One of the most difficult offensive skills to master in lacrosse is shooting on the run against defensive pressure. When we're young we all want to shoot the ball 100 mph into the upper right-hand corner. This is easier said than done.
Through countless hours of shooting the rock against a wall or a goal you can hone your accuracy while stationary. But I'm a big believer that anyone can become a great shooter on the run, someone who can accomplish many things a stationary shooter can't.
A shooter on the run is much more versatile than a stationery shooter because you can disrupt a team's defensive scheme and create nightmares for the goalie. Shooting on the run forces your defenseman to follow while trying to throw checks at the same time - it's much harder to hit a moving target.
If you're an effective shooter on the run you make the defensive unit slide when you beat your man. This will leave holes in the zone for easy close-in shots and makes you an effective feeder and set-up player. Over the past several years middies have evolved into high-scoring offensive players, grabbing roles normally reserved for attackmen. Middies' abilities to shoot on the run have revolutionized offenses. This new breed of offensive player has been able to create chaos on the defensive side of the ball. The result of having six effective shooters - as opposed to three - puts tremendous pressure on today's defenses. Effective shooters on the run become good feeders when sliding man-to-man and zone defenses are forced to rotate, leaving behind open spaces.
Whether you're dodging north to south or sweeping it is critical to create space from your defender. In doing so you are allowing yourself to extend your arms to get an effective shot on the cage. How do you do that? A good way to create space is by dodging. If you're real quick or fast use a split dodge or just run by your defender. If you're not real quick use a roll dodge.
Whatever move you use the ultimate goal is to get your hands free to take the shot. Your body weight should be moving toward the cage. Shooting on the run is very difficult when you get pushed or are running away from the goal.
Identify the opportunity to dodge, recognize your defender's weaknesses, get the stick in your strong hand and try to get an accurate and deceptive shot on goal. The beauty of shooting on the run is that you don't have to shoot 100 mph to be effective. Some of the most effective shooters in the world can barely break a pane of glass. Accuracy is the first thing to worry about. Then look to add some velocity.
Here are some tips: keep your hands away from your body to create space, create torque in your shot by turning away from the goal and extending your arms back and away like a golfer's swing with as much follow through as possible. Make sure that you snap your wrist when releasing the ball to increase the velocity on your shot. The principles for the placement of your shot apply equally to shooting on the run and while stationery. If you are a left-handed middie driving down the pipe against a right-handed goalie the most effective shot is still low and away. From a goalie's perspective shooting on the run can be more difficult than stationery shooting because he/she has to move to cover the shooter's angle.
Here's a drill that I think is effective in developing velocity and accuracy for shooting on the run.
* Set up three cones in the shape of a V pointing away from goal line extended. Place one cone on the center line of the field 18 yards from the cage. Place the other two cones eight yards off goal line extended and 45 degrees left and right of the center cone forming the V shape. This drill simulates a middie coming downfield either defended or in unsettled situations setting up a shot on the run.
* A middie with the ball runs directly at the top cone, split dodges either left or right and shoots on the run before getting to the lower cones. After shooting the ball, curl back to the midfield line, pick up a looseball and split dodge with your off-hand. Repeat the drill eight times.
Remember that it is more difficult to shoot on the run when you become tired so stay focused. Repetition is the key to becoming an effective shooter on the run. Younger players have a tendency to stop when they shoot the ball. It's critical that they use proper footwork when learning how to shoot on the run.
Beginners should start to learn how to shoot on the run by taking it slowly. Learn how to walk and shoot before you attempt to run and shoot. Remember you need to be physically strong to shoot on the run. You need decent upper body strength, proper technique and repetition to acquire this skill. When you feel comfortable walking and shooting, start to jog and shoot. Only once you've mastered that should you begin shooting on the run.
After all this repetition you'll be rewarded when you start knocking down 40 to 50 goals a season. If I could do it, so can you! |
