Lacrosse defenders rely on team concepts to guard the net, working together as one unit to cover attackers and limit scoring opportunities. If the offense manages to spring the ballcarrier into the open, the defense must adjust on the fly to make up for the mistake. This adjustment usually comes in the form of sliding, in which one defender leaves his designated responsibility to pick up the free attacker.
Crash
Teams often classify sliding by the area the sliding defender vacates in order to slide to the ballcarrier. The most common type of sliding involves a defenseman sliding up from the crease to confront the free ballcarrier. Teams refer to this crease slide as "crashing" and will call out "crash" during games to alert teammates to react to the situation.
Near-Man
Another sliding variation features the man closest to the ball sliding over to guard the free ballcarrier. Known as "near-man," this scheme can be the easiest to implement, since it's the most instinctual reaction to seeing a ballcarrier break free; however, it requires excellent communication to ensure that two players don't slide to the same man and open up other gaping holes in the defense.
Support
All forms of sliding require communication and teamwork, with defenders working together to support the initial slider. Without proper support, sliding causes the entire defense to collapse. The initial slide must trigger a series of subsequent slides to cover all abandoned attackers, with the defenders farthest from the ball having to do most of the work. In particular, the player who was originally beaten, making the initial slide necessary, must race to the crease and guard any attackers left open due to sliding defenders.
Technique
Proper sliding technique calls for the sliding defender to move to the head of the free attacker's stick. Sliding only to the ballcarrier's body creates an unwanted screen for the goaltender. Sliding to the stick head places the defender in the direct line of fire and forces the attacker to take extra steps before attempting a shot. Sliding defenders must take proper angles, sliding to where the ballcarrier intends to go and not where he is. By anticipating the ballcarrier's movement, the defender can beat him to the spot and eliminate all options, bringing the offensive chance to an abrupt halt. Defenders also should try to slide when the ballcarrier's head is turned or focused on another defender, with the element of surprise creating the potential for turnovers.
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