Bulldozing

Well im a big kid, at least for lacrosse. anyways, last yr i played jv n varsity and if play for both again, im thinking about just bulldozing defneders on jv since im bigger than most of them. im not that quick and im thinkin bulldozing a defneder would be just as effective if not more than a dodge. so im just lookin for your opinions. i of course would mix in dodges and i plan on workin on my quickness alot in the winter. im just thinkin bout usin my size to my advantage n layin summ ppl out when i have the ball. let me know what u think

my first two thoughts are 1) bull dodge? and 2)how do you propose keeping the ball in your stick as you're smashing into your defender?

i've never seen a bull dodge used effectively in the game -- anything close to one as i've seen it demonstrated starts as a split dodge and then the guy with the ball just runs into someone accidentally.....never had someone try a bull dodge on me either... still not sure if it actually works.

Bull Dodges are used by players who don't have competent skills to dodge correctly.

If you want to use your size, try leaning into your defenseman while your dodging to the goal, and then side stepping away from him to create just enough time and space to get a shot off.

Bulldozing will likely draw Warding penalties, and quick double teams. How are you supposed to make a feed or take a shot when your "running over" your defenseman?

Power moves are most useful close to the crease. Kinda like playing the post in B-ball. Shooting/passing with very little wind up, backing into defenders and giving a little roll are all effective if you work on it. Work on cradling, lots of cradling in both hands. If defender's can't move you, then they are going to attack your hands. I would also suggest lifting, to get even stronger.

i do tend to play crese so thats a partial reason im thinkin of tryin it and i do lift durin the football offseason

Bull dodging rarely works, but I know a guy who is fantastic at it. His name is Oz (like in American Pie) and he's the captain of my summer league team, he's a state trooper and is an absolute monster, so instead of going around guys he goes through them. The trick is to put your shoulder into their outside shoulder to throw them off balance, instead of hitting them head on. You have to have really soft hands to be any good at this or else the ball will find its way to the turf way too often.
Also, if you can throw in a head fake right before the bull dodge, it will freeze the defender and make him flatfooted, which will make him easy to put off balance.

i would use the jv game to practice dodges that you can do but arent confident in, to get some in game experience with them.

A bulldodge will always slow you down more than a roll dodge. If you are slowed down to much, a slide will come in and completely wreck you, especially if your on the crease. I've never been bulldodged, I am 6'4 and about 230, but I have occasionaly tried it when clearing the ball. I can't hold onto the ball well enough because of how much force and jerking there is while your hitting someone.

Like they said, back into someone, push defenders around, but I wouldn't highly reccommend bull dodging.

Only thing to watch out for during a bull dodge is to make sure you don't ward.

AHSlax21 wrote:

Only thing to watch out for during a bull dodge is to make sure you don't ward.

well, if you duck your shoulder into your defender and make contact, it will most likely be ruled as a ward.

They might call that, but it isn't a true ward. I see the ward called when a person runs with the stick in one hand, and while doing the bull dodge uses their free hand to push the defender away.