Offense

1. Offense Concepts, Drills and Techniques for success Matt Holtz Head Coach University of Detroit-Mercy

2. About Me • Born and Raised in Michigan • Attended Detroit Catholic Central (’92) • Attended Michigan State (’96) • Began as Asst. Coach in ’97 • Became Head Coach of MSU Club in 2005 • 17 Club All Americans during that time • 2007 CCLA Coach of the year • Hired at UDM in September of 2007

3. University of Detroit-Mercy • The University of Detroit is a private Jesuit University on the North Side of Detroit • It was founded in 1877 by the Jesuit Brothers • UofD Merged with Mercy College in 1990 • It is the Largest private Catholic University in Michigan • Enrollment of about 6,000

4. Detroit Titans • The University of Detroit sponsors 19 varsity level Division I sports and competes primarily in the Horizon League • Notable former coaches include Dick Vitale • The university has recently reinvigorated their dedication to athletics with the hiring of our new AD, Keri Gaither, and with an infusion of funds to add additional sports

5. Detroit Titan Lacrosse • Beginning in ’08-’09 the Titans will compete in both Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse • We did not have a club program previously • The Men are applying to enter the Great Western Lacrosse League (OSU, ND, Denver, USAFA, Bellarmine, Quinnipiac) • UDM is putting their money where their mouth is.

6. My Coaching Style • Coach to the players you have, not to the players you want • If you have a ton of great middies then don’t base your offense around your attack and vice versa • Work Hard and stay disciplined • It’s very difficult to score while man down

7. When do goals happen? • Goals happen in several ways • Turnovers • Mistakes by the defense/goal tender • Great individual offensive efforts • Odd man situations (fast breaks, loose balls, man-up etc)

8. Turnovers • These are situations that can sometimes be created • A great ride • A stolen clearing pass • More often then not these are out of our control

9. Defensive Mistakes • Defender trips • Defender goes for an “all or nothing” check • Goalie misses an easy save • Goalie drops a ball in his own net

10. Great Individual Efforts • These are fun plays to watch but…. • We don’t always have great individual players • A good defense can stop a single great player most of the time

11. Odd man situations • Manup • Fast Breaks • Ground balls in your offensive end • The defense sliding to a dodger • Dodging is the most important part of this offense

12. Keys to Dodging • The first rule of this offense is “When a player dodges, he dodges to score.” • If the ball carrier is out of scoring position and is not moving towards a scoring position then a good defense will not slide to that player • If a player beats his man and a slide does not come then take a shot. • If a player dodges but does not beat his man he must know to reset the offense • One of the hardest things to do in Lacrosse is to play shortstick defense – Take advantage of that

13. Improve your opportunities to score • First and foremost, you have to beat a defender • Make slides long • Change up who the sliders are • Occupy slides • The ball moves faster than any man can

14. Making slides long • Identify the sliding scheme - adjacent or crease slides • For adjacent slides – spread out • For crease slides – put your crease player opposite the dodger • Make the slider decide between sliding and covering his man – Never let him do both

15. During the dodge • Each player has a job to do: • Ball carrier/initiator/dodger • Shot backup • Fast Break Prevention • Slide occupation • Shooters • Feeders • Outlets

16. If a slide comes • If a player dodges to score and beats his man and a slide comes he must move the ball quickly to an open man • Who will be open: • The man the slide came from (if there is no second slide) • The man at X • Any player that works to get open

17. Lets look at a typical dodge with a slide. • M1 starts with the ball • A1 will cut thru to give a driving space down the “Alley” • M3 will make the slide as long as possible by setting up on the opposite pipe. • M2 is a “free safety” • A2 and A3 have to be ready to backup shots • A3 is also an outlet

18. M2 M1 D4 D5 A2 D1 D6 A1 D3 M3 D2 A3

19. What have we accomplished? • We have created dodging space • We have changed which player is the first “slide” • We have created a long slide • Now the dodger can dodge to the goal

20. M2 D4 M1 D5 D6 A1 A2 D1 D3 M3 D2 A3

21. What to do now • If no one slides – Shoot • If D2 Slides – Get the ball to the X-man on a sneak • If D6 slides, roll A1 up, and and get him the ball • If D3 slides, work the ball through X and reverse the field • First we show if D2 Slides

22. M2 D4 D5 D6 A1 A2 D1 M1 D3 M3 D2 A3

23. Other options • D3 Slides • A1 has to occupy D6 • M3 has to get into position to score • Work the ball thru X to M3

24. M2 D4 A1 D6 D5 A2 D1 M1 D3 M3 D2 A3

25. Other options • If D6 slides, roll back and get A1 the ball

26. M2 D4 A1 D5 D6 A2 D1 M1 D3 M3 D2 A3

27. Other options • If there is a second slide work the ball thru X to the back side. This is what will happen against most good defenses

28. M2 D4 A1 D5 D6 A3 D1 M1 D3 M3 D2 A3

29. You can drive from the attack wing • Similar rules apply

30. M2 M1 D4 D5 A1 A2 D1 D6 D3 M3 D2 A3

31. M2 M1 D4 D5 A1 A2 D1 D6 D3 M3 D2 A3

32. What do all the options have in common? • “Following slides” • Many people call it “following a slide.” This implies going directly with the man • I prefer to teach people to step into a passing lane and shooting lane

33. Multiple formations • You can run these rules out of many formations • 2-3-1 • M1 Starts with the ball

34. M2 D4 M1 D5 A2 D1 D3 M3 D6 D2 A3 A1

35. Important Skills • Dodging • Fast Ball Movement • Slide recognition • Shooting

36. Drills for these skills • Any passing drills • 1 v 1 • Dodging to shooting on the run • Slide recognition • 4v4 “special” drill • Over the net shooting drill • Fake Drill

37. Passing Drills • There are many out there • Line drills • Add a center man • Weave passing • Star passing • Six line passing

38. A1 M1 A2 M2 A3 M3

39. Passing Drills • The most important things about passing drills • Proper technique • Practicing bad technique only makes you better at those bad techniques • Put passes on a line • Soft passes don’t get the job done

40. 1v1s • 1v1’s are important enough to practice every day • Again, practice properly • Don’t let players just run around • They have to be driving with a purpose • Drive from a distance • Mix up points of initiation

41. Dodge to shooting on the run • Defender puts on “token” defense • Players make sure the shoot with proper technique • Extend your arms • Hide your stick • Shoot overhand or 3/4 • Shoot on goalies • Gets goalies extra shots • It’s more realistic

42. Slide Recognition • The ball handler starts top right or left with his back to the cage • Setup 4 offensive players each with a defender • One at X • One on the Crease • One up top • One on the wing

43. Slide Recognition • The coach picks a slider and blows the whistle • The sliding player slides to the ball handler as he turns around • The ball handler must recognize where the slide is coming from and get the ball to them • The defense must rotate and the ball must get moved quickly to a shooter

44. M2 BC D2 A1 D1 D3 M3 D4 A4

45. 4v4 • Starts with a 1v1 up top • Three other pairs of players • Two on the crease • One at X • The ball carrier drives to beat his man • When the defense slides work the offense we just setup

46. BC DM D2 M2 D3 D4 M3 A4

47. Summary • Drive to score • Draw the slide or shoot • Get the defense moving • Reverse the field

48. Questions?