1. Defense
Manhasset H.S.

2. Bill Cherry
• B.S.- C.W. Post College-1974
• MA-Adelphi University-1982
• Coaching experience 36 years (31 M.H.S/ 5-Sewanhaka H.S.)
• Head coach M.H.S.- 5 years
• Record 84-10
• 2009/2010 (undefeated) N.Y.S. State Class C Champions
• 3X Conference conference coach of the year
• 2009 Nassau County Lacrosse coach of the year
• 2009/10 Newsday Lacrosse Coach of the year
• Coach 2011 Under Armor H.S. All America team
• Coach 2008 Addidas N.E. Regional team
• Manhasset Lacrosse Hall of Fame

3. Overview
• Intro
• Philosophy
• Scouting
• Basics
• Checks
• Sliding/slides
• Drills
• Keys
• Q/A

4. Philosophy
• Our philosophy at Manhasset is to play man to
man, aggressive under control, fundamentally
sound defense. We try to accomplish this with
intelligence, discipline, hard work,
conditioning, and toughness.
• It is our belief that “Great Defense” translates
into even greater offensive opportunities

5. Philosophy
• Head-Be smart, know your opponent. Be disciplined and
communicate. Anticipate!
• Heart-Be passionate about the game, the Creator’s game. Love the
Game!
• Feet- Defense is about footwork! If you can run and change direction,
everything else will fall into place.
• Hands-Use your hands to Jam and stop a players momentum .Keep
your stick on the hands of your opponent.

6. Scouting
• We scout All of our opponents. We take no
one for granted.
• At Least once in person
• At Least once on Video
• Team Video sessions after practice
• Scouting report

7. Basics
• Stance-Similar to D Back in football. Sit in a chair , chest up, feet
staggered, butt hand on hip, crosse pocket up. Stick out in front on ball, 45
to ball, sticks inside off ball.
• Position: On Ball-Close Defense-Split Attack man, eyes on midsection.
Never get ahead, stay ½ step behind to drive. If need be, catch up, close
gate and force inside roll or turn back
• Position-Backside pipe-On Pipe, angle to ball…never be square to the
ball…see your man and the ball…Big Eye on the Ball/Little Eye on the Man!
• Position: Middie-On ball, align ½ man to strong side, force man to weak
hand. Use your hands to jam when opponent is dodging. Most players will
rise up when dodging, that is the time to jam them and stop their
momentum. Off ball sink towards crease, stick inside.

8. Basics
• Crease-D/M
• Ball Behind-Face to Face/stick on stick-no slide
responsibility.
• Ball on side or out front-play ball side, sticks
length away. Head on a swivel. You are “Hot”
in Princeton and Maryland slide.
• Middies/D Mid-45 off ball-offside middie cheats
down for 2 slide. Onside shut off.
• Stay Tight!!

9. Communication
• It is imperative that “all” our defenders
communicate. First, I believe it keeps everyone
on their toes as to what we are doing, and
secondly, it puts the offense on the defensive, in
that they know we know what we are doing.
• Goalie-Calls Ball position and slide, Ind. talk
• Man on Ball “Got Ball”
• Adjacent players-Gotcha Right/Gotcha Left
• Off Ball players-I’m Hot whose got my 2?...
• I gotcha 2-who’s got my 3?...

10. Checks
• We do not teach the exotic checks, although we
do have players who can throw them. We allow
them at the right place and time.
• We do teach basic fundamentally sound checks
• Slap (rather than Wrap) A/B technique
• Poke-under control, don’t lunge
• Lift-Underneath arm or hands
• Scoop-in and under hands
• Hold-pressure down on hands

11. Sliding
• We slide with a purpose. We will slide when
an opponent gets even with the defenders
hands as a general rule.
• We will slide early on the opponents best
player to take the ball out of his hands and
take our chances on the other match ups.
• We try to make the slide a double team if at
all possible. Otherwise we “Find One”

12. Slides
• Princeton-(Crease slide)-Crease man will
release if opposing player gets even with the
hands of our defensive player. The backside
defenseman will slide to crease, while the
back side middie or pole slides down to pipe.
Depending on situation man who was playing
ball will either double ball or “Find One”( go
towards crease and look opposite for your
man)

13. Slides
• Cornell (Corner slide, Coma)-We will slide
from the corners most times when ball is
coming from behind. It is imperative that the
backside defensive player is cheating down to
cover the backside . Defensive player who has
gotten beat “Finds one”.

14. Slides
• Maryland-We will use our Maryland slide vs a 1-
3/1-4 offense if we are getting beat by the wing
players. This is a slide where the crease player
releases and the backside middie slide into the
crease. Your top defensive player split 2 cheating
to the top man
• Adelphi-(Adjacent slide)- we will slide adjacent
when there is no crease man. It is important that
we stay Tight Vs this set(45 degrees)

15. Slides
• Duke-Duke is used Vs a 1-4-1 with an
outstanding attack man behind. We will drop
a D-Man down and play zone across the top.
• Devil-Devil is a Double team off a dead ball Vs
a 1-4-1 behind the cage. If we feel we have a
good match up, or a dangerous feeder we may
go after them. Zone across the top.

16. Pre-Practice Drills
• Kick and chase
• Star
• All in one
• Gauntlet
• Break 0ut
• Long Pass/Short Pass
• Shooting

17. Drills
• 1V1-Stress position/Footwork/”Trail to X”/drive/shut the
gate.
• Box Drill-Slides/approach/breakdown/poke check/Stick
position (inside and up/recovery).
• 45’S-(cones) between Goal line and end line set up 5cones
about 10yds apart. Player starts on end line directly
opposite first cone. On go approaches, breaks down,
throws poke check, drop steps on 45 back to end line.
Approaches next cone same routine. When player gets to
second cone next man goes. Go down and then coming
back. (Rt/Lt)

18. Drills
• Clearing Drill-(fun/competition) Attack Vs
Defense. Between box and sideline.
• GB Drill-(fun/competition)-4 lines-2Att-2D
• Shell Drill-Offensive shell Vs D-coach blows
whistle, defensive player on ball lets his man beat
him-slide rotate recover.
• Salisbury Drill-divide lines up O/D (can include
middies on D. start out 2v3 in front of cage. Drill
starts with GB from coach and progresses. Great
O dill also (1 cradle move ball)

19. Drills
• Carolina Drill-(uneven drill, great for O also) Divide
team up into O/D (middies can run D also. Coach calls 2
numbers, first number is offensive players, second is
defensive players. Ex 32, 43, 54, 65
• Villanova Drill-6v5 from out front. 3 att/3 D @
restraining line. 3O and 2D lines at midfield. Drill starts
with GB and continues. D must clear ball
• Brown Drill-Team 1v1- 1@X,1 at each GLE
1@ each corner of Box, 1@ center of box. Rotate
1v1’s( x, glert, corner rt , center, etc. After the 1v1
offensive players rotate rt, defensive players rotate left.

20. Drills
• Rutgers Drill-7v6 Drill- Seven offensive players
Vs 6 defensive players. Exhausting for D, lots
of slides and rotations.
• Transition Drill-Breakout patterns into
6v3(conditioning and confidence builder
hopefully!

21. Keys to Defense
• Athletic ability
• Technique
• Head
• Heart
• Hands
• Feet
• Film Study/preparation

22. Questions/Summary

23. Acknowledgements
• I would like to thank the Seattle Chapter of US
Lacrosse for inviting me here today, I am truly
honored.
• Thanks to my players, youth coaches, staff and
Manhasset Hall of Fame for making our program
successful.
• Thanks to all the people who have contributed to
my coaching education over the years
• Last but certainly not Least to my family for
allowing me to do what I love to do!