What You Need To Know About Dodging

I have a confession.

I have an obsession with lacrosse dodging and love teaching the skills and techniques.

First, I know how important it is, and second, dodging is a movement skill that directly complements my background and expertise as an athletic performance coach and sports clinician.

When it comes to lacrosse, dodging is not only important, it’s essential if you want to be a great player (assume that’s you or you wouldn’t be reading this.) 

This might surprise you but not only is dodging essential for all players on offense but for every player who steps on the field.

If you want to be a dynamic threat and stand out player, you must understand the importance of dodging and do things necessary to constantly improve your dodging game. Never stop working on that skill.

Dodging is the game within the game.

Here’s everything you need to know about dodging and how to keep your skills advancing on a path to become a prolific dodger.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Why dodge?

✅ 1. The Purpose of Dodging

Dodging is the foundation of offense in lacrosse. Dodging is so crucial, I’ve labeled it “the master skill” in lacrosse.

At its core, it’s used to:

• Create separation from a defender.
• Draw a slide to create open space for a teammate.
• Attack the cage for a scoring opportunity.
• Change the angle of your stick or body to gain a better shooting advantage or passing lane.

Elite dodgers understand that dodging isn’t just about beating a defender—it’s about manipulating the defense to create offensive advantages.

🔥 2. Key Components of an Effective Dodge

• Explosiveness: The initial burst of speed is essential to gain an edge. You must be explosive as a top dodger.
• Deception: Using fakes, changes of speed, and misdirection makes your dodge unpredictable. There are many ways you can be deceptive with your dodging, a much bigger topic we can cover later.
• Footwork: It’s all about footwork. Sharp, efficient footwork allows you to cut, plant, and change direction effectively.
• Stick Protection: Keeping your stick in a protected position prevents checks and turnovers. You have to protect.
• Field Vision: Great dodgers keep their eyes up to read slides, cutters, and second-level defenders. Great dodgers have exceptional field vision, this is talked about enough.

🛠️ 3. Types of Dodges Every Player Should Work To Master

Here are some of the essential dodges. The split, roll, and face dodge are considered the ‘essential 3.’ 

• Split Dodge: A quick, explosive change of direction by switching hands, creating separation.
• Roll Dodge: A powerful, physical move where you plant and spin (roll) around the defender, protecting your stick.
• Face Dodge: A deceptive move where you bring your stick across your face, sometimes faking a pass or shot (using deception).
• The Inside Roll: Used near the crease, this dodge rolls underneath a defender toward the middle for a high-percentage shot.
• Question Mark Dodge: A crease dodge where you plant, roll, and release a shot with a high-angle release.
• Rocker Dodge: We could say this is a variation of the face dodge, using a hesitation and shoulder fake to freeze the defender. A quick change of direction using deception. 

⚙️ 4. Mechanical Principles of Dodging

Let’s cover some of the mechanical principles that make dodges effective. It’s important to understand these principles to be a dominant dodger.

• Change of Speed: Accelerate into and out of your dodge. The burst out of the dodge is what creates separation.
• Change of Direction: Use sharp, efficient cuts and hard plants to keep defenders off balance. The “plant step” is a must.
• Body Positioning: Lean into your dodge with your shoulder down, using your body to shield your stick.
• Stick Protection: Keep your stick in a safe zone (outside or behind your body) to reduce the risk of checks.
• Angle & Space Awareness: Know when to dodge from high, low, or behind the cage based on your positioning and the defense. Knowing where you are strong leads us to the next key point, dodge strategy.

🎯 5. Dodging Strategy and IQ

Now that you better understand core components and mechanics, you need to understand your strategy. Here’s some strategical factors to dodging like a champ.

• Set Up Your Dodge: Effective dodging starts before you make your move. Use hesitation steps, jab steps, or subtle fakes to bait your defender. Get square to your defender to set things up the right way.
• Recognize Slide Packages: Understand how and when the defense will slide—exploit slow or late slides.
• Use Picks & Screens: Off-ball movement and picks can create space for more effective dodges. Learn to effectively use your pick plays.
• Read the Defense: This is ongoing. Recognize defenders’ body positioning—dodge toward their weak side or areas where they may be more vulnerable.
• Use Variety: If the defense knows your go-to move, use a counter dodge or other effective dodge to catch them off guard. Have your go-to dodge, but don’t be a one-trick show.

🚀 6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Let’s talk about common things to avoid. Here are some of the more common missteps in dodging.

• Dodging too wide or too far away: This makes it easy for defenders to push you out further and toward low-angle shots. Stay in a good position and work to attack the middle. If you’re dodging too far, defenders will close the gap. Remember that dodging is about time and space.
• Lack of change of speed: A dodge without speed variation is predictable and ineffective. Burst is crucial. Change of speed and direction rules the day when it comes to great dodging.
• Forcing dodges into double teams: Read the defense—if you see a quick slide coming, pull out and reset.
• Over-dodging: Sometimes, the best dodge is one quick move and a pass. Don’t hold the ball too long, especially when you get into trouble. The “2-dodge rule” is also a great rule to remember: Take the dodge, if you don’t have it, get back and re-attack – if you’ve attacked 2 times and the defense has stopped you, move the ball. That’s the “2-dodge rule.”

🥍 7. Drills to Improve Your Dodging

Here’s a few ideas to work your dodge. Never ignore the most basic and fundamental drills to improve dodging (or other lacrosse skills). Mastering your basics is how athletes become elite, remember that.

• Cone Dodge Drill: Work on quick changes of direction and acceleration.
• 1v1 Isolation Drills: Practice dodging from different angles (top, wing, X) against live defenders.
• Footwork & Agility Drills: Use ladder drills, box drills, and sharp cuts to improve quickness.
• Dodge & Shoot Drills: Combine dodging with shots on the run or step down shooting to simulate game situations.
• Reaction Dodge Training: Practice against a defender who reacts to your movements, forcing you to adjust in real time. This is great for the concept of dodge and re-dodge (the 2-dodge rule).

🧠 8. Mental and Tactical Aspects of Dodging

Yes, dodging a physical skill but there are major mental aspects to effective dodging.

• Confidence: Great dodgers want the ball in 1v1 situations. They trust and believe in their ability to create opportunity when matched up in the 1v1.
• Composure Under Pressure: Stay calm when doubled or pressured—they don’t panic. Be cool, be calm, be confident.
• Recognizing Defensive Cues: Again, the lax IQ is a major asset to a great dodger. You must anticipate slides and double teams by reading defensive body language, recognizing defensive shifts, and using your field vision.
• Change of Plan: If your initial dodge fails, keep moving—re-dodge, pass, or reset yourself or the offense.  Be smart, be decisive. Know what to do and what NOT to do. You must adapt when things break down. 

✅ 9. The Bottom Line: “The Art of Dodging”

The Art of Dodging may be to recognize that dodging is your master skill. 

[See my previous article, The Art of The Dodge]

You can see there’s a lot to dodging, right?

As you better understand how important dodging is, you can work to always improve your basic and advanced moves to dominate your matchups.

Dodging is a blend of skill, athleticism, and lacrosse IQ (plus some guts).

You will see this when you watch the best dodgers like 🔥 Izzy Scane and 🔥 Charlotte North.

They are unpredictable, using fakes, counters, and multiple moves as they attack the cage.

They read the defense and make quick, smart decisions in real time.

Train relentlessly, improve your footwork, explosiveness, and deception techniques.

When you work to master dodging, you become a matchup nightmare for opposing teams—someone who can break down any defense and create endless scoring opportunities.

You can become a dominant dodger.

But you have to do the work.

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