Whether you’re recovering from a fast-break or killing a penalty, playing man-down defense is a physically and mentally draining scenario in lacrosse. However, with strategic positioning, discipline, and communication, you can swing momentum in your favor.
Here’s how to lock it down when you’re a man down.
Know the Objective: Delay, Disrupt, Deny
While in man-down defense, your job is not only to survive, but to buy your team some time by forcing mistakes.
The goal is to:
- Delay the offense’s ability to find open space for a shot
- Disrupt passing lanes and timing
- Deny the highest-percentage opportunities
- This is all about playing smart, contained defense– not hero plays.
Communication is Everything
When down a man, there is no room for error. Constant and clear talk should include:
- “I’ve got 2”- Calling out your responsibility for covering two players in your zone.
- “Skip”- Warning of a cross-field pass
- “Slide”- Telling a teammate to rotate or shift over
Trust the System, Not Your Instincts
The temptation for early slides or ball-watching can be high during man-down defense. Don’t you fall for it.
- Trust the rotation
- Stay disciplined: the offense is just one misstep away from taking it to the cage
- Keep your head on a swivel
Reps Matter
The best man-down units train like special teams in football. It’s important to build chemistry, drill rotations, and work on game-like scenarios.
Final Thoughts
Man-down defense should be far from flashy. The name of the game is to be fundamentally sound. If your team buys into the system, trusts each other, and communicates efficiently, you’ll be able to not only survive penalties, but you’ll frustrate offenses to flip momentum your way.