Lacrosse Positions for Parents

Attack

Offensive players who usually stay closer to the opponent's goal and try to create scoring chances.

Responsibilities: Get open, catch and pass, dodge safely, shoot, ride after turnovers, and support teammates near the goal.

Key skills: Stick skills, spacing, cutting, shooting accuracy, passing, and riding effort.

Watch for: Watch whether attack players move without the ball to create passing lanes instead of waiting near the crease.

Common confusion: Attack roles look different by age and format, and younger teams may rotate players through several spots.

Players who cover both offense and defense and often run the most in field lacrosse.

Responsibilities: Help on clears, transitions, ground balls, offense, defense, and substitutions through the midfield area.

Key skills: Endurance, ground balls, passing, defensive recovery, and quick decision-making.

Watch for: Watch midfielders change roles when possession changes and when they substitute after long runs.

Common confusion: Midfield is not only an attacking role. It includes a lot of defensive support and transition work.

Players who protect their goal area, mark attackers, support the goalie, and start clears after stops.

Responsibilities: Stay between attackers and the goal, communicate, collect ground balls, make legal checks, and move the ball out safely.

Key skills: Footwork, positioning, communication, controlled checking, and clearing passes.

Watch for: Watch defenders help each other instead of chasing only the ball carrier.

Common confusion: Legal contact and stick length can vary by boys, girls, age group, and league.

The player who protects the goal and often starts the clear after a save.

Responsibilities: Stop shots, call defensive information, collect rebounds when safe, pass to clear, and understand crease rules.

Key skills: Courage, reaction time, communication, outlet passing, and reset mindset.

Watch for: Watch how the goalie directs teammates and looks for the next pass after a save.

Common confusion: Goals allowed are usually team situations, not just goalie mistakes.

A player who helps win the ball on special restarts when that format uses faceoffs or draws.

Responsibilities: Compete for initial possession, box out safely, scoop ground balls, and move the ball to a teammate.

Key skills: Quick hands, low body position, timing, balance, and ground-ball toughness.

Watch for: Watch the battle after the whistle because the first touch does not always mean possession is won.

Common confusion: Boys and girls formats often use different restart methods, and younger leagues may modify or skip specialty roles.

Some older formats use midfielders with defensive responsibilities or longer sticks where rules allow.

Responsibilities: Defend in transition, collect ground balls, support clears, and match up with strong offensive players.

Key skills: Speed, positioning, legal stick work, passing under pressure, and communication.

Watch for: Watch this player help the defense and then move the ball forward quickly.

Common confusion: Not every youth league allows or needs specialized long-stick roles.

Youth lacrosse positions can change with player count, field size, box format, contact level, and teaching goals.

Responsibilities: Rotate through roles, follow coach assignments, learn safe spacing, and understand local substitution rules.

Key skills: Listening, flexibility, basic stick skills, spacing, and teamwork.

Watch for: Watch for smaller-sided games where players share responsibilities instead of staying in one fixed position.

Common confusion: A player's listed position may not match adult or high school lacrosse yet, especially in beginner divisions.