What position should I play in Lacrosse? | Guide to understanding Lacrosse Positions 

I want to play midfield and I start Monday is there any gear or tips you recommend

Gear is a tough one. So many good options out there. Best recommendation is if you have a local lacrosse store visit that. If not find a online retailer you like, Lacrosse Unlimited, Universal Lacrosse, SportStop to name a few. Let me know how the first practice goes!

i want to play defensive pole but im the only good goalie in my team and everyone else is scared so im stuck at goalie , i wrestle and am a football defensive linemen and linebacker

@@999Zawk Gotcha. Well hopefully by helping your team in your current role you'll get a chance to step out of the cage in a game or two. Good luck this season!

@@OffBallLax appreciate it

Haha well I appreciate the support! Good luck this year!

Haha I totally would if I knew about rugby. That would take some work to figure that one out. That's awesome that you're getting back into it.

Sounds like the perfect fit to start. Just be willing to check out whatever position the team needs, but I think you are on the right track.

sounds like a midfielder to me

@_.D3._ Ooooh this is a fun one. Goalie in lacrosse is vastly different, but here's my guess without knowing you. When I think soccer goalie I think lean and long. To me this feels like a good candidate for a LSM aka Long Stick Midfielder. You have the chance to play all over the middle of the field doing damage as a defensive player, but you get the rare chance to play a little offense too. It's a great position and maybe something that would translate well with assumed size and ability to read situations and react quickly. Good luck!

@_.D3._ haha that works too. Never enough goalies

No time like the present! I used to play summer league with a heart doc in his 50s! For just beginning of totally go short stick. You need to learn to basics and portability is important. They fit much better in cars. I'd argue crafty is easier with a shorty too, but some poles are impressive. And there are more options for box lacrosse and you can only use a short stick. Get the shorty and have a blast learning the game!

I got you Brody 👊🏼

@@OffBallLax you’re the best

Awesome. Have fun with it! It's such a fun game, and you don't have to be a specific type of person to play. Love that you are already thinking about being creative, it's a great skill!

Appreciate you! As long as it helps you, the video did its job 👊

As long as you keep learning you are doing everything right! Good luck next season and get as many chances you can to keep playing. Wall ball, 1v1 with friends, club/summer ball. All good stuff to help you improve.

First. Lacrosse - YES! It's a great sport that you can take pieces from everything you've already done. I LOVE the link between basketball and lacrosse. They are incredibly similar. If you like to facilitate, then Attack is always a great place to do that. If you like scoring goals and generating goal scoring chances I'd suggest you start there. Height and Attack is an underrated advantage.

Welcome to lacrosse! It's a great sport with a great community. Just be an athlete first and there will be opportunities for you

Coaches have a good sense so he or she must see something that's letting them think that. One position to start doesn't mean you are stuck in it.

@@OffBallLax ok thanks

There are defensive minded midfielders that every team needs. If your conditioning is good, I'd roll with midfield. It's a great chance to be exposed to a lot of the game!

You got it. Midfield is the obvious first choice. Attack isnt out of the question is set on only trying to score goals. Just need to put the stickwork in, but the lack of fear can serve you well in that position. Good luck. Let me know how it goes!

Finished my rookie season and now I’m hooked, I played midfield and finally got the hang of it, now I’m playing winter and summer ball as well as the regular season!

Being honest with you, the stick is going to be such an important piece for you. You NEED to get as many reps as possible with wall ball and passing with a friend to see field time. In your position, I'd be flexible and help the coach wherever there's a spot. My thought is most likely midfield. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it! Lots of hockey crossover guys out there

Id start with midfield. Good chance to try it all

Chase, first I LOVE your mindset right now. You are asking such great questions. I think you are right to think Defense first. I've had some great lineman play D for me. Quick feet and the ability to control your body while exerting force on another player is great for Defense. What I would suggest, 1) watch a bunch of lacrosse to get a feel - you can watch pro D players highlights on youtube (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ct0dlQSZNvc.html) 2) workout with a couple buddies that play Offense and that play Defense - have them help show you the sport 3) get in your coaches ear as soon as you can - let him know you are interested and what should you work on 4) get as much game like experience you can - get to off season practice, any club teams locally that will allow you to join practices?, any pickup fall or winter leagues in your area? Good luck starting out and keep in touch. My email is in the "About" section so feel free to reach out with any questions.

Welcome to lacrosse! Midfield is an excellent place to start. You get to experience both offense and defense.

Sorry for the late reply but I wanted to provide an update via video. Thanks for the suggestion and I hope this helps! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nn0dpQ2yWoE.html

You sound like a middie to me. I'm imagine you as a sneaky, opportunistic player that getting great chances out of nothing. Sneaking around without the ball can get your team goals. You don't always need to be super physical but you need to be athletic. Good luck and hope you enjoy the sport!

To buy the long pole right away or not. That is a tough question. It may depend a lot on where your team may want/need you. My best recommendation is to borrow a stick until you get closer to the season. That why you know what you are doing. If you want to purchase, you can never go wrong with a short stick. If you decide later that you will be playing with a long pole you can just swap your head off the short stick and move it to the pole. But I'd highly recommend first borrowing from friends until you decide what you really like, or until you talk to the coach and figure out where you will most likely be needed. Excited for you to give it a go this year. Good luck!

@@OffBallLax thank you!

The natural instinct is to recommend the midfield position. I've had a few really great Defensive Midefielders that were wrestlers. The other obvious answer is Face Off guy. Wrestlers make great FOGOs if you are interested in that position. Good luck!

Attack and Mid are probably your most destined for positions. If you like the offensive side you are in the right spot on Attack. Your hockey background will probably help with the physical contact that often occurs at that end of the field as well. Keep doing that wallball! Stick skills are very important for offensive players.

Good luck! Coming fresh into the sport, midfield is the best route to take. You prolly have some good stamina from swimming and this is great for midfield. It will also give you a chance to play offense and defense

I agree you are on the right track. When you say adult league, I read, less time to spend on pure stick skill development. Defenders are the ones that generally handle the ball less than all other players so catching and throwing is less important (still a skill needed on the field though). The most important thing you need is footwork and keeping your body in the right position. Basketball is such a great compliment sport to lacrosse and your defensive principles are almost all the same!

Ha Ik I’m a bit of a late bloomer thanks for the advice 👍

First, I need to get you in that gym and build on that frame 😁. I could see you running some sort of defensive midfield, Long Stick Middie (LSM) or Short Stick Defensive Mid (SSDM). The most important part of one on one Defense is your feet. Get some ladders and make sure you have quick feet. Keep building that stamina because you need that everywhere on the field. Get that stick in your hands as much as possible. You'll be behind with Stick skills so as much time you can spend with it (wall ball and ground ball reps) the better. Good luck and let me know how this spring goes!

Awesome. Welcome to the sport! Yes, I like midfield for you, but wondering if you're defensive minded. If you are, running Defensive Midfield might be of interest to you. Allows you to use your wrestling and football skills in conjunction. Good luck!

Oooooh this is a good one. I would say a setter makes a lot of sense at an offensive position. I think of a player that has good vision and pretty quick/athletic. This blend with quick hands would be good setting up the offense. The key here is making the transition to the stick. No shortcuts here, just need to get working on the wall practicing passing and catching as much as possible. I learn towards an Attack position first but could definitely see a midfielder.

I never had speed, but you can make up for it with your anticipation. See things develop before they happen. Middie is a great place to start. You don't always need topline speed. It helps to have 1 of the three middies be fast, but doesn't need to be all of them. Attack is another position that works. Just keep working and be ready to fill whatever role the team needs. Good luck!

Thanks for reaching out. I've seen 2 females playing against my high school team. One was a goalie and the other was midfield, but everyone is different. I'm not feeling midfield, and I'm kinda intrigued on this one. Wrestlers can make very good faceoff players. With quick hands and body control, the large of the player matters less. And quite honestly you'd bring a fun intimidation factor. My other thought would be midfield if you don't want goalie. You may specialize on defensive midfield later on, but getting a chance to play mid you'll see the whole field. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes!

Don't forget to keep working on footwork to. Underrated skill for lacrosse. Here's a video i recently put together to focus on your off hand ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zkFmHGLvzZ8.html

I forgot to say this but I’m average hight

Honestly midfield is a great place to start. You get a taste of both O and D and if you feel like one better later you can switch. Good luck and have a blast!

Thank you, and I loved the vid!!

Your description really puts you almost anywhere on the field. I can see a scenario where you could play Attack or Defense. But if you like the option to play both. Middie is a great place to start!

Love that you are taking a look at it. Now is a great time to start. You can use the fall to get as much stickwork in as you can. Attack is the natural progression in lacrosse from forward in soccer. As Attack though you will be expected to have good ball handling sticks with the better defenders going against you. From that perspective I'm thinking Midfield will be the best for you to start to get an idea if you like the sport. Good luck and check the other videos here on how to improve. Love for you to come back and let me know if you like it!

Yes contact is a part of the game but lacrosse is often like rock, paper, scissors. You can be big and strong, or you can be a pure athlete with quickness, or you can possess insane stick skills. Bottom line there is no one size fits all. So take your skills that you have and make them the best possible. Attack is a good place to start, but midfield is good too. If you want to play offense you are in the right spot! Good luck its a great sport!

Yup Attack sounds like the first approach. But I will warn you, there is still running there. You don't want to be too sluggish, it just isn't the back and forth of what midfielders go through. Your stick skills are going to be the most important part. Be able to catch with some pressure, pass and shoot.

Congrats on making the team. If you are on the team sounds like the Coach might already have a thought for you so it would be good to have a conversation with your coach. Based on what you are telling me a defensive position sounds like it makes the most sense. Whether that is a defensive midfielder or a long pole defender. Enjoy the year, ask lots of questions, and have a blast!

with as much tilt as possible but still able to see

Sorry for the delay took a little pause from it all. I hear what you are saying and certainly there are different things you can do. The best thing you can do is ladder footwork drills. This will always get you faster on your feet and ready to explode to that ball. Honestly there is too much to write here but I'll give you a recommendation. Check out @LaxGoalieRat on all socials. He has an awesome presence focused on helping goalies improve their game!

Im a setter in volleyball and would like to try out for lacrosse next year what position do you think is the “same thing” as a setter in volleyball

I'm thinking go right to midfield. Let your speed shine! But also we need players with the best endurance in this position. You size would be a great advantage on the offensive side of the ball as it sounds like you tend to like that side. And midfield is a great place to start in general as it give you the greatest exposure to all of the game. Good luck!

These are always hard to say, but I'm leaning towards Defense. Size and reach are a huge advantage there and so is the ability to be physical. But ultimately it comes down to footwork in that position. Size is great but ability to move with size is better! Good luck and welcome to lacrosse you can't go wrong!

More about your other abilities speed, conditioning, strength, field sense, work ethic...all those things combined. You height and weight doesn't give a great read. But I'll say...midfield is ALWAYS a great place to start as it gives you the chance to try both offense and defense. Good luck!

I'd say midfield makes the most sense. There is a specialty position of defensive midfielder if you REALLY love defense. Your ability to read and react would work great there. But in general I'd suggest starting at midfield and seeing how you like it.

lsm (long stick middie)

Starting out at midfield is a great way to learn both offense and defense. Your background makes me feel like you'd be a good candidate for defensive midfield. But stickwork helps you progress with offensive side of the ball. Good luck and enjoy!

Completely subjective based on your info you provided I'm going with Defense. I think you would like being a Long Pole reading the offense and helping communicate the defense where to go/what to do.

Welcome to the sport and my biased opinion, Great Choice! Handling a long stick right away may not be the best path forward. You can still play defense with a short stick. I think this would be a great starting point as it allows you to use instinctive defensive concepts, but also gives you a little more time to work on your stickwork. Defensive midfielders are a great specialty position that helps team defense but doesn't carry the ball as much. But the bottom line here is you just need to get a stick in your hands and learn the game. I'm sure you'll find your niche!

I'm loving your multisport approach btw. Playing more than one sport is the best avenue. Based on this info I'm leaning defense, but also wondering more specialized LSM (Long Stick Midfielder). This position dabbles a on both sides of the field while playing more defense.

@@OffBallLax ok, thank you so much man appreciate it

Sorry my friend but no shortcuts to conditioning. That's a matter of discipline and effort. Lacrosse is a mix of both endurance and sprints. My fav program is called Fartlek, super weird name, but mixes sprints and conditioning together. Best to find an expect on conditioning to get you a plan, I'm not an expert. Position wise you sound like your are talking Attack. Great position with chances to score. I wasn't fast, but tried to make up for it with quickness and anticipation. Wall ball is a most for this position because you'll need above average stick skills. Good luck!

@@OffBallLax Alright sounds good! i’ll work on it thanks!

I LOVE bball guys. Get a stick in your hands and hit the wall now. Find a friend and get stickwork going. You sound like the makings of an Attackman, but you are going to need to get comfortable with the stick. You can do it, just takes a little work. I think you're really going to like lacrosse as it's very similar to basketball. I'd recommend getting reps dodging from behind the goal as this is the place where you can facilitate the most. Good Luck and check back in to let me know how it's going!

⁠@@OffBallLaxAlright thanks, im really looking forward to getting into lacrosse. Seems like i’ll have a lot of fun

Ain't nothing wrong with that. Wreak some havoc

@@OffBallLax yes sir most goals on the team as in last season

Great question and I LOVE how you are thinking about the next steps. Awesome start! Based on my limited view I'd say giving LSM a go would be a great thing to try. We love a good long, lean LSM thats fast enough to cover speedsters out of the midfield and then create transition on the offensive end. Honestly as a defender I don't care how hard you hit, I care about your feet. If you have quick feet and can stay in the right position on our player, you will be a great defender. Defense is all about feet first. Using a ladder is an excellent choice to build footwork. Love what your are thinking about and good luck!!! Let me know how it goes.

@@OffBallLax thanks so much for the response! Love the vids man!

I think both! In my opinion your wrestling background could definitely help with leverage. Couple that with your other attributes I could see you sliding into a defensive midfielder or Long stick midfielder (thats is a defensive midfielder with a six foot stick) type position. You are on the right track and just be open to where the team needs you!

@@OffBallLax Thank you very much! I'll totally take that into consideration. Much appreciated

Tough one first...gear. I kinda steer clear of the gear game because its very unique to player preference and brand loyalty. Stick with ECD, Warrior, STX and you can't go wrong. Speed with lower stamina usually points to more of an Attack position. Assuming you have interest in offense. Quick burst of speed are great for dodging and getting around your man for a chance to shoot. Biggest need is the stick skills. You cannot play on Attack and not handle the ball in your stick. Lots of wall ball work here will be your best friend!

With reaction time needed for catching and IQ needed for team defense, would you have any interest in goalie? Ultimately the best position is one you will have fun at, if you can play defense with your friend that's a great plan too!

@@OffBallLax yeah goalie would be a good position for me thanks bro

On Attack you get to be a primary part of the offense. You can help facilitate create goal chances. In general, it's not as much running as midfield. Sounds like this makes the most sense, but avoiding contact anywhere is challenging

@@OffBallLax thanks

Awesome and welcome to your first season. Sounds like you are kinda open to whatever and from that perspective starting out as a Midfielder, "Middie", is the best place to go. Here you learn the game and get to play offense and defense. Good luck! Would love to hear what you think of it.

@@OffBallLax thank you

I'd look to middie which is lacrosse's version of midfield. Great position where you could have a chance to play both sides or stick to just O or D. Get a lacrosse stick in the hands and get some wall ball reps or practice with friends. The stick is the great equalizer.

if you fight and are fast id say middie and to do face off which he didnt talk about

Gotcha. Being you went WR I'm thinking more offensive side of the ball. I'm thinking a midfielder or attack. Your grit and strength can be a good asset Attack by not backing down and willing to fight in your matchup. Midfield is great because you get to play both sides (offense and defense) and learn what you like better. Regardless the stick skills are going to be very important. Get a stick in your hand and practice throwing/catching with a friend or wall. This is critical for getting you up to speed the fastest way possible! Good Luck!

@@OffBallLax thank you so much for the advice

Wingers make a lot of sense at midfield based on your conditioning. I get the sense that dodging and running around people would be a strength of yours as well which is perfect coming out of the midfield position. Good luck and I hope you enjoy!!!

@@OffBallLax thanks

What's stopping you?

It would be interesting if you have a "TryLax" or "Speed Lax" available in your area. It would allow you to experience the sport but without the contact. Best place I've seen to find this is on local facebook groups that talk about lacrosse or sports.

well you wont be that good right away so practice and once you are good it should be easy to know what you like. try to play different positions while you are still learning then once you are good pick the one you like and are best at and stick to it. also see where your coaches and teammates want you.

Love this 👆

First, stop doubting yourself so much. Ninja warrior activities require a lot of mental and physical strength, I bet you're stronger than you think. It's about learning and having a blast! You have time to figure it out. Play mid or where your coach needs you buy l but keep learning as you play and maybe you find your niche. Good luck!

I'd start out at Midfield as it will give you a chance to try out both sides of the ball

Stick skills, stick skills, stick skills. This game has a great equalizer and its the stick. You can be the greatest athlete in the world but if you can't handle a stick its hard for you to be on the field. Get working on a wall and ensure your passing and catching is a strength. On offense you don't have to be "fast" if you can anticipate well. Know what is going to happen before it happens and you'll be in the right place. I wasn't fast, but found my niche by predicting deflections and defensive movement. I think Offense makes sense for you but the stick skills need to be a priority.

Awesome stuff! Good luck. Just keep those feet moving and the head up.

I have seen a lot of wrestlers take on a very unique position in lacrosse called Face Off. These players sole job is to gain possession of a ball that starts on the ground between them and the other player. Quick hands, strong base, and knowing how to use your body generally lead to successful results at the face off. It's also very scrappy which I feel is perfect for a wrestler. The other position that I think makes the most sense is a defensive midfielder. It gives you a chance to still body up players and use your strength against them. Good luck I'd be interested to hear how the experience goes!

@@OffBallLax thank you.

Your CC experience screams midfield. Fast and strong is perfect for dodging downhill.

@@OffBallLax appreciate it. Trying to do my first season next year but I'm a little scared starting as a sophomore. Again, thanks

@@jason401. Definitely Try it! Even people who start later are nasty

Welcome to the sport! Not much more gets a team pumped up than a defender coming down the field and scoring! Knowing that you have the ability to play Defense I like your thought at starting at midfield. Gives you a chance to learn both offense and defense on the field. If you find its not for you, you can fall back on Defense. Other option to look at if you like D, but want a chance to fun up and down the field. LSM (Long stick midfielder) is a great position for an athletic offensive minded defender. Good luck and let me know how it goes!

@@OffBallLax thank you

Possibly Attack, if that doesn't suite you well then maybe try defense. I personally play defense and I am aggressive and somewhat fast

Nothing you said pushes me towards thinking about a specific position. I'm feeling midfield or attack most likely. But for some reason I'm wondering what your thoughts on face off would be. If you have very quick reaction time and hand speed, it may be worth watching some face off video. That's a very important position on the field for a team.

Lots of options there. It's a great sport, find some friends with a stick and see how you like it.

Hard to just hand out positions, maybe attack? If you like scoring goals.

Understandable, Thank you for the suggestion! I love your videos🔥❤️

@@osayandeihama7498 thanks for the support 🙏

PGs are great facilitators, and an "X" Attackman is usually that guy on the lacrosse field. That's the player that often sets up behind the goal (often referred to as "X"). However, I say this all with the reminder that Attack requires some very good stickwork. You will want to get that thing in your hands ASAP. And get lots of handing reps (hold in your hands and stand still with a pivot foot, let a friend try to take it from you. Move your body in front to shield the stick but keep your pivot foot). Also get wall ball reps to ensure you know how to catch and throw. Good luck!!! When in doubt, mid is a great position to.

@@OffBallLax thanks for the advice man, keep up the good work 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@@coochiedestroyer1211 appreciate you!

I would say yes that this can definitely translate to the lacrosse field. The sticks are different in these sports so it will be interesting to see how you transition to a lacrosse stick. I know some hockey defenders that transitioned to attack in lacrosse, but defense does make the most sense. Good luck!

@@OffBallLax thanks!

If you like that side of the ball go for it. Sure your size makes sense there, but also need to be light on your feet, you'll be covering a lot of WR type players so use your coverage skills. Be excited to be physical, just be careful when you see someone back you have to pull up. No hitting from behind in our game. Have fun!

@@OffBallLax appreciate that, my secondary position is outside wr so I have decent mobility in speed and I love dropping into coverage

I was also a corner back

Yes I'm feeling Defensive Mid or maybe even an LSM. Might be fun to run around with a long pole and see what you can do.

@@OffBallLax is junior year still ok to pick up a stick

@@jdmaddox174 great question! This is were Dmid is a good idea because athletes can become lacrosse players easiest at that position. There will a good bit to pick up, but if you want it, you can make it happen. Just like anything, you want to be successful there's no shortcut. Just do the work! Hope you stick with it and check back in. I'd love to know how it's going.

Height doesn't imply defense. Lots of great Offensive players with good size and height. Top pick in Outdoor Pro Lax is 6'3, 215lbs. Don't play D if your heart isn't into it. But on offense there is more of a challenge with stick skills. Check out some of the videos on how to improve your stick skills and you can be a player. Other than that...just watch your language, you never know who's watching ;)

@@OffBallLax ok but I need to know do you think I should play mid cuz I’m doing track and I’m pretty fast and is lsm same as normal mid cuz I still want to do the stick skills the short sticks have.

@@Zactakk mid if you want to run or attack if you want to have more chances to score goals. LSM is a defensive position with the long stick

Starting at midfield is a great place. A chance to learn it all and use that athleticism.

Doesn't mean you "have to". Do you want to play goalie? I imagine there are enough differences that it isn't a clear one to one transition. But if its something you like, there is nothing wrong with trying. Team ALWAYS need goalies so its a great way to show up and be in demand right away.

The obvious and most common position from wrestling is the Face Off position. Your ability to get low and use leverage is a major asset in this position. I've also had defensive midfielders come from wrestling who were pretty good at their craft in both sports. Hope that helps!

That is always a tough situation when you don't have enough players for one spot. The positive there is it will help develop another skillset for you making you a more rounded player. And sometimes we coaches ask to change things around because we think there may be something there that you don't see in yourself. Can't hurt to try!

😏 not sure I can disagree

I don't like specializing out of the gate, but it's definitely an important position

@@OffBallLax Well, of course I was sort of kidding (witness the "smiley"!), but certainly, you might want to find out how good you are at facing off, in case the No. ! FOGO is injured or otherwise unavailable.

I'm curious what makes you think you wouldn't be a good defender in lacrosse. If you mindset is defense it can transfer over with marking players and knowing when to help your teammates. I love your boxing background to help with the footwork which is crucial for good defense. If you want to experience a little of both but hedge on defense you could go for LSM (long stick midfielder). Their role is to play both offense and defense but lean a little more to the defensive side. It helps if they have more conditioning and fleet of foot to get the ball to transition from defense to offense. Good luck!