In lacrosse, attackers get most of the attention, turning heads with their daring rushes and goal scoring. Long stick midfielders may not receive the same adulation, but they're instrumental to a team's success, helping trigger the transition to offense and serving as a pillar of strength on defense. Not just anyone can play the long stick midfield. The position requires a true specialist with a unique set of skills.
Stick
As their name indicates, long stick midfielders use a much longer stick than attackers and regular midfielders, requiring exceptional hand-eye coordination and dexterity. A long stick midfielder's stick, often called a pole, may be up to 72 inches in length, which is 30 inches longer than a regular midfielder's stick. Lacrosse rules permit only one long stick midfielder, so he has to possess the necessary skills to wield the long stick to its utmost advantage, using the lengthy pole to disrupt offenses and scoop ground balls. They also need to be able to use that extended stick to fire accurate, crisp passes to attackers streaking upfield.
Speed
Long stick midfielders need to be fast runners with speed to burn, as they're often called upon to cover large amounts of ground while blanketing the other team's top offensive midfielder. And if the ball pops loose, long stick midfielders need to pounce as quickly as possible to gain possession and start the offensive assault with a decisive dash or a bullet pass. Speed also helps long stick midfielders recover from mistakes, allowing them to chase down otherwise dangerous scoring chances. Basically, long stick midfielders do everything lacrosse defenders do except at full speed all the time.
Strength
Long stick midfielders are typically tall, powerful athletes whose size occupies key areas of the field and further enhances their stick's already intimidating reach. Their size and strength can be an advantage when throwing checks and hounding the opposition's best players, wearing them down over the course of a game.
Shooting
While passing and scooping remain their dominant stick skills, long stick midfielders also need to know how to shoot the ball with accuracy and power. The extended stick provides additional leverage for whipping shots on net, creating an unexpected offensive option and making the defense adjust to another potential weapon. However, most coaches prefer their midfielders to pass the ball to an attacker and establish an offensive set rather than letting a shot go from long range. If they're going to shoot, long stick midfielders need to advance the ball close enough for a quality shot without simply wasting a possession.
Member Comments