1. The Basics of Offense in Women’s Lacrosse
Greg Danto
Assistant Women’s Coach, George Mason University

2. About me High school player High School coach Reservoir (4yr)
Mt. Hebron (4yr)
Club Coach
M&D 2016 Black (3yr)
College Coach
George Mason University (2yr)

3. What I’d like to cover
An interactive look into some basic principles of offense beginning with transition and ending with the re-defend, and everything in between.

4. What are three things we should be looking for in our fast break?
Fast Breaking
What are three things we should be looking for in our fast break?

5. Fast Breaking cont’d Speed is key. Both on-ball and off.
Low attackers should get to the pipes.
Ball moves faster than the girl, so look to pass the ball ahead to create better numbers.
Spacing. The further the defense is apart, the further the slides become.
Create confusion for defense but avoiding all straight-line runs. Clear through to create an isolation.
Value the ball by making good decisions. A turnover in transition can be deadly.

6. Transition Drills 3 spot from the 50 Touch-back Drill Build-up No D
Carrying behind 3v1
Touch-back Drill

7. Options after Transition
What comes next? Let’s find three ways to get into our settled offense.

8. Options after Transition, cont’d
Getting the ball behind is safer but can become monotonous.
Slow-break
A quick option before the defense fully settles.
Backdoor from the wing
Small stack from the top
Settle and spread (getting everyone a touch)
Getting into motion or set

9. Basic Offense Having spots for the girls Roles
Attackers and midfielders (where they should go?)
Inside girls
Roles
What are the strengths of each girl? Set them up for success.
3 basics: drivers, feeders, cutters
What spots are best for these qualities?

10. Basic Offense, cont’d Sets Plays Pace Giving direction Formations
Have someone in the middle. Don’t just shell the 8m
Plays
Setting up for success. Using deception. Playing to strengths. Keep it simple.
Pace
What is your philosophy?
Run & gun
Slow down
Players should have to prove they can ad lib.
Giving direction
If coaches see in HD, players see the game like this...

11. Settled Attack Play to your strengths
Ways to score (there aren’t that many)
1v1
Feeding/cutting
Play to your strengths

12. Settled Attack cont’d 1v1s (dodging and the men’s game)
Top dodge (left/right)
Wing dodge (under/over)
Crease rolls (under/over)
Feeding (avoid sidearms!)
Same-side
Opposite post
High to low vs. Low to high
Cutting (at speed, always do your homework)
Backdoor
Frontdoor
Post-back
Draw and dump (set up with crease roll)

13. Two-man games Next Level Flip/Fake-flip
Pick and roll (on-ball and off)
Screen and roll (on-ball and off)
Crease (cat and mouse)

14. Teaching by Progression
Start Small and Build: Discussing ways to teach a simple backdoor. WORK BOTH SIDES.
One feeder behind, one cutter on the wing
Feeder passing to cutter, no defense
Traveling feeder, no defense
Defense on-ball
Defense on-ball and on cutter

15. Finishing Teaching girls about the shooting sweet spots
Understanding goalies and what they are trying to do
Changing levels
Faking
Power v Finesse
Being two-handed
The proper mechanics of shooting
Practice practice practice

16. 8 meters Knowing the best hashes Knowing yourself
Knowing the defense and goalie
Seeing the 8-meter
Angles
Seeing behind
Fastest first two steps wins

17. Redefending LAS (Lazy Attacker Syndrome)
Fight the urge to allow an attacker to cover the goalie or the trail defender. If they do, make sure they track back
All attackers redefend for 70 yds. They should all end at the far restraining line.
Attackers should shift towards ball-side. No use covering the far end of the field

18. Examples of Offense Let’s draw up a few examples of a motion offense
3-2-2
4-1-2