The purpose of this document is to provide a backstop for lacrosse goals so that the ball will not go over the goal line. This device has many possibilities due to its small footprint and can fit in most cases between two posts on either side of the play area.
It is designed to be equally balanced at both ends so that it does not “fall” towards one end of the field or another. The materials are cheap and easy to obtain (a trip to any hardware store). Installation requires no mechanical skills, welding, or cutting equipment, just access to some screws.
Also, you can adjust where you want your backstop attached by adding more screws on top of additional 2x4s on existing ones; for more information, see appendix.
The backstop is made out of 2x4s and plywood, so there are many points where you can attach it to the goal. We will show how to install it on both sides of the goal post for this example. Start by finding a place where two 2x4s align with the post (another one sticks out perpendicular).
The measurement from end-to-end for each side should be around 1 foot shorter than the height of your backstop. Use wood screws or nails to secure them together at all four corners, then turn them upright until parallel with the top bar. Make sure that they are both roughly in line with each other horizontally when you do this.
Once you have done that, attach a 2-foot piece of string or wire from one side to the other with a weight on either end that will keep it in place while you install everything else. This is called your “plumb line,” You should always check that things are level and plumb when you’re building anything.
Once this is securely attached, use another piece of wood (a 4ft long 2×4) and lay it across both sides to align it at all four corners. On each side, measure 1 foot above the bottom edge of where your crossbar will be located. At these two points, drill holes through the top pieces to align with the lower ones.
Place screws in them on both sides so there’s no chance that it will come apart. This is where you will attach the bar that holds your netting to the backstop. On each side of the crossbar, measure 10 inches above it and drill a hole at each location. Make sure they are plumb by checking with your string line again.
A bit higher up, also drill two more holes on both sides so that all four are spaced evenly. You should have one screw plug leftover from earlier; place this plug into one of these new holes on each side of the crossbar (you may need to countersink the screw hole first).
How To Make a Lacrosse Backstop
First, you need to find a suitable wall that is strong enough and flat enough to hold back the lacrosse ball. This could be anything from a garage door to an indoor brick wall. All you care about is that it’s sturdy and level. If it is not level, then use some boards or bricks as shims under the post on whichever side of the post needs leveling until the post rests on each edge of said unlevel areas evenly.
Once you have selected your area, make sure there are no power lines or other objects like trees or cars behind where the net will be placed (you don’t want any unexpected pellet gun bullets flying around!) Then measure out how far off your wall/door/surface you will need to place the backboard to get the right height.
In that space, build a frame out of 1″x6″ lumber with two vertical posts and everything evenly spaced apart from each other. The bottom of your net should be at least 24 inches off the ground but no more than 30 inches.
Once you have a frame built, put it about four feet away from your wall/door/surface and rest your backboard onto it. Now staple your net onto the backboard, making sure not to pull too hard on any section while stapling because you want all parts of the net to lay flat against the board without wrinkles or puckers throughout its length.
After you have stapled one part of the net, move onto the next section until you have stapled your net onto the board all around its circumference. Now take a backyard rink staple gun and staple the bottom of the net to your frame.
Finally, you will need to cut out slits for your goalies to stick their sticks into so they can snag any shots that go through the netting. Also, try not to hit any uprights with these cuts because that is where your goalies will be standing when they block shots.
After you have cut out slits for your goalie holes, put in some t-posts right above them at three feet high so it can guide any jumps shots over your backboard towards your frame, keeping them inside of it, so they don’t fly past or under it.
You can also make a cut down the middle of your net that is parallel with the ground and then forms a “T” out of the excess netting that you just cut off. This will allow for shots to fly underneath your net but keep them from going behind it as well as making an excellent target for stick-laying drills.
The last thing you need to do now is put up some yard lines so your players can understand where their goals are and what area they need to be in during drill work.