LAX BASICS - PASSIN’, CATCHIN’ AND PICKIN’ UP THE BALL!
by Coach Thomas Neil Zacoi
Hey Divas, there are no more basic skills in the game of
lacrosse than passin’ and catchin’. And if you don’t catch
the ball very well, you better know how to pick it up!
Humor me for a minute and forget everything you know about lacrosse. Now that you have a
clean slate, we are going to start from scratch on each of these skills.
Before we talk about how to throw the ball, let’s discuss the parts of a lax-stick.
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The bottom of the stick is called the butt and there is typically a rubber cap that the manufacturer puts over it to protect your hands from sharp edges.
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Most stick shafts are made from aluminum. The opposite end from the butt gets pushed into the throat of the head, and secured with a screw.
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Although you can still purchase a wooden stick, the frame of a modern stick head is
made out of plastic.
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Inside the frame at the base is a thin piece of foam called the ball stop.
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Opposite the ball stop is a broad, elliptical-shaped edge called the scoop.
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There are usually multiple flat, nylon and/or leather shooting stings that run up and down the head and small, round, nylon laces (a.k.a. shooting stings), are hand-woven throughout the head, separating the shooting stings and helping hold them in place.
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The focal point of the strings is called the pocket. The pocket is located two thirds of the way in between the ball stop and the scoop.
To expedite breaking in a new stick, you should deepen the pocket by repeatedly bounc-
ing the inside of the strings against the toe of your lax-shoe. Queen City Lacrosse sells a tool
called a Pocket Pounder that is helpful, too. To finish forming the pocket, you should turn the stick
around and rake the back of the strings against the toe of your lax-shoe or the Pocket Pounder.
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It’s important to remember to check the strings frequently and replace any that are worn
or frayed. You should also tie the long shooting strings that hang down from the frame in a square
knot. Braiding and/or taping them together is not a good idea, because if your stick doesn’t pass the
stick check, it can be exasperating trying to undo them with the game starting and you may need to
be on the field.
Before I detail how to hold the stick, I want to quickly mention grip pressure. You should
grip the shaft as if you were holding a live bird without crushing it. You can also compare it to the
way you hold a pencil or a musical instrument. Your muscles will voluntarily tighten when you throw
and catch the ball. Remember squeezing, especially in cold weather can make your fingers numb
and your forearms sore!
As you gain experience, you will hold the stick in lots of ways—even in one hand on oc-
casion! But until you get to that point, there are only two places to put your top hand. Beginners
should hold it three quarters of the way up the shaft, experienced players half way, but all players
should keep her bottom hand at the butt end.
When passin’ and catchin’ ,keep in mind some of the steps Northwester University Coach
Kelly Amonte-Hiller introduced in her new DVD, Skills Of A Champion.
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Hold the stick at an angle.
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Keep the pocket facing the target.
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Maintain a loose grip, but not too loose.
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Keep your wrists relaxed and flexible.
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Keep your hands away from your body.
How to Hold the Stick:
Hold the butt end of the stick in your bottom hand by circling the butt cap with your
fingers and rest your thumb pad over your index finger. Your top hand should be placed half to
three quarters of the way up the shaft (circling the shaft at that point with a piece of tape will serve
as a reminder where to put your top hand); lay the stick shaft at the base of your fingers and close
your hand comfortably around the shaft, placing your thumb pad only on the side and cock your
wrist back slightly. The grip is similar to the way you would hold a pencil, steering wheel, golf putter,
lipstick, flute or clarinet.
Complete the stance by lifting the stick up keeping your top hand just above, outside and
slightly in front of your stick side shoulder. Push your bottom hand away from your body, rotate
your shoulders and hips, place the foot on your stick-side back and don’t forget to bend your knees.
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PASSIN’ THE BALL
Passing the ball correctly is a compound movement. You push the shaft forward with your
top hand while simultaneously pulling the butt end back with your bottom hand. Log onto www.
surethrow.com and watch Ms. Shelley Klaes-Bawcome, head women’s lacrosse coach at James
Madison University demonstrate the proper mechanics.
To execute a pass, hold the stick as described and remember that the bottom hand must
be held up and forward causing it to be angled back slightly to the ground. 1. Smoothly accelerate the shaft forward with your top hand, 2. Pull the butt end back toward the mid line of your
body with your bottom hand stepping forward with the foot on that same side. Gradually increase
speed and then snap your top hand’s wrist, sharply pull the butt end back and release the ball. Follow through on a long pass by swinging the stick across your body. The motion looks similar to a
baseball pitcher’s delivery. Start by keeping your bottom hand at mid-chest level, snap your wrist
and pull your bottom hand back toward the middle of your chest—not under your outstretch arm.
Finish the pass by pointing the stick at the target, face down.
Coach Lassen suggests, “Have new players partner pass while kneeling on one knee.
This will help them understand that the power comes from their core.” She also reminds players to Keep their feet moving when partner passing because it makes the exercise more gamerelated,and always remember to aim at a target.
Diagnose Your Passin’ Problems:
Picture yourself standing in the middle of a huge clock face with your head pointing at
twelve o’clock and with your nose facing three o’clock.
If your passes bounce in front of your partner who is standing ten yards away, you are
releasing the ball after twelve ‘o’clock or late. If your passes arc like a rainbow or go over your partners head, you are releasing the ball before twelve o’clock or early. As you gain more experience
you will learn to vary your release point (i. e. longer passes require an earlier release). For now,
focus on keeping the stick up, snap your wrist and pull your bottom hand back toward your chest
every time.
CATCHIN’ THE BALL
You can catch the ball using the same basic hand positions detailed in the How to Hold
the Stick Section. The difference is you must bring both hands forward so the stick head is eight
inches to the side of and six inches in front of your face.
Use your top hand as a shock absorber and “give” as the ball hits the pocket, and keep
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the stick head angled back slightly to prevent the ball from falling out.
Don’t scream for the ball especially during a game! Silently “ask” for it by vigorously shak-
ing the stick head. Watch the ball as it leaves your partners stick and goes into your stick pocket.
Your hands should work together like a shock absorber. Coach Lassen suggests, “You need to
give-in as the ball hits the strings (like trying to catch an egg without letting it break.) Protect the
ball by keeping the stick head close to your body in an un-checkable but “legal” position. By legal
I mean, you cannot hold your stick inside your protective sphere more than a second or two. If
you don’t already know, you will soon find out most of the balls thrown to you will be off target.
Therefore, it is imperative that you bend or step to catch it.
NOTE: Although it’s a bad habit that we don’t want you to get into, beginners can expe-
dite catching by sliding their top hand up to the throat. Holding the stick in this manner will bring
it closer to the midline of your body which will make catching easier. Experienced players who
are having a bad day catching the ball will find this technique helpful, too! But, as Coach Maggie
Locke so aptly points out, “Players need to get use to catching the ball without moving their hand
at all!”
GROUND BALL PICK-UPS
When it comes to pickin’ up a ground ball (a.k.a. a 50/50 ball), job number one is to get
there before your opponent!.This will require you to explode to the ball. You may have to “box
out” your opponent to get there before she does. By that I mean your first step may need to be
angled in front of her. If you don’t get there first, stay low and keep your eyes on the ball; position yourself goal side (keep your body in between your opponent and your goal), and try to
check the ball out of her stick. If that doesn’t work stay goal side, Hug the Tree and play tenacious
defense.
THE TECHNIQUE FOR PICKIN’ UP THE BALL:
You must slow down before you get to the ball. As you slow down, it’s imperative to
lower your center of gravity by bending your knees not your waist. Simultaneously, aim the scoop
of your stick one inch behind the ball, position your body so the ball is near your forward foot and
lower the stick by extending your arms and dragging your knuckles on the ground. Petite girls
can pick up the ball easier by chocking up on the stick with both hands. Scoop down and through
the ball, immediately pull it up toward your chest, cradle as you run and explode into open space.
I’ve noticed the first girl to the ball often puts her stick down, flicks the ball into open space and
then runs to pick it up. Be advised this strategy is no substitute for learning the proper technique
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but it is an alternative provided you don’t get called for covering the ball or you don’t launch the
ball into the air, get a Yellow Card for Dangerous Propelling and play a girl down for three minutes!
I’ve also noticed after a pick up, some girl’s keep their stick extended and play “Paddle ball” by
flipping the ball into the air and try to catch it—over and over again! You must first settle and then
protect it by pulling it close to your body; cradle and run into open space!
ACKNOWELEDGEMENT
I am indebted to my mentor, colleague and friend, Ms. Cheryl Ann Lassen, for her time
spent proofreading and editing this article. Coach Lassen is one of the most professional, knowledgeable and inspirational women in the business. She is the head women’s coach at Sewickley
Academy, a member of the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall Of Fame, a board member and coaches an
Intrepid Girls’ Lacrosse Club team.
I am also grateful to my coaching and umpiring colleague and step-daughter, Ms. Maggie
Locke, for her gentle and constructive criticism of this work.
When I look to the future, it’s so bright, it burns my eyes.
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– Oprah Winfrey