In football, quarterbacks are known to have the ability and competency to read defenders in a split second by identifying coverages and exploiting weaknesses. What if you could do the same exact thing in lacrosse?
The greatest offensive players don’t just react– they anticipate what’s coming next. Whether you’re a dodger at X, an off-ball threat, or a midfielder initiating from up top, learning how to “read a defender like a quarterback” can step up your game from average to legendary.
Pre-Dodge Reads: Know the Setup Before You Take Off
Just like a quarterback acknowledges the alignment of the defense before the snap, you too should scan the field before initiating any moves.
Here is what you need to ask yourself:
Is my defender favoring one hand or side?
- Are they shading me topside?
- Is there a slide coming early from the crease?
- Is the defense playing adjacent, crease, or zone?
Recognize Coverage Types
Quarterbacks know the difference between man and zone defense. You should too.
Man Defense: Look at the details. Is your defender slower or smaller? Time to attack.
Zone Defense: Don’t force anything. Keep moving the ball, re-dodge, or hit the skip pass.
Pressure vs Contain: Are they sitting back or pressing out?
Manipulate the Defense
The best quarterbacks move defenders with their eyes. In lax, you move defenders with your dodging angles, body language, and stick position.
- Emphasize on hesitation dodges, rollbacks, or stick fakes to freeze out help defenders
- Look off the slide by turning your head toward the opposite side of your actual target
- Set up your move by juking out the defender– bait one direction, go the other
Post-Dodge Decision-Making
After your move, you’re not done. It’s now time to execute like a quarterback under pressure.
- Draw and Dump: If you see the slide coming, hit the open man– just like checking down to a running back
- No slide?: Attack and head to the net
- Off-ball?: See the double and cut to space– your QB (ball carrier) needs an outlet
Film Study
Quarterbacks live in the film room. You should too. If you have access to film, watching will teach you patterns:
When teams like to slide
What “help” looks like before it actually comes’
How certain defenders react to specific dodges
Think Like a Field General
Lacrosse isn’t just all about stick skills and agility. It’s about anticipation– seeing the events that will unfold next before it even happens. Developing the ability to read defenders like a quarterback results in you being more than just a player. You become a field general.
Study defenders. Predict reactions. And when the time comes, make the right read.
After all, the best players don’t wait for opportunities– they create them.