PLAY #

OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS
- An “offensive system” is a set of guidelines/rules for players in these positions to follow, in order to add structure and make things flow. The rules may change as the team develops, with new ideas emerging and old ones being set aside. There should also be options to choose from and freedom to use individual intuitiveness, in an effort to exploit weakness and breakdown the opponent’s style of defensive play. Players must understand that an offensive system will only work against an honest defense. Offensive players need to force the defense to respond to their actions, thereby creating separation for oneself and time & space for teammates. If a team or player is cheating, “adjustments” should be made by the coaches and quality shots should be the result.
- Players should always have their eye on the ball when running an offensive system, with the golden rule being to pass to any players that are wide open, regardless of how the system or set-play develops.
- Note: It won't always go exactly as drawn up, the goal is to ATTEMPT to accomplish the basic movements and passes.

PLAY #

1. Motion Offense
SYSTEM NAME = "MOVE"
- The "motion offense" is the most basic offensive system, one which relies on getting the ball low and sending a series of cutters in a particular order (timing), otherwise carrying the ball high if no other options present themselves.  It is the answer to any defense, as it is a system that responds to whoever is open.
- The most basic Motion/Look #1 happens after the point player (strong-side) passes to either shooter and then cuts the middle, eventually filling into the strong-side crease position (perhaps running around the net first).  If this player is wide open they could in theory receive a give-and-go pass, but that is rarely the case.
- Next, the crease player should pop-out and the ball should then be passed low (deep), triggering Motion/Look #2 which is an off-ball "cut" from the far-side shooter position; this is the first read/look for the new ball carrier.  If this pass is denied by the defense, the ultimate goal is to "get it low" so the original ball carrier can just carry it low and exchange positions with the crease player.  After the off-ball shooter cuts they will either receive a pass, otherwise fill into the crease position on the far-side, with the crease player filling up into the shooter position on that side of the field.
- If no pass is made, Motion/Look #3 is the next decision for the ball carrier to read, which is a cut from the player at the ball-side (same-side) shooter position, who looks for a give-and-go return pass (advanced); otherwise to seal the shooter position (beginner), or down-pick the crease position (intermediate).
- If none of those "looks" are open for the ball carrier they should fill/cycle up into the shooter position and take a shot (if it's there) or swing the ball to the far-side shooter/point (Motion/Look #4), repeating the process if there's time or going one-on-one to the net in an attempt to get a re-set. 
- Throughout this process it is the ball carrier's responsibility to have their head up, always being a threat and passing to any players who are wide open.

PLAY #

OFFENSIVE SETS
- An “offensive set” is a settled even strength situation, generally involving the five different standard offensive positions on the field: two crease players down “low” (close to the net), two shooters up “high” in the “corners” of the prime scoring area and one point player at the top centre (either left-handed or right-handed); all on their proper field sides. Ultimately, every offensive player should be able to execute the “set-offense” from all three positions, although players generally feel most comfortable up high or down low (see offensive specialists).
- Note: It won't always go exactly as drawn up, the goal is to ATTEMPT to accomplish the basic movements and passes.

PLAY #

1. Isolation Play ("Iso")
PLAY NAME = "1"
- An "iso" is an attempt to isolate a team's best offensive player (playmaker), against a mediocre defender.  For this play, four offensive players “overload” one side of the field, leaving one player on the opposite side with plenty of space to try a one-on-one move towards the net.
- The weak-side starts with an empty crease set-up and all other players starting spread.  The high offensive player passes to the low player at the mid-board (as shown in diagram), or crease position (not shown in diagram), fakes a cut to the net for a give-and-go, but instead sets a cross pick on the far-side high defender.
- While this is happening the low offensive player attempts to beat their check 1-on-1 (Option #1).  If they are unable to generate a quality shot, the second option is to pass to the far-side high player coming overtop of the pick (Option #2), or any other players who attack the net on the back-side of the play after the 1-on-1 attempt.

PLAY #

2. Give & Go - "Czech Version"
PLAY NAME = "GnG"
- Give-and-go's present themselves spontaneously many times throughout the course of a lacrosse game, but this one is planned. 
- The point player throws a skip pass to the weak-side crease player, with the weak-side shooter simultaneously cutting (or setting a fake seal and then "slipping" to the net).
- The crease player then feeds this player the ball (Option #1), or passes to the off-ball crease player (Option #2). 
- Variation:  this play can also be run as its inverse, with a pass to the strong-side crease player and the strong-side shooter cutting.

PLAY #

3A. "Natural" Pick (Off-Ball)
PLAY NAME = "NATTY - OFF"
*top diagram*
- The ball is passed low to the crease player on the strong-side and any series of on-ball movements may follow:  cycle, seal (as shown in diagram) or down-pick.
- As the crease player (ball carrier) begins to carry it high, the weak-side (off-ball) crease player cuts to the middle (Option #1) and the off-ball shooter backdoor cuts behind them (brushing shoulders - natural pick), finishing at the crease position (Option #2).
- The passer reads the crease defender and passes to whichever option is more open.

3B. "Natural" Pick (On-Ball)
PLAY NAME = "NATTY - ON"
*bottom diagram*
- The ball is passed low to the crease player on the strong-side and any series of on-ball movements may follow:  cycle (as shown in diagram), seal or down-pick.
- The crease player (ball carrier) carries it high to the shooter position and sends a swing pass over to the shooter on the weak-side, who has already started a backdoor cut towards the crease (Option #2).  At the same time the crease player cuts above (as shown in diagram), or below the crease defender.
- The ball carrier might find themselves open on a bad switch, otherwise they can make a flip pass to the crease player who may be open in the middle, behind or below the crease defender (Option #1). 

PLAY #

4. "Stack"
PLAY NAME = "STACK"
- Three players (strong-side) line up in a "stack" (north-south) near the off-ball shooter position, with the ball starting at the weak-side shooter.
- Once the ball is passed down to the weak-side crease player, all players in the stack make their respective cut toward the net.
- First, the player in the middle in the stack cuts through the middle (likely as a decoy).  Next, the lowest player in the stack cuts overtop toward the point position (Option #1).  Lastly the highest player in the stack does a back-door cut toward the off-ball crease (Option #2).
- The weak-side crease player carries the ball into a threatening position and passes to whomever is open.

PLAY #

OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS
- An “offensive system” is a set of guidelines/rules for players in these positions to follow, in order to add structure and make things flow. The rules may change as the team develops, with new ideas emerging and old ones being set aside. There should also be options to choose from and freedom to use individual intuitiveness, in an effort to exploit weakness and breakdown the opponent’s style of defensive play. Players must understand that an offensive system will only work against an honest defense. Offensive players need to force the defense to respond to their actions, thereby creating separation for oneself and time & space for teammates. If a team or player is cheating, “adjustments” should be made by the coaches and quality shots should be the result.
- Players should always have their eye on the ball when running an offensive system, with the golden rule being to pass to any players that are wide open, regardless of how the system or set-play develops.
- Note: It won't always go exactly as drawn up, the goal is to ATTEMPT to accomplish the basic movements and passes.

PLAY #

1. Motion Offense
SYSTEM NAME = "MOVE"
- The "motion offense" is the most basic offensive system, one which relies on getting the ball low and sending a series of cutters in a particular order (timing), otherwise carrying the ball high if no other options present themselves.  It is the answer to any defense, as it is a system that responds to whoever is open.
- The most basic Motion/Look #1 happens after the point player (strong-side) passes to either shooter and then cuts the middle, eventually filling into the strong-side crease position (perhaps running around the net first).  If this player is wide open they could in theory receive a give-and-go pass, but that is rarely the case.
- Next, the crease player should pop-out and the ball should then be passed low (deep), triggering Motion/Look #2 which is an off-ball "cut" from the far-side shooter position; this is the first read/look for the new ball carrier.  If this pass is denied by the defense, the ultimate goal is to "get it low" so the original ball carrier can just carry it low and exchange positions with the crease player.  After the off-ball shooter cuts they will either receive a pass, otherwise fill into the crease position on the far-side, with the crease player filling up into the shooter position on that side of the field.
- If no pass is made, Motion/Look #3 is the next decision for the ball carrier to read, which is a cut from the player at the ball-side (same-side) shooter position, who looks for a give-and-go return pass (advanced); otherwise to seal the shooter position (beginner), or down-pick the crease position (intermediate).
- If none of those "looks" are open for the ball carrier they should fill/cycle up into the shooter position and take a shot (if it's there) or swing the ball to the far-side shooter/point (Motion/Look #4), repeating the process if there's time or going one-on-one to the net in an attempt to get a re-set. 
- Throughout this process it is the ball carrier's responsibility to have their head up, always being a threat and passing to any players who are wide open.

PLAY #

OFFENSIVE SETS
- An “offensive set” is a settled even strength situation, generally involving the five different standard offensive positions on the field: two crease players down “low” (close to the net), two shooters up “high” in the “corners” of the prime scoring area and one point player at the top centre (either left-handed or right-handed); all on their proper field sides. Ultimately, every offensive player should be able to execute the “set-offense” from all three positions, although players generally feel most comfortable up high or down low (see offensive specialists).
- Note: It won't always go exactly as drawn up, the goal is to ATTEMPT to accomplish the basic movements and passes.

PLAY #

1. Isolation Play ("Iso")
PLAY NAME = "1"
- An "iso" is an attempt to isolate a team's best offensive player (playmaker), against a mediocre defender.  For this play, four offensive players “overload” one side of the field, leaving one player on the opposite side with plenty of space to try a one-on-one move towards the net.
- The weak-side starts with an empty crease set-up and all other players starting spread.  The high offensive player passes to the low player at the mid-board (as shown in diagram), or crease position (not shown in diagram), fakes a cut to the net for a give-and-go, but instead sets a cross pick on the far-side high defender.
- While this is happening the low offensive player attempts to beat their check 1-on-1 (Option #1).  If they are unable to generate a quality shot, the second option is to pass to the far-side high player coming overtop of the pick (Option #2), or any other players who attack the net on the back-side of the play after the 1-on-1 attempt.

PLAY #

2. Give & Go - "Czech Version"
PLAY NAME = "GnG"
- Give-and-go's present themselves spontaneously many times throughout the course of a lacrosse game, but this one is planned. 
- The point player throws a skip pass to the weak-side crease player, with the weak-side shooter simultaneously cutting (or setting a fake seal and then "slipping" to the net).
- The crease player then feeds this player the ball (Option #1), or passes to the off-ball crease player (Option #2). 
- Variation:  this play can also be run as its inverse, with a pass to the strong-side crease player and the strong-side shooter cutting.

PLAY #

3A. "Natural" Pick (Off-Ball)
PLAY NAME = "NATTY - OFF"
*top diagram*
- The ball is passed low to the crease player on the strong-side and any series of on-ball movements may follow:  cycle, seal (as shown in diagram) or down-pick.
- As the crease player (ball carrier) begins to carry it high, the weak-side (off-ball) crease player cuts to the middle (Option #1) and the off-ball shooter backdoor cuts behind them (brushing shoulders - natural pick), finishing at the crease position (Option #2).
- The passer reads the crease defender and passes to whichever option is more open.

3B. "Natural" Pick (On-Ball)
PLAY NAME = "NATTY - ON"
*bottom diagram*
- The ball is passed low to the crease player on the strong-side and any series of on-ball movements may follow:  cycle (as shown in diagram), seal or down-pick.
- The crease player (ball carrier) carries it high to the shooter position and sends a swing pass over to the shooter on the weak-side, who has already started a backdoor cut towards the crease (Option #2).  At the same time the crease player cuts above (as shown in diagram), or below the crease defender.
- The ball carrier might find themselves open on a bad switch, otherwise they can make a flip pass to the crease player who may be open in the middle, behind or below the crease defender (Option #1). 

PLAY #

4. "Stack"
PLAY NAME = "STACK"
- Three players (strong-side) line up in a "stack" (north-south) near the off-ball shooter position, with the ball starting at the weak-side shooter.
- Once the ball is passed down to the weak-side crease player, all players in the stack make their respective cut toward the net.
- First, the player in the middle in the stack cuts through the middle (likely as a decoy).  Next, the lowest player in the stack cuts overtop toward the point position (Option #1).  Lastly the highest player in the stack does a back-door cut toward the off-ball crease (Option #2).
- The weak-side crease player carries the ball into a threatening position and passes to whomever is open.