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Father asks YLUSA.com: Should a coach
teach poke checks that aim anywhere but the hands and
stick?
May 4, 2003
YLUSA.cion LaxGuru and Lax Coach
Respond
Should a coach teach his players to aim at the opponent
chest, neck or any where other than the hands and stick
for a poke check? My son plays on a 7th & 8th grade
team and several of the defense players poke check by
aiming for anything but the hands or stick. I can see
an inadvertent "poke" landing in these areas,
but to actively coach this seems to be a very liberal
interpretation of the rule. Maybe I do not understand.
If this is true, how do you protect from this tactic?
Jim Goodman
Columbus, Ohio
Bill Hook
All stick checks should be aimed at the stick, and by
extension, the glove, which is considered to be part of
the stick.
Any check aimed at the body should be considered a slash,
and should not be taught to youth players.
Just my opinion.
YLUSA.com LaxCoach and COC Official Mark Goldsmith
The poke check is the most basic check that is taught
at any level of lacrosse. As a high school coach I teach
my players to poke at the bottom hand and lift. You will
hear me yelling poke and lift. This check sets up all
other checks that may be used in lacrosse. In response
to your question, at no time should it be taught to "AIM"
for the chest. The main reason is that a good , strong
player will always have their feet moving, and therefore
be a very difficult target, and will usually be able to
run through such a check. If the poke and lift is on the
hands then there are not many players that are able to
successfully pass or shoot.
As an official, if we see that a player is intentionally
aiming for the chest with his pokes then it is within
our jurisdiction to call a slash. This would not usually
occur in the higher levels of the game where the feet
are constantly moving.
Please "coach" your son to keep his feet
moving at all times on offense and to poke and lift
on defense. I guarrantee you he will be a better player
for it.
Good luck with the rest of his playing days.
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