Change of Direction (CoD) Dodge

[UKLaxfan]

Watch Zac Guy (Lafayette /England U19s) play vs Australia.

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpa ... 106&po=106

Photos 174 & 173

He shows perfect technique driving at speed from X Behind goal the stopping by dipping low to the ground (lowers centre of gravity) and sprinting in opposite direction. He changes hands with the head of his stick between his shoulders to protect his stick.

#20 has used this dodge against Canada & in the 12-11 win over Aussies to great success.

[Wezalmighty]

link is broken

[UKLaxfan]

link is broken

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpa ... 219&po=219

&

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpa ... 220&po=220

Notice his feet position and angle

He opens his stance with right foot then plants and drives with next step off left foot changing direction quickly and accelerating away.

The defender ends up having to take an extra step to step and change direction giving the attackmen (Zac Guy) the time and room for seperation to get his hands free to drive to goal and shoot or draw the slide and feed the open man.

This is the same technique Mark Millon used at his peak to devastating effect. Having that explosive change of Direction and change of speed means he can beat his man consistently as he knows when he is going to do it, the defender has to react.

It is most effective against a tall/large defender as he will have a high Centre of Gravity and so is mechanically disadvantaged by size.

Mike Powell made a career out of this dodge, the ability to sprint-stop-sprint in opposite direction is a great weapon for an attackman.

Drill:
Practice this technique by putting two cones 7-10 yards apart.
Sprint to one cone stop-drop & sprint in opposite direction, touching the ground with your glove of your free hand to ensure your getting low enough, while cradling the ball one handed with the other hand.
Sprint to the next cone and repeat but turning in the other direction off your opsite foot and cradling with opposite hand.

In will feel uncomfortable to start and be murder on your knees and quads but with practice you will master the right body angle to maximise the CoD/CoS.

Expect to slip and fallover a lot under you master the technique, if you don't fallover you're not pushing it hard enough, ultimately it will feel like your are bouncing off an invisible wall.

When you have mastered it you can look forward to being marked by the biggest strongest defenders as you will know you can beat them everytime on an East-West dodge. The Finaliser at X behind is also based on this technique.

Being a small frame and quickness are an advantage in this dodge as you will have lower centre of gravity and less momentum & inertia to burst away from defender.

Practice-Practice-Practice

[UKLaxfan]

Check out the photo of Rochdale & England player Nick Watson
- Low Centre of Gravity
- Break Step (foot side on) setting up CoD
- Stick Protection



Notice how much lower he is than defender, also the defender's left foot is about to step while Nick's is already planted and changing direction.

Great Fundamentals = Successful Dodges