In this case, your team is content to give up those outside shots with high confidence that the goalie can absorb them. That’s why a zone defense really requires a good goalie – that was a point already mentioned above.īut a zone defense can also be effective if the other team doesn’t really have any shooters that can rip top ched. In a zone defense your team is going to be content to pack in it and give up the outside shot. How often do offensives practice going up against a zone defense? Probably not as much as man-to-man sets. They might lack an offensive set that can adequately break down a zone defense and create good scoring opportunities. Since zone defenses are a little more rare teams might be thrown off a little when they go up against a zone. Implementing a zone defense can be a fantastic change-up to confuse your opponents. If your team primarily runs a man-to-man defense, your opponents will be expecting to face a man-to-man defense. If your goalie cannot consistently save those outside shots, the zone defense will fail. If your goalie is hot, you can pack in the zone even tighter which makes the zone more effective. Just like a well run basketball zone defense requires teams to make 3 pointers, a well run lacrosse zone defense requires teams to take outside shots from 12+ yards out. If your team has a great goalie who can suck up the outside shots, or even a mediocre goalie who is having a great day, many teams will pack in the zone and limit the opposing team to outside shots that they feel the goalie can save. When executed properly, the zone defense shuts down the opposing team’s inside game. It definitely helps your zone defense if you have athletic players, don’t get me wrong, however I believe less athletic players can do better in a zone defense compared to a man-to-man that leaves the individuals more exposed. Additionally, a zone can eliminate penetration by encouraging quick double teams on the perimeter and packing the defense in. Zone defense covers up slower defenders and can be used to counter an offense with fast, quick scorers. Instead of seeing their 1×1 match ups that athletic offenses can exploit, the zone defense offers more built in help and protection. If your team is outmatched physically, meaning the other squad simply has better athletes, then you might consider employing a zone defense. Want to slow the game down? Play a patient, packed-in zone with no traps. Want a faster tempo? Play more aggressive trapping zone. Beating the zone requires multiple passes.Ī good zone defense can dictate how fast the game is played. You simply can’t beat a zone defense with 1 pass or 1 dodge like you can a man-on-man defense. You’ll notice that offenses going up against a well executed zone defense typically have much longer possessions as they don’t see any immediate opportunities and are content to pass it around the perimeter.
A zone defense is a great method to accomplish that as it can really dictate the tempo. If you’re up against a real powerful offense, you’ll want to slow them down. Control the Tempo / Slow down the opposing offense Why Use a Zone Defense?įirst let’s cover a few reasons why a team might employ a zone defense. The basics of a lacrosse team zone defense. It can also serve as a change of pace or surprise to your opponent who might not be expecting or prepared for this defensive strategy. While lacrosse man-to-man defense is certainly the most common and the style initially taught at the youth levels, a properly executed zone defense in lax can be very effective in limiting what an offense can do. Zone defenders move their position on the field in relationship to where the ball moves.
Zone defense in lacrosse is different from man-to-man defense in that, instead of guarding a particular player, each zone defender is responsible for guarding an area of the field, or “zone”, and any offensive player that comes into that area. That way in the heat of battle you can help command the troops to organize a successful defense stand.Īwhile back I covered the basics of a man-on-man team defense and today I want to cover the basics of a zone defense. Posted In: Coaching, Defense, Lacrosse GoalieĪs a goalie its vital that you have a complete understanding of how team lacrosse defense should be played.
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