Vocabulary is the foundation of all language, providing us with the necessary building blocks to express ourselves, connect with others, develop critical thinking and confidence, and build life skills and personal relationships. Increasing your lacrosse vocabulary will help you understand situations on the field, learn the slang commonly used by players and coaches. You might also learn some phrases that just add a little fun to our sport.
- Alley: This refers to the area on the field extending from the goal post up to the top of the box and over to the edge of the box, important for strategic positioning.
- Apple: An assist
- Assist: The pass that makes a goal
- Attack: Three players, usually positioned in the offensive half, focused on scoring goals.
- Ball or Ball Down: This is shouted when the ball is on the ground, indicating a loose ball and prompting a contest for possession.
- Behind-the-Back: A skilful and often surprising technique of passing or shooting the ball from behind the player's back.
- Bench Warming: Squad player who does not get on the field
- Body Check: A defensive strategy using the body to physically challenge an opponent, either for the ball or to impede their progress.
- Bouncer: A shot that bounces off the ground before reaching the goal, making it harder for the goalie to predict and save.
- Box: The restraining box surrounding each goal, crucial for both offensive and defensive play.
- Braveheart: A tournament-only overtime rule that is a full field 1v1 to win the game.
- Brick Wall: Refers to an exceptionally good goalie, implying that it's as hard to score on them as it would be to get a ball through a brick wall.
- Bucket or "Lid": Slang for a helmet. It's especially used when talking about its appearance or modifications players make to it.
- Bull Dodge: A move where a player uses their strength and size to push through a defender.
- Butt: Bottom of a lacrosse stick
- C-Cut: A manoeuvre by an offensive player making a rounded movement in the shape of a "C" to create space from the defender.
- Cannon: Shot with a lot of power
- Celly: Short for celebration.
- Change Planes: A shooting technique where the player alters the level of the shot mid-action to confuse the goalkeeper and increase the chance of scoring.
- Checking: This refers to the defensive action of using one's stick or body to interfere with an opposing player's stick handling or movement.
- Cheddar: Similar to top cheddar, referring to shots that hit the upper part of the net.
- Cherry picking: standing by the goal for an easy scoring opportunity.
- Clear: Successfully moving the ball from the defensive end of the field to the offensive end.
- Closing the Gate: A defensive strategy to force the attacking player towards the inside field rather than allowing them a top side advantage.
- Cradling: A technique used to maintain control of the ball in the stick's pocket, involving a rocking motion.
- Crease: The circular area around the goal that opposing players are typically not allowed to enter, essential for protecting goalkeepers.
- Crease Man: The offensive player who specializes in playing near and around the crease area, typically positioned for quick shots or feeds.
- Crease Position: Refers to the strategic area around the crease that is crucial for certain offensive plays.
- Cutter: An offensive player cutting through the defense looking for an easy scoring opportunity.
- Cutting: An offensive player's movement without the ball to get open for a pass, typically heading toward the goal.
- D-pole: Defense pole. Refers to a long stick used by defensemen in lacrosse.
- Defense: Refers to the strategies and actions taken to protect the goal area and prevent the opposing team from scoring.
- Defensive Stance: The physical posture a defensive player adopts to effectively guard an opponent, usually involving a low centre of gravity and readiness to move.
- De-Twigged: When a player's stick is knocked out of their hands by an opponent.
- Dime: A perfectly placed and timed pass that leads directly to a goal; derived from the phrase "dropping dimes."
- Dodge: A move by an offensive player to evade a defender and create space or scoring opportunities.
- Draw: The method by which play is started at the beginning of the women's game, quarters, and after goals, where two players vie for control of the ball.
- Egg Hunt: Post practice ball search
- EMO: Extra man up.
- Face-off: The method by which play is started at the beginning of the men's game, quarters, and after goals, where two players vie for control of the ball.
- Face Dodging: A specific type of dodge where the player uses the face of the body to shield the ball while manoeuvring around a defender.
- Fake: Any deceptive movement by a player with the ball to fool defenders, such as pretending to pass or shoot.
- Fast Break: A rapid transition from defense to offense, usually resulting in a temporary numerical advantage and scoring opportunity.
- Feed Pass: A pass to a teammate in motion, often leading to a shot on goal.
- Feeder: A player that assists a lot of goals.
- Flag Down: Indicates a delayed penalty call where the offense should keep playing until the ball is dropped or a goal is scored.
- Fish: A term used to describe a player who is not very skilled, especially in handling the ball.
- Fogo: Face off get off.
- GA: Goals against.
- GBs (Ground Balls): Referring to loose balls on the ground that players race to gain possession of.
- GF: Goals for.
- Give & Go: A quick passing play where a player passes to a teammate and then moves to receive a return pass.
- Gilman Clear or “Send it”: A long, often desperate pass or clear from the defensive end to the offensive end, usually by the goalie.
- GLE (Goal Line Extended): An imaginary line extending from the sides of the goal line, used as a reference point for plays and positioning.
- Ground Balls: Refers to the loose balls on the ground, which players compete to gain possession of.
- Hatty: Short for "hat trick," which is scoring three goals in a single game.
- Head: The top part of the lacrosse stick where the net is attached, used for handling and controlling the ball.
- Hole or “Cougar” or “Black”: The area directly in front of the goal that is heavily defended, often where much of the action and physical play occurs.
- Invert: An offensive strategy where midfielders and attackers swap roles to create mismatches or confusion.
- Laser: A shot that's extremely fast and straight, much like a laser beam.
- Lax: Abbreviation for Lacrosse
- Lax Rat: A term of endearment for someone who lives and breathes lacrosse, spends a lot of time playing or practicing, and is deeply passionate about the game.
- Left Alley: The lane or area extending from the left side of the goal up to the top of the box and over to the sideline.
- Long Stick Middie (LSM) or “Stick” or “Pole”: A midfielder who uses a longer stick, typically for defensive purposes, and often involved in face-offs or ground ball play.
- Loose Ball: When the ball is not in possession of either team and is up for grabs.
- Man Down: Refers to a team playing with fewer players due to a penalty, putting them at a disadvantage.
- Man-Up: The opposite of man down; a team has more players due to an opponent's penalty.
- Mid-Fielder or Middie: Players who operate throughout the entire field, contributing to both offense and defense.
- Motion Offense: An offensive strategy involving continuous and balanced movement of all players to create openings and scoring opportunities.
- Out of Bounds: The area outside the playing field's designated boundaries, where play is stopped and restarted.
- Overhand: A type of shooting or passing where the stick moves downward from above the shoulder.
- Overload: An offensive strategy where one side of the field is heavily populated with players to create a numerical advantage in a specific area.
- Passing: The act of throwing the ball from one player to another, an essential part of moving the ball and creating offensive opportunities.
- Pick: A tactic where a player blocks an opponent to free up a teammate for movement or possession.
- Pick & Roll: A two-player move involving setting a pick and then moving towards the goal to receive a pass.
- Pocket: The portion of the stick's head where the ball is carried and cradled, composed of netting and strings.
- Poke Check: A defensive technique where a player jabs their stick at an opponent's stick to dislodge the ball.
- Quick Stick: Quickly passing or shooting the ball immediately after receiving it, without cradling.
- Rep: Abbreviation for repeat action.
- Rip: Let a shot go
- Rip the duck: Shot that scores in the top part of the goal.
- Shovel Pass: A type of pass where the player scoops the ball up and tosses it without the full motion of a standard pass.
- Slide: Leave your player/position to cover a defensive teammate who has been beaten
- Spoon: Another term for the lacrosse stick, particularly the head or the pocket area.
- Stick Doctor: Player with stringing skills that looks after teammates pocket stringing needs
- Tilt: The angle of a player's helmet, often used to imply a certain swagger or style associated with confident or skilled players.
- Twig: Abbreviation for a Lacrosse stick
- Twister: A type of shot where the player twists the stick in their hand while shooting, changing the direction of the ball unexpectedly.
- Wall Ball: A practice technique where players throw the ball against a wall to practice and improve their stick handling and catching.
- Whip: How much a lacrosse stick throws “down”
- Worm Burner: A shot that is so low to the ground it appears to "burn" the grass or turf, usually difficult for goalies to save.
- Yardsale: Having checked a players stick from his hands and it lays on the floor
- You’re hot: Indicates who the slide is.
- Zebra: A common slang term for referees, referring to their striped uniforms.
- 2-on-1 (3-on-2, 4-on-3, 5-on-4): These are situations where the offense outnumbers the defense near the goal, creating a tactical advantage for scoring.
- 2 Minute Rule or “Keep it In”: Stalling warning by the officials, the leading team must keep the ball within the offensive box, or they risk turning it over to the opposition.