Lacrosse Swing/Pass
A fundamental movement of the sport is the lacrosse swing or pass. Teams must
have the ability to quickly and effectively transition the ball from defense to offense.
Offense relies heavily on this movement to pass the ball and create shot opportunities.
Although there are several variations of the swing, an overhand swing is used most often
during play. The swing consists of two phases: the draw phase and the release phase (See
Figure 7). During the draw phase the stick is overhead and the shoulder is down and
behind the head. The upper arm is in a flexed and externally rotated position. During this
phase the stick acts as a long lever that allows the player to apply leverage and increase
the velocity of the ball to act as a catapult during the release phase. During the release
phase the head of the stick is moved in a forward and downward direction. The upper arm
moves into a position of extension and internal rotation. The other lacrosse swings
include underhand, backhand, and side-arm swings. Each swing consists of the two
mentioned phases while movement of the upper arm depends on the swing utilized.
The lacrosse pass should be directed at the shoulder of the intended player opposite of the
defender, which allows the offensive player to provide a shield. Passes performed while
running should be directed in front of the receiving player to allow maintenance of
running speed. The pass should be strong and quick to allow a high velocity pass and
avoid interception by a defender due to a soft, slow, floating pass.
During lacrosse movements, the trunk acts as a solid base from which all
movements originate. In terms of the lower extremities, movements mimic those
observed in soccer and basketball. High velocity cuts, pivots, and twists as well as sudden
body blocks compose the sport’s footwork. The lower extremities may be affected by the
upper extremities during passing and shooting. This is due to the increased lever arm as
mentioned previously, as well as the fact that these actions are performed with both hands
holding the lacrosse stick. By placing both hands on the stick, an increased valgus load is
placed on the knee when landing and cutting.
Different biomechanical abilities are needed for each of four field positions
associated with the sport of lacrosse (See Table 2). For an offensive position or attacker,
the player needs to possess speed, agility, and elite stick skills in order to outmaneuver an
opponent and score. For a defensive position, agility is still necessary, however, the
ability to produce large power outputs is also mandatory in order to body check
opponents and guard the goal. For a midfielder, speed and stamina are required as a
means of playing both offensive and defensive positions. For a goaltender, agility is still
needed but hand-eye coordination as well as proprioceptive footwork is essential for
providing full goal coverage.
The previously mentioned biomechanics performed during the sport cause
athletes to possess a physiological fitness profile similar to that of basketball, soccer, and
track players. However, lacrosse players differ in that they possess only average
flexibility and a body fat percentage 5.9% higher than that of collegiate soccer players.
These findings suggest there is room for improvement in lacrosse players’ physiological
fitness profiles which may in turn produce biomechanical improvements in movement.
Figure 7. Lacrosse Swing/Pass. A, Overhead pass starting position. B, Overhead pass final position. C,
Side pass starting position. D, Side pass final position.
