To play on the crease in lacrosse, stay active in the tight space just outside the goal crease, using sharp cuts and legal picks to get open, show a clear target with your stick, catch passes cleanly in traffic, and finish quickly with a quick stick or a single fake before shooting low or to the goalie’s off-stick hip. Crease players, sometimes called crease attackmen, rarely have much time or space, so hand speed, movement off the ball and awareness of the crease rules matter more than size alone. Offensive players generally may not step into the crease, so good footwork and body control are essential. A strong crease player makes the whole offense more dangerous by punishing slides and finishing chances close to the goal.
What a crease player does
The crease player operates in front of the goal, where defenders and the goalie are close and time is short. Their main jobs are to finish passes from teammates, especially from attackers at X and dodging midfielders; to set picks that free teammates for shots or dodges; to occupy defenders so they cannot slide freely; and to pick up rebounds and loose balls near the cage. In many offenses, such as the 2-3-1 or 1-4-1, one player is assigned to the crease, while sets like the 1-3-2 use two. Crease players also screen the goalie on outside shots, making it harder for the goalie to see the ball.
Key crease skills
| Skill | Tip |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Stay just outside the crease and move to open space |
| Cuts | Change direction and speed to lose your defender |
| Picks | Set legal, stationary picks for teammates, then roll off to the ball |
| Target | Hold your stick up and away from defenders as a clear target |
| Catching | Soft hands, stick protected from checks |
| Finishing | Quick stick or one fake; aim low corners or off-stick hip |
| Rebounds | Stay ready for loose balls after shots |
Getting open on the crease
Defenders guarding the crease often play tight and physical, so standing still makes you easy to cover. Keep moving with short, sharp cuts, changing direction and speed to create a step of separation. Watch your defender’s head: when they turn to look at the ball, cut behind them. Move to the back side of the crease when the ball is on the other side of the field, since slides and rotations often leave the back side open. Stay in the passer’s line of sight and avoid drifting behind defenders where passes cannot reach you.
Setting picks
Picks, or screens, are a big part of crease play. A legal pick is set by standing still with your body in the path of a teammate’s defender, allowing your teammate to run past for a dodge or shot. After setting a pick, roll or pop toward the ball, since defenders often switch or get confused, leaving you open. Communicate with teammates so they know when a pick is coming. Moving picks, where you move into the defender’s path, are illegal and can lead to penalties.
Catching in traffic
Crease passes often arrive quickly and through crowded areas. Show a clear target with your stick held up and away from your defender. Keep your hands soft so the ball settles into the pocket, and be ready to catch balls that are slightly off target. Protect your stick with your body, since defenders will try to check you as soon as the ball arrives. Many crease goals come from catching and shooting in one motion, so work on quick sticks in wall ball.
Finishing around the goal
Close to the goal, speed matters more than power. A quick stick, where you catch and shoot almost in one motion, gives the goalie little time to react. When you have a split second more, a single fake can move the goalie out of position before you shoot. Common finishing targets include the low corners and the goalie’s off-stick hip, which can be harder to cover. Avoid overcomplicating with multiple fakes, since defenders will close quickly. Stay balanced so you do not fall into the crease after shooting.
Reading the defense from the crease
Crease players have a close view of how the defense reacts, which makes them valuable communicators. Watch for when your defender slides to help on a dodger, since that often leaves you open for a quick feed. When the defense rotates, look for gaps on the back side. If the goalie steps out to cover a shooter, a quick pass across the crease can create an open net. Talk to your teammates by calling for the ball when you are open and letting dodgers know where the slide is coming from. Understanding the defense turns a crease player from a finisher into a playmaker.
Screening the goalie
On outside shots, the crease player can stand in the goalie’s line of sight to make the ball harder to see. Position yourself just outside the crease between the shooter and the goalie, keep your stick ready for a deflection or rebound, and avoid interfering illegally with the goalie. After the shot, react quickly to loose balls. Screens make long-range shots more dangerous and are a key part of many offenses.
Crease rules
Crease rules are especially important for crease players. In most rules, offensive players may not step into the crease, and a goal scored by a player who is in the crease, or who lands in the crease as part of the shooting motion, usually does not count. Rules on diving toward the crease and exactly when a shooter’s feet may touch it have changed over time and differ by level. Defenders also have rules about how they may play in and around the crease, and goalies have protections inside it.
Rulebook note: Rules and dimensions vary between men’s and women’s lacrosse and between governing bodies such as World Lacrosse, the NCAA, USA Lacrosse and the NFHS. Check the current rulebook for your level, especially crease and diving rules.
How to improve as a crease player step by step
- Build quick hands with daily wall ball and quick stick drills.
- Practice cuts with changes of speed and direction.
- Learn legal picks and how to roll off them.
- Work on finishing with fakes and quick sticks from close range.
- Study your offense so you know where to be as the ball moves.
- Develop body control to stay out of the crease.
- Get stronger to handle contact near the goal.
Practice drills
- Crease feeding drill: Teammates feed from X and the wings while you finish.
- Pick and roll: Set picks for dodgers and roll to the ball.
- Two-on-one around the crease: Read defenders and finish.
- Rebound drill: React to shots off the goalie and pipes.
- Fake and finish: Practice one fake before shooting from close range.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Standing still and letting defenders lean on you.
- Stepping into the crease, which wipes out goals.
- Too many fakes, giving defenders time to check.
- Exposing your stick to checks.
- Moving picks that draw penalties.
- Hiding behind defenders where passers cannot see you.
Frequently asked questions
What does a crease attackman do in lacrosse?
Finishes passes near the goal, sets picks, screens the goalie and picks up rebounds and loose balls.
Can you step in the crease in lacrosse?
Offensive players generally may not step into the crease, and goals scored by a player in the crease usually do not count. Rules vary by level.
Where should you shoot from the crease?
Many players aim for the low corners or the goalie’s off-stick hip, using a quick stick or a single fake to beat the goalie.
