LACROSSE CATCHING FUNDAMENTALS
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE FRUIT!
MORE FREE VIDEOS ON PAGES THROUGHOUT THE SITE / ALSO CHECK OUT THE ICON VIDEO LIBRARY
BASIC CATCHING INSTRUCTION
The second skill that a beginner learns is how to catch. A great way to teach catching a lacrosse ball is to have the player pretend that he is catching an egg. The worst habit that a lacrosse player can have when catching the ball is to attack the ball and to be really tense in his hands. Not only is this a less effective way of catching, but it also opens the player up to getting checked in game situations. When learning to catch, players should have “soft hands” and have their fingers loose – much like golf instructors tell their students. They should have their top hands about three-quarters of the way up their shaft. Notice that this is different than throwing, when the player has his hands halfway up the stick. The bottom hand should stay at the end of the shaft. Choking up to three quarters with the top hand when catching makes it easier for a beginner as it allows for greater stick control and facilitates the hand-eye coordination used when catching with your hands. (Placing the hand toward the top of the stick more closely resembles the conditioned catching reflex.)
When receiving a ball, the player stands with his stick extended slightly towards his target and the front of his stick open to the person throwing him the ball. As the ball comes into his pocket, he wants to “give” with his top hand and gently cradle the ball into the pocket. Catching takes some time and practice for beginners to learn due to the hand-eye coordination that is necessary. It sometimes helps to remind a player that they can move their body (feet) and adjust for a bad pass in stead of only moving the stick.
After you learn how to catch well utilizing these fundamentals, then you can move on to some of our more advanced skills and drills on this site and by checking out our VIDEO section.
KEYS
1 | Start Position: soft hands, stick extended with the face open to the passer
2 | Never take your eye off the ball (until it is in your stick)!
3 | Give with the pass as the ball makes contact with your pocket
4 | Practice, Practice, Practice
5 | Bad Habit Warning: Attacking or snatching at the ball, Makes the player vulnerable to stick checks, Takes too long to reach the ready position, Cannot be done under pressure
