How to Use and Defend Box Picks - Box Lacrosse - POWLAX

[@thecellarseller34]

Great job as usual ... to answer your pic question and the large D crease (we call it the House) only used in youth. You can clear the house Even if the offensive player being checked doesn’t have the ball... but only on defence , if the defensive team gains possession you can’t hit that player anymore.

[@POWLAX]

Thanks Tim! Can't believe I forgot that everyone calls it "The House". We're always on the inline rinks with the circles. How's everything going up north?

[@thecellarseller34]

Patrick Chapla ... just fine, considering summers over now back to work ! Are you going to Laxcon January ? Hope to see you there if you do. Keep up all your hard work 👌🏼

[@POWLAX]

I won't be heading to LaxCon this year. I'm expecting a son in November and my girl would kill me!

[@ozekeau]

This is exactly what I have been searching for! Thanks!

[@colephillips8070]

Which defensive play should be responsible for calling switch in defense. The player who’s defender is setting the pick or the player who is being picked? I personally think it should be the player on ball since they know best if they are able to stay with their man(I teach my players to say “keep” since stay and switch sound similar) or need a switch. The other defender should usually be in a position to take either player. Other coaches have disagreed saying the off ball defender should call “switch” or “keep” since they have better vision of the play development. What are your thoughts?

[@POWLAX]

I was taught to have the player watching the play call the switch or slide because they have the ability to see the play. I know a few coaches that think like you and want the on ball defender to call it because they are actively in the 1v1. Both can work, it just depends on how you want to structure your defense. Regardless, a slide or switch needs to be ready. There are a couple issues that I see with the on ball defense calling the slide. First, they’re facing away and it’s harder for backside players to hear. 2nd, the sliding player has to hear and react which could make them late. I can see a few other issues with younger groups, but if all of the players have the fluency with how a defense should work, both are possible.

[@colephillips8070]

@@POWLAX Thanks for the thoughtful response! What’s interesting is that you said “the sliding player has to hear and react which could make them late”, this is exactly why i was leaning towards the on ball defender calling switch because they have to hear and react which could make them late (plus they already have a lot on their plate since they are in the 1V1)! Hahaha. I guess that’s one of the reasons the PNR is so difficult to defend. Seems like if the offense is shooting around the pick then you want the off ball player to call switch and attack the shooter quickly. If the offense is looking for that roller more often then you want the on ball defender to call it since the off ball defender can easily pick up the roller in that situation (a good pick placed on the ball defender and they have to listen for the switch and react the roller will be long gone i would imagine). Great conversation my friend always great to talk with coaches about strategies and their reasoning behind those strategies

[@ethanparkhouse7843]

I guess I'm a little late replying but the way I usually do it is the on-ball defender calls the stay/keep if they think they can get through the pick, and off-ball will be the one to call switch. I've also played on teams where you would always keep or switch depending if it was an up pick or down pick.