Kick Start Your Offense with the Two-Man Game

with Kevin Cassese,
University of Virginia Head Men's Lacrosse Coach;
University of Virginia Associate Head Coach from 2023 to 2026;
2026 ACC Champions;
Lehigh University Head Coach from 2008 to 2023;
2018 Inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame;
3x Patriot League Regular Season & Tournament Champions (2012, 2013, 2021);
Team USA Assistant Coach for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships;
Duke University Assistant Coach from 2005 to 2007;
Duke Interim Head Coach in 2006;
2007 NCAA National Championship Runner-Up;
Stony Brook Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator in 2005;
Professional player for the Philadelphia Barrage;
MVP of the 2006 MLL All Star Game;
3x All-American at Duke University;
2002 MacLaughlin Award (nation's top midfielder);
3x member of the U.S. Men's National team (was Captain in 2010);
2x Gold medalist

Kevin Cassese demonstrates how to create offensive opportunities using the two-man game. Coach Cassese discusses how to establish the two-man game using a series of picks and passes and then shows the entire series from all angles. These various techniques give options on dealing with passive and aggressive defenders and show how to take advantage when a defender switches from a long pole to a short stick. Coach Cassese takes you through game scenario adjustments so you'll know how and when to setup the defense when using the two-man game.

Pick and Pass Series
Beginning with the purpose, mission and objectives, Cassese demonstrates how to gain a step on your man, clear your hands to feed and create a favorable match-up while helping the off-ball player gain an advantage. Coach Cassese uses the Pick, Fake Pick, S Pick and Slip Pick with the two-man game to create opportunities. Detailed explanations and demonstrations of the drills help players and coaches see how, when and where to perform them to be most effective.

Flip and Mirror Series
When the defense begins to adjust to the pick and pass series, Coach Cassese has another way to confound them: He uses a series of deception and confusion called the flip, fake flip and mirror series. He shows when and how to use these techniques, and discusses how to use the mirror to take a pole away from a match-up, how to adjust to defensive switching and how to create favorable match-ups.

Two-Man Game Situations
Coach Cassese shares the intricacies taking advantage of whether the defense comes over the top or from below, switches or plays through the pick, and if the match-up is with a short or long-pole, depends on how specifically the pick is set.

Moving behind the goal to X, several easy picks can be set to ensure the offense can beat the defense to the Goal Line Extended (GLE) thereby increasing the chances of scoring. Similar to setting picks up field, setting picks at X has specific considerations to increase the effectiveness of the two-man game. Some of the effective scenarios covered include the double-pick, fish hook, down pick and razor pick. With practice, all of these tools can be effectively applied to your current offense.

This presentation is great for all levels of play. It uses both practice footage and commentary by Coach Cassese to show more than 24 examples of the two-man game that can be implemented to ensure your players' success.

By applying his years of playing and coaching experience, Coach Cassese presents numerous variations of the pick and pick series that can be applied to any existing offense, improving the performance and scoring opportunities of your team.

70 minutes. 2015.