Anthony Wayne Anthony Wayne LacrosseLacrosse

ShootingShooting

Proper TechniqueProper TechniqueThere are several steps to make a good lacrosse shot.There are several steps to make a good lacrosse shot.Step 1:Step 1: During your wind-up, you want the lacrosse head to be hidden from During your wind-up, you want the lacrosse head to be hidden from

the goalie, by your back. This can greatly confuse the goalie.the goalie, by your back. This can greatly confuse the goalie.Goalies try to get their eye on the ball as early as they can. Hiding the head Goalies try to get their eye on the ball as early as they can. Hiding the head

of your stick from them can give you the extra milli-second that you need of your stick from them can give you the extra milli-second that you need to score.to score.

Doing this requires a big wind-up, which puts extra power on your shot.Doing this requires a big wind-up, which puts extra power on your shot.Hiding the head of your stick from the goalie not only confuses him, but it Hiding the head of your stick from the goalie not only confuses him, but it

also increases your shot speed.also increases your shot speed.Step 2:Step 2: The next step to proper lacrosse shooting techniques is to extend The next step to proper lacrosse shooting techniques is to extend

your arms and lift your front elbow.your arms and lift your front elbow.Extending your arms, and getting the ball as far away from your body as Extending your arms, and getting the ball as far away from your body as

possible increases your shot speed.possible increases your shot speed.It is simple physics. It is simple physics. The further the ball is away from your body, the harder you can throw it.The further the ball is away from your body, the harder you can throw it.Lifting your front elbow helps the accuracy of the ball. It also provides extra Lifting your front elbow helps the accuracy of the ball. It also provides extra

velocity on the ball.velocity on the ball.As the ball is about to be released from the stick, you should bring your As the ball is about to be released from the stick, you should bring your

elbow down very fast.elbow down very fast.

Proper Technique (Cont)Proper Technique (Cont) It's All in the Wrists:It's All in the Wrists: This is the This is the

hardest part about the lacrosse shooting hardest part about the lacrosse shooting techniques. Mastering the wrist snap techniques. Mastering the wrist snap can take your entire life.can take your entire life.

The harder the wrist snap, the faster the The harder the wrist snap, the faster the shot. Be careful not to get too careless shot. Be careful not to get too careless with your wrist snap. This may result in with your wrist snap. This may result in bad accuracy.bad accuracy.

Remember, if the ball doesn't find the Remember, if the ball doesn't find the net, then there is no point to having a net, then there is no point to having a fast shot. fast shot.

Hand position:Hand position:

When shooting a lacrosse ball make When shooting a lacrosse ball make sure to have your lower hand on the sure to have your lower hand on the bottom of the stick and your upper bottom of the stick and your upper hand a little lower on the stick than hand a little lower on the stick than you normally have it when you throw you normally have it when you throw or catch. This will allow you to have or catch. This will allow you to have more leverage and shoot the ball more leverage and shoot the ball with a little faster. with a little faster.

Time and RoomTime and Room When shooting with time and room (standing still from When shooting with time and room (standing still from

outside) the player wants to take a big step with his outside) the player wants to take a big step with his opposite foot. So, if he is right-handed, then he wants opposite foot. So, if he is right-handed, then he wants to step with his left foot. As discussed, he wants to to step with his left foot. As discussed, he wants to extend his hands away from his body and get his left extend his hands away from his body and get his left elbow up as high as possible. He then wants to twist elbow up as high as possible. He then wants to twist his torso as far to the right as possible. A shooter at his torso as far to the right as possible. A shooter at this point, with the right technique, is like a loaded this point, with the right technique, is like a loaded spring. As he takes that big step with his left foot, his spring. As he takes that big step with his left foot, his torso uncoils and twists back to his left, and his wrists torso uncoils and twists back to his left, and his wrists snap his stick over the top. The players’ hands should snap his stick over the top. The players’ hands should be about a foot apart, so his bottom hand is on the be about a foot apart, so his bottom hand is on the butt end of the stick and the top hand is about a butt end of the stick and the top hand is about a quarter of the way up the shaft. This is a general quarter of the way up the shaft. This is a general guide. It is important that the shooter finds a guide. It is important that the shooter finds a comfortable hand position.comfortable hand position.

On the RunOn the Run The only real changes that occur when shooting on The only real changes that occur when shooting on

the run is that there is less leg power involved. The the run is that there is less leg power involved. The shooter must get more of his power from snapping his shooter must get more of his power from snapping his wrists over and turning his torso. One tip that helps a wrists over and turning his torso. One tip that helps a great deal when learning to shoot on the run is to great deal when learning to shoot on the run is to have their shoulder pointed towards the goal. This have their shoulder pointed towards the goal. This makes them really turn their body into their shot and makes them really turn their body into their shot and keeps them from fading away and shooting off their keeps them from fading away and shooting off their back foot. It is also important to have intermediate back foot. It is also important to have intermediate players concentrate on running down the pipes players concentrate on running down the pipes towards the goal. They will take more accurate and towards the goal. They will take more accurate and powerful shots with better angels than if they fade powerful shots with better angels than if they fade away from the goal. Also, when learning to shoot on away from the goal. Also, when learning to shoot on the run, have players start slow and work on timing the run, have players start slow and work on timing their shots in stride instead of trying to shoot at full their shots in stride instead of trying to shoot at full speed.speed.

Over Hand ShootingOver Hand Shooting The most important shot that an intermediate The most important shot that an intermediate

level player really needs to work on is the over-level player really needs to work on is the over-hand shot. This will develop correct shooting hand shot. This will develop correct shooting technique for later on. It is also the most technique for later on. It is also the most effective shot in lacrosse because it is accurate effective shot in lacrosse because it is accurate and hard for the goalie to read. With an and hard for the goalie to read. With an overhand shot, a player can shoot at any part of overhand shot, a player can shoot at any part of the goal. He can go high to high, high to hip the goal. He can go high to high, high to hip level, or high to low. The player can also hide level, or high to low. The player can also hide his stick behind his head as he winds up for an his stick behind his head as he winds up for an overhand shot and shoot with time and room, on overhand shot and shoot with time and room, on the run, and in close. the run, and in close.

Finishing In CloseFinishing In Close The overhand shot is also great for finishing, which The overhand shot is also great for finishing, which

means shooting in close (anywhere within 5 yards means shooting in close (anywhere within 5 yards close to the goal). Stress to your players when close to the goal). Stress to your players when finishing that accuracy, not power, is what scores finishing that accuracy, not power, is what scores goals. It is also very effective to shoot overhand goals. It is also very effective to shoot overhand when finishing because the player can hide the when finishing because the player can hide the stick behind his head for a quick and deceptive stick behind his head for a quick and deceptive shot against the goalie. Many young players drop shot against the goalie. Many young players drop their sticks when they are finishing and get stuffed their sticks when they are finishing and get stuffed by the goalie. For all of these reasons, the by the goalie. For all of these reasons, the overhand shot is the best shot for an intermediate overhand shot is the best shot for an intermediate level player to work on. Once he has mastered this level player to work on. Once he has mastered this shot, then he can move on to shooting sidearm and shot, then he can move on to shooting sidearm and underhand at the advanced level underhand at the advanced level

AimingAiming Look for white corners of the net. Don't look Look for white corners of the net. Don't look

at the goalie - usually you will shoot where at the goalie - usually you will shoot where you are looking and you don't want to give it you are looking and you don't want to give it to him. Aim for the goalie's weak side - for to him. Aim for the goalie's weak side - for instance a right-handed goalie will have a instance a right-handed goalie will have a weak left side so you will aim for the top or weak left side so you will aim for the top or bottom right corners.bottom right corners.

Corner shots & Bounce shots. Corner shots Corner shots & Bounce shots. Corner shots are self-explanatory. Bounce shots should are self-explanatory. Bounce shots should bounce two to three feet in front of the goalie. bounce two to three feet in front of the goalie. A nice hard bounce shot is difficult to block. A nice hard bounce shot is difficult to block. Lacrosse shooting has never been easier, with Lacrosse shooting has never been easier, with a bounce shot you can aim for the sides or a bounce shot you can aim for the sides or right between the goalie's legs. right between the goalie's legs.