The Scoop Spring 2017 | Page 23

about the game is the unique skill sets and concepts that the players can use to improve multiple areas of their game. Lacrosse is known as the "fastest game on two feet", thus movement for players with and without the ball is crucial to the success of any offense. Chumash allows for the teaching of many motion offense principles.

With three-on-three play, player off-ball movement is highlighted even more so in Chumash in order to get open and create offensive looks. This is a game that if not all three offensive players are moving, very little offensive output will come of standing flat-footed.

The triangular concept is frequently used in motion offenses in traditional 10-on-10 lacrosse with the three midfielders working in unison together while the three attackmen have their own triangular rotation based on on-ball and off-ball movement. However, Chumash is great way to implement a more simplistic motion offense. Creating one triangular rotation is one key for creating Chumash offense while setting the building blocks for the full blown motion offense in full field scenarios.

Those coaches in MBYLL who have incorporated Chumash into their teaching of the game, such as Dalton, like to use the game to create a foundation for their motion offense. Typically, in a motion offense, players are to imagine themselves on a string with their two other teammates, rotating away from the ball to create separation and offensive opportunities. This movement in unison will allow offensive players to remain spread-out

on the field while prohibiting the defense to trap the ball carrier with a double team.

With some similarities to box lacrosse, Chumash has a strong focus on two-man games (using pick and rolls to generate offensive opportunities). In college field lacrosse games, Canadian players usually stand out from the rest of the players because of their unique playing style resulting from years and years of box lacrosse predicated on playing in tight space and using picks to create offense.

Dalton explained, “Chumash reminds me of box and the Canadian game as it must be played in tighter space.” This tighter space allows coaches to prepare their players for crease scenarios in the full version of the game. Coaches like Dalton rely on Chumash to get players focusing on catching and passing in tighter spaces. Having soft hands and focus on the ball are of utmost importance.

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