BEGINNER DEFENSIVE SYSTEM

• Zone Defense:  A style of defense characterized by defensive players covering a certain area of the floor.

• A basic "house" zone defense is essentially the inverted coverage of the prime scoring area, in the shape of a stick-figured house (box + triangle).

• Two defenders cover the crease positions, two cover the shooter positions and one covers the point position.

• The defender covering the point must “play on a string,” covering both the point player and the middle of the box when the point player doesn’t have the ball.  While in the middle, this player must be prepared to help any teammate that gets beat; adjacent defenders should also "show help" as best as possible, without over-committing.
  

• If at any time an opponent enters the area that a player is covering, they should be cross-checked, clamped, or perhaps slashed if they have the ball.  Teammates also need to communicate and "pass off" when an opponent exits their zone.
  

• Beginner lacrosse teams should have players start in this defensive formation, time permitting. 

• Note:  This system is generally the default defense used to defend a 6-on-5 (“pull the goalie”) situation.