“Feet first, stick second” (lacrosse adage)
“Feet first, stick second” is one of several lacrosse rules for playing defense. The most important thing on defense is to be in position (with the feet), and only then can a player effectively use a stick.
The lacrosse adage of “feet first, stick second” has been cited in print since at least 2004.
The Lacrosse Forums
coachsteve
10-26-2004, 03:35 PM
NO offense, bud, but your coach will put you where he wants you. If you’ve got wheels, that’s the most important thing. Middies get the long run, but need stick skills, the ability to play defense AND offense, and there’s ALWAYS room for another guy to run midfiled on a club team. Long poles learn early, that you play defense with your feet first, stick second. Position is the key in defense. My poles usually have some of the best stick skills on my team. A willingness to be really nasty helps at defense.
The Lacrosse Forums
LAX_Man02
05-18-2005, 05:21 PM
feet first stick second ad dont go throwing crazy slap checks around either, there useless unless u know its going to hit the ball out and be patient
BH-BL JV Girls Lax
Sunday, May 13, 2007
at Ballston Spa
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Our goal is excellent lacrosse, no matter what the score is. That means: if a player is open, you pass; if someone needs a pic, you set it; if the ball can be passed up the field (instead of run), you pass it; you play defense with your feet first and stick second; play defense as hard as you play offense (for wings and center).
LaxPower
by griffsdad on Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:13 am
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Defense is played with the feet first, stick second. When defensemen don’t do that, I take their stick away and tell them they can’t have it back until they learn to move their feet. Essentially, without a stick, they HAVE to move their feet. Then once they do a one-on-one or two-on-two properly, they get their stick back.
Lacrosse Forums
MagnumLlax
01-28-2009, 10:37 AM
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Keys to sucess
1. Communcation
2. Take the shot away not the ball.
3. Play defense with your feet first your stick second.
4. Never give topside.
5. Never let a ball carrier roll back on you.
6. Never over commit.
7. Knows whos “hot” (Hot means who has the man with the ball, and yell which side that person is IE “HOT LEFT” “HOT RIGHT”
1 May 2009, Norwalk (CT) Citizen News, “Hammer time: Junior scores seven goals as McMahon breezes past Weston” by Todd Kalif:
Stick second, feet first to get to the ball.
LiveStrong.com
Lacrosse Rules on Defense
Apr 13, 2010 | By Alan Bass
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Feet First, Stick Second
When holding a lacrosse defenseman’s stick (which is longer than a forward’s stick), lacrosse players seem to have a recurring desire to swing the stick as much as they can at the opposing forward. However, this is not effective defense and often leads to penalties. The most efficient way to play defense in lacrosse is to constantly keep your feet moving. Running with all your might is the best way to defend an opponent. If they cannot get around you, there is almost no way for them to score.