Girl’s Lacrosse2014

Freshman/Sophomore Team

“A good lacrosse player plays where the ball is. A great lacrosse player plays where the ball is going to be.”

Your Coaches

» Kit Hamilton˃ Cell: 708-310-0168˃ Work: (630) 719-5815 ˃ Email: khamilton7118@gmail.com or

khamilton@dg58.org˃ http://dg58.org//Domain/477

» Hannah Thompson˃ Cell: 708-280-7329˃ Work: 800-390-0978 ext. 124˃ Email: hannahaverythompson@gmail.com

I don’t know when practice is...

Check out the calendar on my webpage!

Or...just re-download the handouts!

What We’ll Cover

» Lacrosse Contact form» Overview of the team

˃ Policies˃ Study Hours

» Schedule˃ Conflicts (Spring Break, etc.)˃ Important Dates˃ Twitter/Facebook Account

» Lacrosse˃ Overview of the game˃ Rules˃ Positions

» Academics˃ No player will be permitted to play in games if she is maintaining a D or F grade. All

players should come to practice regardless of grades even if they have to sit there.

» Attendance˃ 3 unexcused absences from practice = removal from the team.

+ One unexcused will prevent you from play in the next game. ˃ Lacrosse is your primary extracurricular right now. Absences due to other sports outings,

unless otherwise agreed upon with the coaches, will count as an unexcused absence.˃ Illnesses: If you are sick, your parents must contact us to confirm. NOT YOU. Playing

time may still be reduced if you are sick.˃ Excused absences˃ Injuries˃ If a player misses the practice just before a game, regardless of reason, that player will

sit out that game.

» Practice is M-F, 6-8 pm and select Saturdays. You should be on the field at 5:45, ready to play and partner passing to warm up.

» We do not tolerate un-sportsman-like behavior. Toward teammates, opponents, officials... no one.

» During the 1st half of season players will receive equal playing time unless they have absences. During the 2nd half, playing time will be awarded based on skillset.

» Everyone is expected to come to practice with the appropriate attire: goggles, stick, practice jersey and mouth guard. If a player does not have these items, the player will RUN the entire practice.

» If there is a question during the game that must be answered immediately, only the captains are permitted to ask the officials. If the question can wait- i.e. something related to a call, skill, etc.- please don’t ask the official. Wait until you are off the field and ask a coach.

» You should never disagree with the official. If there is a call that you believe to be unwarranted, talk to the coaches when the moment arises and we will approach the umpire to look out for it in the future.

» ABSOLUTELY NO RUDENESS IS EVER TO BE GIVEN TO ANOTHER TEAM. EVER. If we see it, you will be excused from play.

» If a player is injured during practice or a game, it is their responsibility to see the trainer the next day to be sure they are ok to play.

» Simple reminder: Always bring a water bottle to the field for practice and games.

» Finally, as a courtesy to others, please do not talk when others are talking.

Schedule

» Bus Times are TBD and will be given at the practice before the game.

» Spring Break˃ We understand that, as a freshman/sophomore, that you did not have the

schedule for Spring Break prior to the season starting. We will take Spring Break conflicts and will not penalize anyone with prior plans. But know that at the JV and Varsity levels, just as with any other spring sport, spring break attendance will be mandatory.

» You must join the two websites:˃ www.oprfgirlslacrosse.com ˃ Facebook- keep you updated on times/schedule changes/reminders˃ Twitter. Make an account and follow @FreshmanOPRF. This is how we will send

out updates regarding games, practices, etc. You can set it up so that it sends new notifications to your cell phones. Please be sure to check this option.

SKILLS

» Cradling˃ Cradling is one of the hardest things to pick up but one of the very most

important skills to have.˃ Without the ability to cradle, the likelihood of dropping the ball while running

or in possession of the ball is quadrupled. ˃ Once cradling is understood, it will always be remembered.˃ Cradling How-To

» Catching & Passing» Cutting

˃ This is the most underrated yet most essential ability on the field. If a player successfully uses cuts throughout the game, the chances of her getting the ball and advancing are huge.

˃ Cutting How-To

» Dodging˃ Every player, not just attack, should know how to dodge a defender because

just as everyone plays defense, everyone plays attack as well. Dodging takes quick and rapid movements, so we need to take the lead out of our shoes and get moving!

» Checking˃ One of the hardest skills to master in lacrosse. To this day, every

professional, college and high school player is still working on legal checks. It is such a dangerous act, that defensive stick work is much preferred to checking and will be taught at the Freshman level. Unless the team is given permission, no checking is permitted.

» Pickups/Groundballs˃ Get your butt low and your stick parallel to the ground

» Shooting˃ Essentially passing at a higher velocity. Players must learn to focus on

where they want to shoot. ˃ The ball always follows where you are looking and where your stick ends up.

The “Old” Field

The “New” Field

Team Captains

» Voted for on March 17th » There will be 3 (max) captains on the team

˃ Think of the qualities that a captain possesses…

» Responsibilities:˃ Call coin toss at beginning of game (visitor captain calls)˃ Indicates her team is ready for play at the beginning of

each half˃ Approaches umpire for clarification of the rules˃ Gets equipment from the Knack box every practice˃ Inspects the bus to make sure it is as clean as it was when

we got on.˃ Communicates any concerns with coaches. ˃ Motivates and encourages teammates.

When our attack has the ball

When the opposing team has the ball...

The Game

» Playing time is 40 minutes with a 5 minute half time.» When a whistle is blown, all players must stand in place until the

whistle is blown again to resume play. » Lacrosse is played with a running clock, meaning that if the whistle

blows, the clock continues to count. The only exceptions to this are during timeouts or during the last 2 minutes of play in the half. If a team is up by more than 10 points, the clock becomes a permanent running clock.

» There is no overtime in the Freshman or JV level.» Each team has 2 timeouts per game.» Substitutions

˃ Not permitted during stoppage of play.˃ Players can only substitute once the other player is fully removed from the field. ˃ If a whistle is called, the player being substituted must still stop. Only during

free play or at the beginning of a new half can substitutions occur.

Starting the Game

» Each half begins with a draw» Each team must have 12 players on the field before the time

can start (unless a card has been given).» Only 3 players from each team can be at the circle for the draw.» Players can move around the circle prior to the whistle blowing

but they CANNOT enter the center circle until the whistle is blown.

» If there is an illegal draw, the player that fouls stands 4 meters behind her opponent. If both players contribute to the illegal draw, there will be another draw.

» The Draw:˃ Ball is placed in the upper third of each lacrosse stick at its widest point˃ In order to be a legal draw, the ball must go higher than the heads of the players

Start/Stop Play

» Stand˃ The ball is dead when the whistle is blown˃ No player, except the goal keeper, may move at this time

» Restraining Line˃ 4 players must be behind the restraining line˃ It does NOT matter who stays back. It does not always have to be the 3

defensive players plus a wing or vice versa. It should be the players that are most back and not involved with the current play that stay. It is important for players, especially captains, to be aware of this and call it out so that their teammates know who is staying back.

Out of Bounds

» Sidelines are hard boundaries. The team who causes the ball to go out gives it to the other team.

» On a shot, the girl closest to the ball regardless of who shot the ball when the official calls out of bounds gets the ball. It does not follow the rule that the Team B gets the ball if Team A shoots it out of bounds.

» The player that gets the ball will stand 4 meters inside the boundary line from the spot that it went out. If the goalie is closest, the ball is returned to the goalie. All other players stand 4M away from the ball carrier.

Shots and the Goal Circle

» Only one player is allowed in the goal circle at one time.

» The only times that another player can enter the goal circle:˃ On a shot- the shooter is allowed to follow through with her

stick over the goal circle. Her feet are not allowed inside however.

˃ On a shot- the defensive player(s) directly defending the shooter may reach into the circle to block the shot or check the shooters stick. Feet may not enter.

The Throw/Toss

» When the ball goes into the goal off a non-player

» When the ball goes out of bounds as a result of a shot or deflected shot and two opposing players are equally near the ball

» When it cannot be determined who caused the ball to go out

» If the ball gets caught in someone’s clothing» Offsetting fouls

Cards

» Yellow Card˃ Player goes out of the game for 2 minutes. There is no substitution˃ Team will play short on whatever side the ball is on. There must

ALWAYS be four people behind the restraining line.˃ If a single player receives 2 yellow cards in the same game, she is not

able to play the remainder of the game, but a substitute may take her place.

˃ Four yellow cards = team plays a man down for the duration of the game. For each additional card received after the 4th, an additional player will be removed from play.

» Red Card˃ Player is excused from play and will not be eligible to play in the next

game.˃ In what situation would you receive a red card?

8 meter shots

» Direct shots that are taken if a foul occurs in our defensive end˃ Dangerous Check˃ 3 seconds˃ Shooting space

Shooting Space-Called when the defensive player moves her body directly in front of the shooter on either a fast break down to the goal or when the player is given a free shot.

LEAD WITH YOUR STICK.

Other Fouls

» If a foul occurs in the open field (not in the 12 meter arc), the other team gets the ball and the person that fouls must stand 4 meters directly BEHIND the opponent.

Major Fouls

» Cross in the Sphere˃ A player may not reach into or through the sphere or hold her cross around the throat of an

opponent. Imagine there is a fishbowl on the other girls head, you cannot enter that fishbowl.˃ A player cannot hold the head of her stick in front of her face or teammates face making a

legal/safe check impossible.

» Rough/Dangerous Check» Check to the head

˃ Mandatory Card**

» Slash˃ Mandatory Card**˃ Reckless/dangerous swing of stick at opponents cross or body (tomahawk)

» Dangerous Propelling˃ Mandatory Card**

» Dangerous follow-through˃ Mandatory Card**

Major Fouls, Cont.

» Illegal Contact˃ Initiate stick to body or body to stick contact

» Dangerous Shot˃ Shot without control˃ Combination or distance, force and placement˃ Shot cannot be made at the goalkeeper’s head unless she moved into the

path of the ball˃ A shot can be uncontrolled even if it misses the goal

Major Fouls, Cont.

» Forcing Through˃ While in possession, a player cannot try to force her stick through an

opposing stick in such a way to cause her own stick to contact her body.

» Pushing˃ Cannot push the other player with hand or body

» Reach across the body˃ Cannot reach your stick across someone’s body to check a stick

» Blocking˃ Cannot block opponent by moving into her path without giving her a

chance to stop or change direction.

Major Fouls, Cont.

» Charging˃ Cannot charge, barge, shoulder or back into an opponent.˃ Body to body contact may be called charging or blocking.

» Illegal Pick˃ Cannot set a moving pick out of the visual field of another player which

does not give them time to change direction

» Detaining˃ Cannot detain a player ever by holding or pushing against her body, etc. ˃ Cannot use your stick at a blocking prop. Do not EVER hold your stick

horizontally.

Minor Fouls

» Covering˃ Cannot guard a ground ball with her foot or stick˃ I.E. “covering” the ball- MOST COMMON CALL

» Empty Stick Check˃ Cannot check opponents stick when it is not involved with the ball. ˃ Most common on the ground when trying to get a ground ball

» Warding˃ Cannot guard the stick with arm

Minor Fouls, Cont.

» Body Ball˃ Cannot allow any part of body to intentionally alter the direction of

the ball, unless you are a goalie inside the circle.

» Illegal Stick˃ Stick must always meet specifications. An umpire can call time if she

thinks that your stick is illegal.

» Resumption of Play˃ Failure to be ready to start play after 2 minute team timeout or after

half time

Emphasis for 2014

» Cross-Check˃ When you check across the body˃ Cannot use the shaft of your stick to hit, push or displace opponent ˃ Affects picks

» Shooting Space˃ The referees have been told to look out for this and will call it EVERY

time.

» Illegal Checking˃ Let’s work to keep it a clean season and use our speed/body D.

» Covering ˃ Get those butts DOWN

Positions: Defense

» Goalie˃ Primary responsibility is to keep balls out of the net.˃ Must be quick on her feet and willing to go after loose balls around the crease area˃ Must NOT be afraid of the ball˃ Must understand the game as a whole and not just her primary duties. It’s important for

her to be able to play as a player and not just a goalie.˃ The goalie is typically the MOST ATHLETIC GIRL ON THE TEAM.

» Defense˃ Must work with the Goalie and communicate with the rest of the team in order to

organize positioning and plays˃ Look for offsides and call for assistance. ˃ Must have good footwork and good communication skills. Must depend first on

footwork and then on the stick.˃ Must be able to clear long passes up to the midfield and attack players˃ Must be quick to move- quickness over endurance˃ REMEMBER: The best offense is a great defense.˃ REMEMBER: EVERY SINGLE PLAYER IS PLAYING DEFENSE!

Positions: Midfield

» Defense (D) Wings˃ Must be able to run for long periods of time˃ Must have great footwork and communication skills˃ Essentially a D wing is a defensive player who runs the field.

» Center˃ The balance of attack and defense˃ Player must be strong both with and without the ball and is greatly defined by

exceptional stick skills˃ Must have exceptional endurance.˃ Her job, like the other wings, is to feed the ball to the attack.

» Attack (A) Wings˃ Must be able to run for long periods of time˃ Must be able to accurately pass and feed the ball to attack˃ Must be able to play good defense as midfielders often switch in the game

Positions: Attack

» Attack˃ Must be quick and efficient passers. The best way to get around a defense

is not by running, it is by effectively out playing them.˃ Create scoring opportunities by spreading out the attack and spreading

the defense to create holes of opportunities.˃ Should be quick with the ball. Similar to Defense- speed>endurance

however endurance should be present at all levels˃ Attack typically has the ball in their stick more than any other player so

stick skills are essential. ˃ Attack players should be very defined in their shooting abilities. They

should be able to vary their shots

Questions?