How to Dodge in Lacrosse 

Dodging in Lacrosse refers to your ability to run past defenders while you have the ball in your stick. There are many ways to dodge effectively in lacrosse and it is one of the most important skills for any player to learn. Whether you play Attack, Midfield, Defense, or even Goalie, you will need to know how to dodge. 

If you are a beginner, it is important to first get comfortable cradling a lacrosse ball, as well as passing and catching, before you move on to dodging. 

At the end of the day, there is no wrong way to dodge as long as you are able to make an attacking motion towards the goal without having the ball drop out of your stick or get checked out of your stick. 

An effective dodge is the backbone of every lacrosse offense, and is an important skill that every player needs to learn and continue to improve on. Dodging to shoot is just as important as dodging to pass. Dodging to pass will put pressure on the defense and allow other players to get open for an easier shoot or easier dodge. 

The guide below will outline the most common dodges and how to perform them.  

Top 10 Tips to get better at Dodging in Lacrosse: 

1. Run directly at your defender. Regardless of where he’s playing defense, (directly in front of you or off to the side forcing you one direction), it is always more effective to line your shoulders up directly with him and start you dodge by running straight at him. 
2. It is important to be comfortable performing dodges running fast towards the defender and moving slow. Depending on the defender and the situation, you may want to dodge at a very slow pace rather than getting a full running start. 
3. Use your body! Dodging past a defender does not always mean running past him. Often you will need to put your body into the defender and lean into him in order to maintain control and make it harder on the defender. Even slow players can be VERY good at dodging if they learn how to use their body to shield their stick. 
4. Keep your head up! Before you begin your dodge, scan the field and see where your teammates are. As you dodge it is important to have an idea where you may pass the ball, as most dodges end in a pass not a shot. As you get more advanced, you can also understand what defensive slide package your opponent is running and know which of your teammates is likely to be open after you dodge. Practice your ”Jab Step” also called “putting your foot in the ground” or more simply, making a hard step in the wrong direction before you dodge the other way. Very similar to a crossover in basketball. 
5. Quickness is more important than speed. The most important part of any dodge is a change in direction. A quick step one way and then the other way will cause a defender to get off balance and give you an advantage. 
6. You want to perform your dodge as close to your defender as possible to be the most effective. However, if you are dodging against a long stick defender, you will need to initiate the dodge farther away to avoid the initial check. You should be starting your dodge about 5-8 feet away from the long pole defender. 
7. Once you have one dodge you are very comfortable with that is effective, learn to do a dodge that is very similar for most of the dodge but in the end has you dodging a different direction. This will help you set up your defender to expect one thing and then surprise him with a different move.  
8. Practice Cradling with both right and left hands. Even if you don’t like to shoot or pass with your weak hand, having the ability to comfortably switch hands and protect your stick while dodging is a huge advantage.
9. Watch lacrosse! See what other high school, college, and pro players do and try to replicate how they dodge. 
10. Jab Step! Stick your foot in the ground! Take a hard step! One hard step in the wrong direction to plant your foot and then explode the other direction is the most important aspect of dodging. Practice it! 

BONUS: Be creative! There is no wrong way to dodge. Have fun. Try new things. Make Mistakes. Combine multiple dodges. Do whatever you want! 

The Most Common types of Lacrosse Dodges:

• Bull Dodge
• Face Dodge
• Roll Dodge
• Split Dodge

How to do the Lacrosse Bull Dodge:

• The Bull Dodge is the most common dodge and also the most simple. Just like it sounds, you force your way straight through towards the goal in a straight line. 

• Speed is the most important part of the Bull Dodge. Make sure to back up from the defender and make sure you have enough space to get a running start at your defender. 
• Then, put the stick in your dominant hand and with two hands on the stick begin a power cradle (a strong aggressive cradle that will keep the ball in your stick even if it is checked.)
• As with any dodge, it is important to run directly at your opponent so they do not know which way you are going to dodge. 
• As you get close to your opponent, take one strong step to the side of your defender in the direction opposite of where you are going, and then run to the other side of your opponent. 
• For example, if you are a righty, you will have the stick in your right hand with a power cradle, then as you approach your defender you will take one hard step to the left (which will make your defender think you are going left) and then dodge to the right side of them. 
• An important part of a bull dodge is to not try and run around your defender. 
• As a righty dodging to the right, you should be aiming to have your left shoulder collide directly with the defender’s left shoulder and run through it. 
• You need to use your body to push the defender back and off balance. 
• Once you have run through your defender, if the defender is still running alongside you, it is important not to pull away from them, but instead lean your body into the defender and maintain body contact. This will keep the defender from being able to throw any checks and you will maintain the advantage. 
• Finally, as you get close to the goal, you can separate from the defender with a step or two and shoot or pass the ball. 

How to do the Lacrosse Face Dodge:

• The face dodge is a very common dodge and great for beginners. 

• To start the face dodge run directly at your defender. You can be moving fast or slow with this dodge. 
• As you approach your defender, have the stick in your dominant hand and cradle with two hands. 
• When you get close to your defender, take your stick and move it quickly across your body with the head of your stick moving directly in front of your face. 
• As a righty, you will be moving the stick from the right side of your body over to the left side. 
• As you move the stick to the left side of your body you will protect the stick with your body and keep the stick on the left side (even tho you are holding the stick with your hands in the same position they started on the right side)
• Then as you move past your defender you bring the stick back to the right side and make a pass or take a shot. 

How to do the Lacrosse Split Dodge:

• The Split Dodge is very similar to the face dodge and a great dodge for any level of play. 

• To start the face dodge run directly at your defender. You can be moving fast or slow with this dodge. 
• As you approach your defender, have the stick in your dominant hand and cradle with two hands. 
• When you get close to your defender, take one hard step (jab step) in the opposite direction you want to go, then begin moving in the other direction.
• As you are moving, switch the stick from your right hand to your left hand in front of your body and begin moving to the left. 
• You will be making the hand switch right in front of your defender to confuse them. 
• Once you are moving left with the stick in your left hand, you can look to pass or shoot. 

How to do the Lacrosse Roll Dodge: 

• The Roll Dodge is a little more difficult but very effective. 

• For this dodge you don’t want to be running full speed. A slightly slower pace will help you set it up properly. 

• Similar to the other dodges, you will approach directly at your defender. 
• As you arrive at the defender, you want to make a move to one side or the other of your defender. After you have chosen a side, you will step lacrosse your body and plant your foot lacrosse your body and next to your defender’s foot.
  • Example:If you are a righty, you will start moving to your left, and then put your right foot across your body next to the right foot of your defender. 
• At this point, you will have your back to your defender and you can begin the roll. 
• You have now moved towards the left, stepped hard with your right foot, turned your back on your defender, and rolled the opposite way so that you are now running to the right of the defender with the stick in your right hand. 
• This is a great dodge to use in combination with other dodges and is great for protecting the stick. 
• It is common during the roll dodge to keep your body pressed up against the defender to really gain leverage and control the defender.