Attackmen are lacrosse's "forwards." These players are responsible for scoring the ball. Midfielders are lacrosse runners who play both offensive and defense. Defenseman: These guys are in charge of preventing the offense from scoring and have a 6 foot lacrosse pole. Goalkeepers are the final line of defense. They stand between the goal and any attacker looking to score a goal. Midfielders move the ball downfield by carrying it, throwing it, or kicking it. They look for open spaces on the field where they can run with the ball. If there is no open space, they make a player-to-player pass. Midfielders can also take shots at the goal if the area is clear of defenders. Attackers are the players on the court who try to score goals. There are three main types of attackers: point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. Point guards are defensive specialists who help out their teams by directing traffic and making key passes. They usually have strong arms and are good at catching balls near the goal crease. Shooting guards like to take charges and find open teammates. They are responsible for creating their own opportunities by drawing defenders away from the middle of the field. Small forwards like to get into the face of the opposing goalie and use physical tactics to win battles for loose balls. They often score off rebounds and put-backs after attacking guards have created opening lanes for themselves.