Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Stance and Positioning

Whether you’re a short-stick or long-stick defender, there are basic principles that all defenders should follow when playing defense.

You first need to be in an athletic stance with your butt low, knees bent and your feet shoulder width apart. Your hands should be away from your body to act as a cushion in case an attacker tries to get through you.

Your stick should be at a 45-degree angle in front of you so that you can throw a variety of lacrosse checks. Lastly, you need to “split the field in half” for the attacker, using your feet, hands and stick to limit where the attacker can dodge.

By being in a strong defensive position, you can give yourself the best chance of keeping the attacker away from goal. Transform your positioning into forcing more turnovers by learning the slap check and poke check or the lift check.