How to Check in Lacrosse

Checking your opponent in lacrosse is used as a means of disrupting their movement or as an attempt to knock the ball away from their possession. There are certain guidelines to checking, however, and proper checking is extremely important. The following steps will tell you how to properly check your opponent.

Instructions

1. Begin in the proper defensive lacrosse position. This will allow you to check your opponent without losing your balance. This position also lowers your center of gravity and you are able to play better defense from this position rather than standing erect and flat footed.

2. Wait until your opponent is in your close proximity. You never want to go out of your area simply to check an opponent. This will cause a weakness and will often lead to a goal being scored. Make sure your opponent has the ball when you check him. If you check him and he does not have possession of the ball, you will be penalized with an illegal checking call.

3. Slap at the hands or the stick of your opponent by using the head of your stick. These slaps should not be full forced hits upon your opponent, just short taps. These slaps should be limited to the hands or stick of your opponent. Checking an opponent any other area of the body may result in a penalty.

4. Ask the director of the league you are playing in or your coach if checking is allowed. Many times it is not in some leagues and checking an opposing player will result in an immediate ejection for the player who does the checking.