2man Game And Dodging

One common misconception about the Principles Based Offense, which utilizes simultaneous 2man and 3man on ball and off ball actions coupled with ball movement and spacing, is that it's not a dodging offense.  When coaches think of dodging they think of iso's, 1v1's, speed dodges.  or ankle breaking moves.  However, every coach knows that a key to great dodging is a player's ability to change speed, change direction and change planes (pop outs).  Let's not forget the fact that we must also understand how the defense is playing us and what 'Affordances" they are providing.  Oh yeah, we also have to be aware of sliders, adjacent defenders and backside defenders all the while being ready to feed an open teammate!

The truth is, dodging is a lot more than just running by your defender!

This is why I believe the ultimate way to become a great dodger is to learn dodging in the context of 2man game. Not only are dodgers forced to learn the nuances of changing speed / direction / planes, but players learn to dodge while reading the defense.  Is there anything more important than this?!  I don't think so!  Are they switching or are they staying?  If the defense is staying, are they going under or are they going over the pick.  The offense can learn to punish the defense versus all coverages! 

Another important advantage of learning to dodge in the context of 2man game is how to leverage the art of deception.  Some examples are: using your eyes to look off the pick to get a step or selling to your defender that you're going to use the pick to set up a pick refusal, faking a refusal to set up using the pick, hesitations, stick fakes, hand gestures, communication are among the countless ways to use deception.

Check out the video below of Steve Nash titled, "Pick and Roll Set up" and watch how Nash uses a myriad of dodges, hesi's, spin moves, to set up his 2man game while he masterfully reads and influences (deception) the defense.

On Wednesday of this week we did a training session in Colorado with a group of college and committed HS players where we played a ton of 7v7.  The offense played with two 3man sides and one player at X who rotate in with the righty side.  The Simultaneous actions involved Ram Screens ball side, and a "Middle Entry" concept I learned recently from University of Denver Offensive Coordinator Matt Brown which basically gets into an off ball version of Ram Screens.

One key to the environment we created is we guided the defense, having the girls change and communicate three different coverages: Switch, pressure the ball and try to get over the pick, and double team the pick.  This is critical for both sides of the ball!

Watch the video below of solutions the ball carriers used to set up their 2man actions.  You will notice they are very similar to that of Steve Nash!  I have always believed that lacrosse players should learn to dodge like a basketball player, and 2man game makes this happen!