Creating a Tenacious Team Defense: Organization & Practice Methods

with Brendan Dawson,
The Haverford School Head Boys Lacrosse Coach / Assistant Athletic Director;
former Haverford College Head Men's Coach;
2018 Centennial Conference Coach of the Year;
former Widener University Head Men's Coach;
2x Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year (2014, 2016);
former Aurora University Head Men's Coach;
2010 Midwest Lacrosse Conference Coach of the Year;
as a player, helped lead Salisbury University to Division III National Championships in 2003 and 2004 when he served as team captain

Defenses are built around knowing when to slide and where and when to cover from a slide. This video featuring coach Brendan Dawson lays out this concept in a simple, understandable format to assist you in training your team.

Using nine drills that start with small group concepts, and culminating with full 7v7 scrimmage, Coach Dawson provides a road map for any coach to put the "Hub and Diamond" defensive strategy into place.

The "Raider Slide" Drill

Learn how to slide from the crease, cover the strong side and take risk on the backside during this drill. Coach Dawson explains the drill step by step on the white board and provides great practice footage for you to understand the drill and implement it into your practice. Key points when completing the drill include:

• Focusing on the early first dodge from the "Hub"
• Stressing communication
• Developing recovery and filling skills
• Leading to free play

Practice Segments

This video concludes with Coach Dawson's "Scramble Drill". This drill puts everything together into one continuous game-like scrimmage. Starting from a 4v3 situation, this full-field drill reinforces the "Hub and Diamond" concept and communication required to play an aggressive, but controlled defense. This exercise brings in components of fast breaks and fitness and is completed when your team gets to a 7v7 situation.

If you are a coach of a high school team or club program, this is a great video to help you develop a new defensive strategy. Coach Dawson's strategies are sound and will help your team frustrate your opponent's offense.

76 minutes. 2021.