Janine Tucker: Developing Disciplined Defenders

with Janine Tucker,
Johns Hopkins University Head Women's Coach;
Director of Tucker Lacrosse;
5x IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year;
10x NCAA Tournament appearances (6x Division I, 4x Division III);
all-time winningest coach in Johns Hopkins history;
in 2016, became the ninth coach in NCAA Division I history to reach 250 career wins;
serves on the Positive Coaching Alliance's National Advisory Board;
member of the Collegiate Officials Association (COA);
member of the U.S. Lacrosse Long-term Lacrosse Athlete Development Model Committee

Individual defensive skills are required to build and improve any team defense. This video featuring Janine Tucker goes through the techniques and drills you'll need to build an elite defender. Tucker walks you through a series of drills her team uses to build a world-class offense and provides plenty of coaching tips to help you get the most out of her exercises.

Coaching Tips and Key Defender Traits

Coach Tucker begins by addressing you, the coach. How do you prepare for a practice? She provides insight she has gained from years of coaching, including focusing on effort and asking yourself how you approach individuals and team mistakes.

Next, Tucker lays out her secrets to playing great defense and the traits she stresses for her defenders at John Hopkins. She discusses what she looks for in a great defender, including why it is important to stay low and keep your feet moving. One principle she builds on throughout her drills is "Low-Player Wins." Coach Tucker always goes back to this fundamental principle.

Developing Skills for Elite Defenders

You'll see Coach Tucker cover proper foot and hand/arm positioning. This is the basic skill all defenders need to be successful. She reinforces her points while breaking down game tape.

The Triangle Slide and Recovery drill is one of Tucker's favorites. The objective of the drill is to have defenders work on their approach to the ball carrier while another defender gets into a backup position to support the on-ball player. Your athletes will get a lot of reps in this drill, work on their communication, proper footwork, lead recovery with your stick, chop steps, recovery and more.

Coach Tucker provides six separate defensive drills, each with different approaches to improve your defenders. The drills include:

• Partner Give and Hold
• High-Five Drill
• Hips at Angle Drill
• Triangle Slide and Recovery Drill
• Approach Drill
• Chop, Slide, Crash, ground ball drill

These exercises will put players through many reps and refine their "Set Ready" position to test their skills for becoming a top defender.

Coach Tucker's expertise and passion for the game shines in this video and your team will be sure to benefit from her focus on crafting elite defenders. Improve your defenders' skills utilizing the philosophy and drills shown by Coach Tucker!

48 minutes. 2021.