Area 1v1's
See if you can find the examples of these skills being used in this video!
-Slide dodges
-Punch moves
-Re-dodges
-Hesitations
-Back in Post up
-Spin
-Spin Hook
-Answer Moves
-Split dodges
Here's the raw footage with out voice over:
One of my new favorite things to do lately is having Zoom calls with college coaches and show them the JM3 Backyard Curriculum. On Monday I sent you recordings of calls with Virginia Head Coach Lars Tiffany where he loved the defensive elements as well as Arizona State Head Coach Tim McCormack, who was a four year starting goalie at UMass and loves the feel for dodging this drill teaches!
Today I had a long Zoom call with Brown Assistant Coach, Brett Holme. It was a blast talking lacrosse with Brett, he’s super interesting and smart! No surprise, he loves the drills! He especially loves the Area 1v1 Drill!
Right after the call texted me the following!
Below was my email to him this afternoon with a video breaking down Area 1v1 Variations:
I think this is one of the best 1v1 drills I’ve seen because it works on so many really important parts of dodging:
-Getting a step
-Turning the corner/initiating contact
-Hesitation moves
-Re-dodges
-Post up moves
The rules are simple:
-Offense: use the "dodge back to the line" concept, then square up again and do it again
-Typical sequence: get a step, turn corner/initiate contact, hesitate, bounce to re-dodge and/or square up/post up again
-Defense: pressure! Don’t back off. We are simulating a part of the field where you can’t give ground and you have to pressure a “Bounce out”, try not to let them square up, but use solid approach technique (don’t lunge)
Here’s a video of Area 1v1’s and techniques we work on:
Let me know your thoughts!
3 Steps and Hip Swivel
Today’s lesson is on two important and interrelated dodging techniques called 3 Steps and Hip Swivel. I pioneered these techniques in the early 2000’s when I was the Head Coach at Denver. The best way to describe 3 Steps is executing a hitch to hesitate, change direction, pop out, or initiate contact every three steps. One can execute these hitches with “Open” hips or facing the defender, as well as “Closed” hips away from the defender.
3 Steps is a technique that does what you’re always taught to do: change direction, change speeds, change planes.
Early on I noticed that if I mixed up my Open and Closed hitches it created amazing hesitation moves.
Below are videos of me demonstrating 3 Step Dodging and Hip Swivel in San Diego last March.
First, watch the raw video:
Here's a 3 Step Slam Dodge:
Next, watch the voiced over explanation of 3 Steps:
A couple of years ago I was watching this Steve Nash Breakdown. I watched it 10 times actually! The amount of techniques applicable to what we teach will blow your mind!
The narrator talks about one particular technique called “Hip Swivel!” I immediately realized THIS was the technique I had discovered years earlier!
Watch the Steve Nash Breakdown:
Truth be told, I haven’t taught 3 Steps or Hip Swivel very much since my Denver days. In a Division I setting we had the time to work on it, but in high school and club settings there just isn’t time. Until now!
Area 1v1’s is I have realized is the ultimate environment to learn 3 Step Dodging! If you start watching, you will notice 3 Step Dodging happens naturally! Watch your own videos too! You will begin to see it as you practice it!
Today, we worked on Hip Swivel technique in our Area 1v1’s. You will notice the best hesitations occur with this technique if you watch closely.
Area 1v1’s with Hip Swivel:
3/27 Area 1v1 Variations
The Tight Area 1v1’s are a new staple. It’s the best 1v1 Drill I’ve ever seen and I’ve been sharing it with you all!. We do a little bit, 2-3 reps each, every day. We are at the point where we are working on different nuances every day. nuances. Below are some video examples of really cool nuances!
Head Fakes
Watch the way Lucy is using her head fakes in the opposite direction of her move. This isn’t a new concept, the best players do this all the time. One situation where it is uncommon though, is to set up pop outs. Watch for Lucy’s pop outs and notice she’s selling in while she’s popping out. This is a great way to set up a questionmark move.
Area 1v1’s Starting with a Post up
today we did our Area 1v1’s starting this way and it was awesome! It made me realize even more the power of the Back in Post up. Think about this: you can’t guard a player’s spin, top side rocker, and pop out! It is the easiest way to create separation or else you’re going to get to the net. Add in a little “Dead Shoulder” (See the Ryder Garnsey webinar if you haven’t already!) with your Spin Hook move and it’s money! The other thing we worked on today was MJ Moves. Most of the time the kids have been opening up on their Bounce whereas the MJ Move involves closed hips on the bounce and it very deceptive.
Area 1v1’s Focus on Hesitation Moves
Today at the Munro backyard, we did 3 reps each of our Area 1v1's with the main focus on hesitations after the initial move. I’ve spoken to all of you about this concept, It is counter intuitive to think of hesitating after you get a step, but it’s a critical skill!
I wanted the girls to learn the One Foot Hesitation and Colin wanted to practice his Quick Hitches, but I asked him to do a few One Foot Hesi’s to show the girls.
Colin wanted us to start in a Post up because he wanted to work on his Step Back Move.
Here’s what we worked on:
-Start in a post up, Dead Shoulder/Rocker to set up Step Back Move
-Punch moves to initiate
-Hesitations Moves
-Quick Hitches
-One Foot Hesitation Moves
-Hitches
The kids did a good job playing hard and working on skills. Short and sweet! Then we played some D2P2 and finally two games of 2x.
It was a great backyard day!
