, for instance, it's an easy pass to a clear field in lacrosse.

Some teams do a 10-man ride throughout the game. Carolina, for instance, used a 10-man ride to great effect earlier this year against Denver. (They wound up winning that game 23-7, or so, if memory serves.)

So hits have to be from front or side. Is this only permitted on the man with the ball, or are all offensive players fair game, i.e. is there a penalty for obstruction?

Incidental contact off the ball is allowed, but obstruction is not. This would be an interference penalty. The exception: if there's a loose ball and a bunch of players are going for it, those players are fair game. A common communication among players on the same team in a ground ball situation is for one player to call "man!" and body an opponent while the other player calls "ball!" and scoops up the ball.

Are substitutions typically line-based, like hockey? Or just when a guy needs a break? Or totally up to the coach's discretion based on game situation?

Coach's discretion. You can substitute on-the-fly through the box area on the sidelines like hockey. Most teams keep their attack and close defense units the same throughout the game, because those guys get a breather when the ball is on the other end of the field. Because the midfield position is so taxing, though, many teams keep up to three or four midfield lines. Many teams will slow down their offense in the first fifteen seconds of the shot clock after they've cleared the ball to substitute on-the-fly to get an entirely new line in the game.

Any other notable specialists besides face-off guys? Was wondering about man up/down situations.

Teams will have dedicated man-up and man-down units, yes—especially since by definition there's a dead ball situation before any man-up possession. A coach therefore has the time they need to sub in their man-up unit. On the man-up, that unit is usually comprised of your best passers, because quick passing can make quick work of a man-down defense. Similarly, man-down defenders will be those who understand the scheme the best, because your rotations have to be faster off of the ball to keep up.

Doesn't seem like fouls accumulate to the point of disqualification. Can an egregious foul lead to game suspension? Just an observation but the 30 second penalty seems silly. Not many offenses I've seen get into shape to score in that amount of time.

A player that accumulates five minutes' worth of personal fouls will be automatically ejected from the game. This is very rare, though—I've never actually seen it happen. Egregious fouls can lead to ejections; typically these are either excessive targeting of the head or neck or fighting. There are also more severe non-releaseable penalties for the equivalent of flagrant fouls in basketball.

You'd be surprised how quickly an offense can score in a man-up situation when they put their mind to it! There are a lot of sixty-second penalties as well, so those afford a man-up unit more time, though.

[jimmymax]

Very cool. Thanks again, Native. I can now watch with a much more informed eye.

[53n206]

Very cool. Thanks again, Native. I can now watch with a much more informed eye.

Native: Thanks for your superior explanations, and your time. I've been a Duke lacrosse fan since my time on campus in the mid 50's. Thought I was fairly knowledgeable, but your explanation showed ne how "fair" it was.

[dball]

The "fastest game on two feet" has failed to hook me. I know I need more insight into the basics (let alone single game strategies like UNC sprang on Duke) but right now it feels more like "soccer on meth."

I have always felt lacrosse is more similar to basketball. Field hockey is closer to soccer. Just my opinion.

At least in terms of positioning, pace of play and general strategy.

[budwom]

lax thoughts for the day: 1) unc curb stomped Syracuse at Syracuse yesterday, it was brutal...and 2) whatever happened to former power Johns Hopkins? 2-7 this year and simply not competitive with top teams...

[TKG]

lax thoughts for the day: 1) unc curb stomped Syracuse at Syracuse yesterday, it was brutal...and 2) whatever happened to former power Johns Hopkins? 2-7 this year and simply not competitive with top teams...

And I am sure Inside Lacrosse will grudgingly remove them from the Top 20 poll.

[budwom]

And I am sure Inside Lacrosse will grudgingly remove them from the Top 20 poll.

ha, yeah, didn't they have them at #1 to start the season?

[Rich]

Here are some of the basics with some key strategic choices that coaches have to make every game.

Faceoffs: almost every possession starts with a faceoff. Two players must scrum for the ball at the center of the field. When the whistle blows, two other players may come in from the wings to assist in securing possession. If a player “jumps” before the whistle blows to start play, the other team is awarded possession.

Face-offs are really, really important. If you have a strong faceoff player, you can turn lacrosse into a make-it-take-it affair. This is why teams tend to go on scoring runs, and why momentum can shift so quickly. If a faceoff man is talented enough, he will usually be referred to as a FOGO (Face Off, Get Off) who focuses solely on taking possession before being substituted out. Duke freshman Jake Naso has been a nice surprise this year as a first-year faceoff man for the Blue Devils.

Players: ten players to a side, including a goalie. Three defenders. Three attackmen—who are typically smaller, faster, and have the strongest stick skills. Three midfielders—who play both ways and are more versatile than either attackers or defenders.

You must have four players in your defensive zone at all times. Generally, this is the goalie and three defensemen. Sometimes, though, a defender will be in a better position to advance the ball into the opposing team’s zone. If this is the case, a midfielder from that team has to stay back. If you have fewer than four people in your defensive zone, your team is offsides. This will result in a penalty in favor of the other team.

Defensive-oriented players are allowed the use of long sticks. A maximum of four long-stick-equipped players may be on the field at once. This is a key decision: if you’re a defensive coordinator, to which opposing attackers do you assign your long sticks? Most teams match up three long sticks on the three attackmen, and then assign a long-stick midfielder (LSM) to the opponent’s best midfielder. Sometimes, though, you might double-pole the midfield, meaning you guard an attackman with a short-stick defender.

In midfield play, as well, you might also see two LSMs at once sometimes, particularly on the wings during faceoffs if possession is crucial.

Clearing and Riding (Transition): when a team’s goalie makes a save, that team then starts their offensive possession by advancing the ball towards the opponent’s goal. They must do this in less than 20 seconds. This is called a clear; the opposing team is said to be riding. Because the goalie for the team with possession is part of the clear, riding teams are usually at a slight disadvantage unless they assign their goalie to cover an offensive player. When this happens, the riding team is said to be running a 10-man ride. You won’t see this until late-game situations—think of it like a full-court press in basketball.

Offensive Play: in traditional six-on-six offense, you’ll notice that much of the coordination is similar to basketball. Offensive players will try to penetrate the defense and draw a defensive slide before dishing it. Teams can run picks, with all of the minutiae of a pick-and-roll scheme included.

A lot of teams will try to use picks to get the matchups they want—ideally, you want your most skilled offensive player to avoid the long-stick defenders. If you can get a short stick matched up on your best offensive player, that will pay dividends for your team. Again, it’s like basketball: imagine if you got the other team’s center matched up on your star point guard.

The other interesting thing about lacrosse is that you can attack from behind the goal. This area is referred to as X. A lot of teams try to run their offense through X. Some defenses don’t like sending their defenders behind the goal if they can avoid it because the ball carrier by definition can’t shoot and score from that position. This gives the attacker more space to operate. Offensively, then, it becomes all about making off-ball cuts and off-ball screens to get players open in front of the goal. If that happens, the player at X can make quick feeds to get their team easy goals. A big part of Duke’s offense this year runs through fifth-year grad transfer senior Michael Sowers, who is excellent at playing from X and leads the nation in points per game.

From the time a goalie makes a save, an 80-second shot clock starts. (This also includes the clearing period.) If a shot makes contact with the goalie or the goal, the clock resets.

Very important: if a shot misses or rebounds and then goes out-of-bounds, the player nearest the ball when it went out-of-bounds retains possession for their team. This is why you see players seemingly chase the ball after it misses. This is also why teams want to have a player at X—usually that player is in the best position to get “backup” to retain possession for their own team after a missed shot.

Penalties and Man-Up: There are many ways that a player can be penalized. Most have to do with excessive force. The most common penalties are...

Slashing: excessive wind-up or using the stick to hit a player in the head. You can do simple poke checks but a wind-up will generally earn you a trip to the Sin Bin.
Push: pushing the player in the back. All contact needs to be in the front or sides. A push in a loose-ball situation where neither team has possession usually just results in the other team getting the ball. A push with possession is a time-serving penalty.
Cross Check: using the shaft of the lacrosse stick when making physical contact with another player. If you are pushing or shoving another player, you have to have your hands close together on your stick.

Generally, any contact to the back or head is what earns you a penalty.

Most penalties are 30- or 60-second penalties. When a team gets a penalty, the other team goes man-up. It’s the same thing as a power play in hockey. If a goal is scored, usually the penalty is wiped out and play resumes with a face off at even strength. For more severe penalties, though, they might be non-releasable, meaning a team will continue to play man-down until the full time is served.

This year’s Duke team: historically, the Ivy League is a strong lacrosse conference. However, because the Ivy League canceled spring sports due to COVID, many strong players transferred. One such player is Michael Sowers, who was last year’s front-runner for the Tewaaraton Trophy (think the Heisman) at Princeton. He transferred to Duke as a fifth-year senior and leads a loaded offensive attack. Joining him is freshman sensation Brennan O’Neill, who has been referred to as the “Zion Williamson of Lacrosse.” Our attack is rounded out by Joe Robertson, who has scored overtime game-winning goals against #2 North Carolina and #3 Virginia this season already.

Because we had strong additions to our attack, many of our strong attackers from last year round out our midfield unit. Because you can substitute on-the-fly, we specialize a lot with offensive- and defensive-minded midfielders. On the defensive side, players to watch are JT Giles-Harris—the brother of Duke Football’s Joe Giles-Harris—who anchors our defensive unit. Mike Adler (Goalkeeper) is a fifth-year transfer from St. John’s who has been very strong in the cage for us this year.

Duke is currently ranked #4 in the country after dropping our first game to Notre Dame last week. The ACC is truly loaded this year—all five ACC teams that field a lacrosse team are ranked in the Top 10.

Great explanation! I watch some lacrosse, especially the post season, and still learned a bunch.

One noticeable omission to the This Year's Duke Team section is a mention of Nakeie Montgomery, who is a midfielder stud! https://goduke.com/sports/mens-lacro...ntgomery/16943

[Native]

Great explanation! I watch some lacrosse, especially the post season, and still learned a bunch.

One noticeable omission to the This Year's Duke Team section is a mention of Nakeie Montgomery, who is a midfielder stud! https://goduke.com/sports/mens-lacro...ntgomery/16943

Ugh, how did I forget Nakeie? He's my favorite player on the team!

[chrishoke]

Fabulous slow motion highlights of our exciting OT win over Virginia. Watch it full screen w/ the sound on.

https://twitter.com/DukeMLAX/status/1384136244309872647

[burnspbesq]

Some familiar faces are in danger of missing the Big Barbecue this year.

The emergence of Rutgers as the number two team in the Big Integer, along with the lack of non-conference wins to boost RPI and SOS, means that none of Hopkins, Penn State, or Ohio State are getting in unless one of them somehow steals the conference tournament and the AQ.

At 5-5, Loyola is a bubble team at best unless they grab the Patriot League AQ. Last weekend’s loss to Navy was a killer. If Navy finishes strong, the Patriot could be a three-bid league; Lehigh and Army look like locks.

Amazingly enough, if Cuse loses its last two games, it finishes 5-6. And with no ACC Tournament to polish its resume, it would be a bubble team at best. Yes, drink deeply from the cup of schadenfreude.

[budwom]

Hopkins at 2-7 seems to have completely lost its way...

[duke2x]

Hopkins at 2-7 seems to have completely lost its way...

They were not going to fix things overnight, particularly in the pandemic.

On the outside chance anyone else is interested, UNC is selling tickets in Kenan Stadium for the Duke game after Cooper extends his Executive Order next week. (I don't see him opening things more with a 7% positive rate.) You have to buy them in blocks (meaning if you have a party of 2 and only blocks of 4 are available, you buy 4 or stay home.)

[Native]

Sources: Syracuse Attackman Chase Scanlan Suspended Indefinitely

Syracuse attackman Chase Scanlan has been suspended indefinitely for an incident following the Orange's 21-9 loss to North Carolina this weekend, multiple sources have told Inside Lacrosse.

A team spokesperson confirmed Scanlan's suspension to IL on Tuesday morning.

A two-time All-American who has worn the No. 22 jersey since arriving at 'Cuse, Scanlan currently leads the team with 24 goals and is second in points (33) through nine games, having also led the Orange with 18 goals in the shortened 2020 season.

[budwom]

^ ha, Syracuse won't say what he did, but he says he didn't do it, so there's that.

Meanwhile, BIG game for our lads tomorrow evening...ND thwarted our offense last time around, as Quint said, they (ND) consistently play the same defensive scheme, so....can our guys adjust?

[duke2x]

Meanwhile, BIG game for our lads tomorrow evening...ND thwarted our offense last time around, as Quint said, they (ND) consistently play the same defensive scheme, so...can our guys adjust?

A hidden subplot to this game: ND signed up for the Denver treatment with this game, playing @UNC on Sunday.

[budwom]

A hidden subplot to this game: ND signed up for the Denver treatment with this game, playing @UNC on Sunday.

oh well, at least they're fresh for our game, so no 'scuses for either team.

[burnspbesq]

Per IL, the Ivy League is back, with three hastily arranged games this weekend—including two rare opportunities to see how the top of D3 stacks up against D1.

On Friday, Brown is at BU and Penn visits 2019 D3 champ Cabrini. Sunday afternoon, perennial D3 power Tufts goes to Dartmouth.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Per IL, the Ivy League is back, with three hastily arranged games this weekend—including two rare opportunities to see how the top of D3 stacks up against D1.

On Friday, Brown is at BU and Penn visits 2019 D3 champ Cabrini. Sunday afternoon, perennial D3 power Tufts goes to Dartmouth.

Didn't most of their best players transfer elsewhere, including to Duke??!!