College coaches evaluate women's lacrosse recruits based on specific skills relevant to each position. When building your pinned playlist, use the skill tags below to highlight the skills coaches want to see most. Below are the different skills college coaches are evaluating in women's lacrosse. 

Women's Lacrosse Skills in Pinned Playlists:

• Assists
• Dodging
• Checking
• Marking
• Interceptions
• Clearing
• Riding
• Transition Plays
• Saves
• Passing
• Off Ball Plays
• Help Defense
• Ground Balls
• Goals
• Draws
• 1v1 Offense
• 1v1 Defense
• Other

If you think something is missing or need assistance, submit a form here:  🔗 Form Link → 

⭐ Tip: If a clip contains multiple skills or covers an extended play, use multiple tags so college coaches can evaluate it accurately. For example, a successful drive to goal that results in a score should be tagged with both "1v1 Offense" and "Goals."

Attack

Attackers are responsible for creating and executing scoring opportunities while maintaining offensive possession. Coaches evaluate attackers on their ability to create space, finish plays, and contribute to a dynamic offense.

• 1v1 Offense
  • Demonstrate your ability to beat defenders in space while maintaining proper body positioning and stick protection. Include clips showcasing different dodge types, changes of direction, and successful creation of shooting space.
• Goals

  • Demonstrate finishing ability under pressure. Include both free position shots and shots in tight spaces, showing variety in shot placement and execution.

• Dodging

  • Showcase different dodging techniques such as split dodge, roll dodge, and question mark dodge. Display your ability to create separation from defenders and generate scoring chances.

• Passing & Assists

  • Highlight your ability to move the ball effectively. Show assists from both settled offenses and transition plays, displaying your ability to set up teammates with accurate feeds.

• Riding

  • Show your ability to disrupt the opponent’s clearing game. Include clips of aggressive yet controlled defensive pressure to force turnovers or rushed passes.

• Off Ball Plays

  • Demonstrate how you create space and support the offense without the ball. Include footage of effective cutting, setting picks, and positioning that leads to scoring opportunities.

• Ground Balls
  • Demonstrate your ability to gain possession in contested situations. Include ground balls around the crease and during rides. Show proper technique and the ability to quickly transition to offense.

Midfield

Midfielders must contribute on both ends of the field and excel in transition. Coaches seek players who are impactful in offense, defense, and fast-paced play.

• Transition Plays

  • Demonstrate your ability to push the ball in transition. Show decision-making in fast breaks and quick ball movement that leads to scoring chances.

• 1v1 Offense
  • Display your dodging ability from up top and on the wings. Show diverse dodge types and the ability to create scoring opportunities for yourself and teammates.
• Goals
  • Showcase your shooting ability with a variety of shot types and situations. Include both assisted and unassisted goals, demonstrating your ability to finish in different scenarios. Make sure to show goals scored under defensive pressure as well as time-and-room shots.
• 1v1 Defense
  • Demonstrate your ability to guard offensive players in isolation. Show proper defensive positioning, footwork, and successful on-ball defense leading to turnovers or failed offensive possessions.
• Checking
  • Display proper stick-checking techniques such as poke checks, lift checks, and slap checks. Show effectiveness in disrupting offensive players without overcommitting.
• Passing & Assists
  • Display your playmaking ability with feeds and assists. Include clips showing field vision and the ability to find open teammates. Demonstrate both short-range feeds and longer clearing passes when riding.
• Riding
  • Show your ability to pressure defenders and disrupt clearing attempts. Demonstrate footwork, stick positioning, and the ability to force turnovers in the offensive zone.
• Help Defense
  • Include clips showing proper sliding technique and recovery. Demonstrate your understanding of team defense concepts and communication.
• Draws

  • For draw specialists, showcase your ability to win possession through technique and body positioning. Include clips of successful draws leading to offensive possessions.

• Ground Balls
  • Display hustle and proper technique in retrieving loose balls. Include ground balls in traffic and in the open field, showing your ability to quickly transition after gaining possession.

Defense

Defenders must demonstrate both individual defensive skills and team defense concepts. Coaches evaluate defenders on their ability to prevent scoring opportunities and initiate transition offense.

• 1v1 Defense

  • Show your ability to guard attackmen in isolation situations. Include clips demonstrating proper defensive positioning, footwork, and successful checks leading to turnovers.

• Help Defense

  • Display your understanding of team defense through proper sliding and recovery. Show communication with teammates and ability to defend multiple offensive players in sequence.

• Checking

  • Showcase legal stick checks that create turnovers. Include clips demonstrating technique and control in disrupting the opponent’s stick.

• Interceptions

  • Demonstrate your ability to anticipate passes and cut off passing lanes. Show successful interceptions that lead to transition opportunities.

• Clearing

  • Show your ability to advance the ball after saves or turnovers. Include both short outlet passes and longer clearing attempts under pressure.

• Marking

  • Demonstrate how you track and stay with attackers off the ball. Show clips where you deny cutters and prevent high-percentage shots.

• Ground Balls

  • Gain possession using proper technique and physicality. This includes ground balls in traffic and successful clear attempts after securing possession.

• Transition Plays

  • Demonstrate your ability to push the ball in transition. Show decision-making in fast breaks and quick ball movement that leads to scoring chances.

• Off Ball Plays

  • Demonstrate how you position yourself effectively as a defender when not actively engaged in on-ball defense. Show clips of proper defensive positioning, anticipation of offensive movements, and how you disrupt passing lanes without overcommitting.

Goalie

Goalies must demonstrate save ability, communication skills, and clearing ability. Coaches evaluate goalies on both their shot-stopping and their ability to initiate transition offense.

• Saves
  • Show saves from various shot locations and types. Include both reaction saves and positional saves, demonstrating your technique and athleticism.
• Clearing
  • Display your ability to start transition offense after saves. Show both short outlet passes and longer clearing attempts, demonstrating decision-making under pressure.
• Help Defense
  • Demonstrate your ability to direct the defense and communicate. Include clips showing defensive organization and successful defensive possessions.
• Redefends
  • Show your ability to defend the cage in unsettled situations. Include clips of saves or defensive plays during broken clears or transition situations. Demonstrate proper positioning and decision-making when the defense is not set.

After learning what coaches are looking for with your specific position, it’s time to start creating your pinned playlist. Check out our article, “Building and Publishing Pinned Playlists,” to get started!