Lacrosse practice doesn’t have to be repetitive and dull. By incorporating fun and competitive drills, you can keep players engaged while developing their skills in a dynamic environment. Here are eight exciting drills and games that will make practices both educational and enjoyable for youth lacrosse players. You can incorporate these drills into small groups or stations at any point during practice. Not only will these drills improve the skill development, but players will also benefit from growing their IQ and learning how to be decision makers on the field.
Integrating these drills into your youth lacrosse practices will not only improve skill development but also keep players motivated and excited to play. Whether focusing on offensive tactics, defensive strategies, or overall game awareness, these fun and competitive drills will create an engaging and effective learning experience for young athletes. Get out on the field and make this season a great one!
1) Diamond Keep Away to the Goal
Focus: Ground balls, offensive spacing, defensive slide and recovery.
This drill sets up a diamond formation where players work on maintaining possession while defenders practice slide and recovery techniques. It enhances quick decision-making, ball movement, and defensive positioning.
2) 32 Break Game
Focus: Offensive advantage, reading slides, live defensive play.
By creating a small-sided 3v2 scenario, offensive players learn how to exploit defensive weaknesses and read slides, while defenders improve their ability to react in real-time situations. This fast-paced game fosters quick ball movement and sharp decision-making.
3) Windup Shooting
Focus: Proper shot loading, escape moves, fakes.
Teaching players how to load into their shot properly while incorporating fakes and escape options makes them more deceptive shooters. This drill enhances shooting mechanics and creativity when attacking the net.
4) Take the Space: Dodging to Space
Focus: Reading defenders, dodging with purpose.
Players practice dodging while learning to read their defender’s position and body language. This drill helps young athletes understand when to attack space, change direction, or pass the ball based on defensive cues.
5) Trucks and Trailers
Focus: Ball handling and cradling is an important skill to have for lacrosse.
This foundational drill is fun, allows the kids to get creative, and work on their ball handling with unpredictable movement, think Follow the Leader game!
6) Flip It Game
Focus: Offensive and defensive unsettled and uneven situations.
This is a great drill for recognition and build up into different situations for the players where they are constantly changing roles from offense to defense.
7) 2v2 with Slides
Focus: Offensive ball movement, defensive awareness.
Offensive players work on recognizing defensive slides and moving the ball quickly to exploit open space. Defenders practice communication and help-side positioning to prevent scoring opportunities.
8) 3v1 Rondo
Focus: Stick control, passing, communication.
This chaos-style game forces players to focus on ball control under pressure. It’s a fun way to build passing accuracy, off-ball movement, and team communication while keeping players engaged in a competitive environment.