Types of Catches in Women's Lacrosse

Video Transcript

Alright, now like I said, passing is a very important part of the game, but with that you also have to be able to catch the ball. So we're going to talk a little bit about catching. Because on women's lacrosse sticks the pocket is so shallow, you have to really buffer the pass when you catch it, kind of like you're catching an egg or like a water balloon toss kind of thing. You're really trying to buffer the pass as you catch it so it doesn't bounce right out of your stick. So what you're going to do is when you're calling for the ball or saying like "Hey I'm open" you're going to have your stick ready out here. Point it out. Your bottom hand is near the end of the stick. You're kind of always gripping the butt of your stick so you don't have much area that can be checked by other players. And you've got your top hand at just a comfortable position on the top of the stick, wherever it's comfortable. And you're asking for the ball..."I'm open I'm open"...and the ball, they throw it, it's coming towards you, you're watching it, watching it, you want the ball to make contact when you're about at this position with your net. So you need to time the pass so you bring back your stick with the speed of the ball. But you want it to make contact about right here at this position, then you give with the ball for the rest so it doesn't bounce out of your stick. So it's going to be this motion, but when we do an example with the ball it'll make a little bit more sense. But because sometimes you've got a lot of players around you and you're trying to get the ball so you can do a shot or something like that, you have to learn how to catch with both of your hands. So just learn how to do the reverse with the other hand. But you also, you sometimes don't have time to switch hands, so you catch on your offside. So if I'm right-handed I've got my right hand at the top of the stick and my left hand at the bottom in the basic cradling starting out position. I'm going to go to the other side and I'm going to ask for the ball. Similar, my right arm is crossing my body -- this will be opposite if you're left-handed of course -- but I'm calling for the ball like this, and when the ball comes I'm going to give more in like a circular motion than going straight back when I'm on my offside, just because I can't go straight back like this; that's uncomfortable and my arm gets into my face. But I'm giving like this with the ball and then I can go right back into my cradle. So this is good for short, little quick passes that you're trying to make in front of the goal so you can score a goal.