The key to scoring goals for midfielders

For an offensive player, being great at dodging by defenders doesn't automatically equate to being great at scoring goals. To score goals, midfielders don't need to have incredible stick skills, they don't need to be able to shoot the ball extremely hard, and they don't need to be very accurate shooters. These skills all help players score more goals, but they are not the most crucial component to scoring goals for midfielders.

To score goals, midfielders only need to be able to execute a dodge that will enable them to get their hands free for a quality shot. Getting your hands free for a shot (away from your defender and his stick) while in shooting range of the goal is the key to scoring goals. Therefore, midfielders shouldn't necessarily dodge with the intent to blow by their defender. They should dodge with the intent to get their hands free from their defender so they can take a quality shot while they're within their scoring range of the goal.

When dodging from up top, midfielders can anticipate having to take a shot from a distance no closer than 8 yards away from the goal. This is because there is often a defender standing right in front of the goal, on the crease area, who is ready to slide and double team if the offensive player gets close to the goal. Offensive midfielders that get too close to the goal before shooting the ball will often find themselves in this double-team and unable to shoot. As a result, midfielders should learn to shoot the ball relatively quickly out of their dodge. A midfielder that has the ball and is within 13 yards of the goal with his hands free should shoot the ball if he has a quality shot, rather than trying to run in for a closer shot (if there are other defenders blocking his path to the goal).

A player has a big advantage dodging from up top rather than behind the goal because they start their dodge while facing the goal, and therefore already have a shooting angle on the goal. Attackmen dodging from behind the goal must work harder to score because they must get to an area on the field where they are in front of the goal and have a shooting angle before they are able to take a shot.

For midfielders, a basic split dodge is the dodge that will most often help you get your hands free for a shot, because when done correctly, it creates the most space between you and your defender than another dodge. Midfielders should practice dodging and shooting drills designed to create separation from a defender within scoring range of the goal. Practicing these drills will significantly enhance a midfielder's ability to score goals.

Note for less-experienced players: Midfielders usually play offense slightly inside the restraining line on their offensive half of the field. The restraining line is the line on the field located halfway way between the goal and the middle of the field. Restraining lines are located on both halves of the field. In offensive lacrosse terminology, this area along the restraining line, where midfielders usually play while their team is on offense, is often referred to as "up top". Midfielders' play up top while on offense, in front of their opponent's goal, because if there is a turnover and the other team gets the ball, midfielders can run back to their defensive side of the field much faster than they could if they were playing offense behind their opponent's goal, which is farther away.