Developing the Complete Attackman 🥍
Elite attackmen are more than goal scorers—they are complete playmakers who can control the game from behind the cage, on the wing, or around the crease. They create advantages, read defensive reactions, and know when to attack, feed, or move the ball. Becoming that type of player requires strong stick skills, exceptional ball control, quick hands, and the ability to protect the stick while changing direction or absorbing pressure. 💪
See the Game 👀
Vision is what separates a talented attackman from an offensive quarterback. Great playmakers keep their heads up, recognize where slides are coming from, and anticipate which teammate will become open next. They use changes of speed, direction, and positioning to manipulate defenders, create space, and re-attack before the defense can recover.
Finish in Every Situation 🎯
The complete attackman must be able to finish in different ways—on the run, around screens, inside, from difficult angles, and through contact.
- 🥍 Ball control helps them survive pressure
- 👀 Vision reveals the advantage
- 🎯 Finishing allows them to capitalize on it
The following drills and skill progressions are designed to develop these qualities and help attackmen become confident creators who can score, facilitate, and make everyone around them better.
Ball Control Warm Up Drills
This drill focuses on developing cradling, stick protection, body control, and creating separation through a deceptive bounce.
Set Up
Place cones in a zig zag pattern about 10 yards apart. Thwe first player will start and attack the first diagonal cone, plant and then use a bounce as if we are creating separation from a defender. They will bounce to the next diagonal cone, plan and drive/attack to the next diagonal cone. Repeat until through all cones
Coaching Points & Principles
- Cradling – we want a 1 or 2 handed cradle working on shielding with our body. Nice slow and controlled cradle
- Bounce – We want to pop our hands out and up as if we are looking to make a pass. This is a nice deceptive move when executing the bounce
- Body control – Players shouldn’t rush, we want to make sure we are shielding and cradling effectively
Progressions
- Add in a token defender to run with the offense for a better look/feel for stick protection
Ball Control & Changing Direction Warm Up Drill
Set Up
Place cones in a zig zag pattern about 10 yards apart. The player will attck every cone, with a roll back live they are evading pressure. Players with make sure they are imagining a defender to the inside of them at all times
Coaching Points & Principles
- Stick protection – Keep the stick close to your body, using as a shield
- Changing direction – We want to drop our outside hip and plant with inside foot to explode into the role
- Securing the ball – DONT let the stick head follow you, once changing directions, get your stick in front leading you
Stick Protection & Timing Defensive Checks
Changing direction effectively starts with balance and body control. As a defender applies pressure, players should stay athletic with knees bent, chest up, and hands relaxed on the stick. The stick stays protected and close to the body so the player can move freely without exposing the ball.
To change direction, the player uses a hard plant with the outside foot, shifts their weight, and pushes explosively into the new space. The stick and hands move with the body, keeping the cradle compact and controlled rather than wide or rushed. This quick change of direction forces the defender to stop, adjust, and re-accelerate.
After creating separation, players should immediately re-square their shoulders and get back into a ready position to pass or shoot. Changing direction is most effective when it’s decisive and purposeful, allowing the offense to attack space and take advantage of a defense that is rotating or recovering.
Be Evasive & Deceptive
The hesitation dodge is designed to freeze the defender with a brief change of pace before exploding past them. Attack with speed, shorten your steps and briefly pause to force the defender to react, then accelerate past their top foot while protecting your stick and attacking downhill.
Shooting with a Quick Release
A shooting drill that emphasizes catching the ball loaded and ready to shoot from the wings emphasizing a QUICK RELEASE
Set Up
Put a line down on goal line extended (GLE) and a line on the high wing. Ball will start in the lower line. We want the shooting line to turn their body in a ready position, so they can catch and shoot quickly out of a loaded position.
Coaching Points and Principles
- Get set up with your shoulders and hips angled to the goal and your STICK UP IN THE BOX area ready for a pass
- Minimize cradle, try to get in and out of your stick quickly without losing control
- Finish the shot far pipe!
Progressions
- Add in some motion like a drift or a pop to the player on the wing
Using Body Language to Finish In Tight
Inside finishing requires composure, timing, and efficient movement around the crease. Players must stay balanced and ready, keeping their hands soft and the stick prepared to move quickly in tight space. Good inside play starts with body positioning, finding open space with small adjustments rather than big movements.
The stick should stay tight to the body and move directly to the shooting position. Quick hands and minimal cradle help players finish before the defense or goalie can recover. The release should be compact and controlled, using wrist snap and body balance rather than a full wind-up.
Effective inside finishers also understand angles and placement. By reading the goalie’s positioning and finishing to open space, players can score in close without rushing. Inside finishing is about efficiency, catching cleanly, shooting quickly, and staying composed under pressure.
You can also include body language to move goalies. If I drop my shoulders, goalies will move with you and can find quick open net space up high. Vice versa, if you get big and bring shoulders up, goalie will get tall and its a great time to finish low
Creating Separation & Re-Dodging
This drill emphasizes ways for players with the ball to learn how to create their own space when attacking the goal
Set Up
Start the players on the wing, with a ball in their stick. Add a coach or player about a stick length away acting as a guided defender. The player with ball will initiate with a bounce.. they step away from the defender, to create space. The guided defender will do 1 of 3 things: Take a high approach, a low approach, or stay neutral. The player with the ball will read the defender, and take the space given. If the defender stays neutral, the player with ball should initiate some form of deception like a fake pass, or a hitch to freeze and attack the space they want.
Principles and Coaching Point
- Take the space the defender gives, and explode to it
- When bouncing, get your stick in a loaded position acting as a triple threat (You can pass, shoot, or re-attack)
- Finish quick, once you take the space, get loaded for a shot on the run and release quick
Progressions
- Start with a dodge up the hash
- Play tougher defender forcing a double dodge
Dodging the Island (5x5)
SET UP
Set up attackmen behind the goal with a coach positioned as the defender using a blocking pad to provide realistic body pressure. Players begin by working one move at a time, starting with the rocker step, followed by the inside roll, and then the question mark, completing multiple repetitions of each. The player initiates their dodge and makes contact with the pad, using that pressure to recognize where the defender is positioned on their body before executing the appropriate move and finishing at the cage. Keep the drill controlled enough to emphasize clean footwork and hand placement before increasing the pace. The drill can also be used with midfielders who may attack from behind through inverts or wing dodges.
COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES
- Feel the Defender: Don’t predetermine the move—recognize where the defensive pressure is on your body and use that information to decide between the rocker, inside roll, or question mark.
- Build Habitual Footwork: Repetition should make the footwork and handwork automatic, allowing the player to focus more attention on reading the defender.
- Create Separation: Use the defender’s pressure against them—for example, sell the rocker toward the end line to get the defender to step that direction, then re-attack the space toward the front of the cage.
Dodging with Eyes UP!
A shooting drill for players that tend to play behind the goal at X. Any dodger should always have eyes up looking for teammates, while focusing on creating advantages
Set Up
Put your players at X, and a coach up top. One of the main focuses of the drill, and getting players to dodge with their HEADS UP! They will start by making a quick move at X, and then attacking to the island (5×5). Coach will be up top, and if we put out stick up, the players will make a pass, and we do a give and go shot. If the coach keeps stick down, players will execute a question mark dodge.
Coaching Points and Principles
- Dodge with your HEAD UP! Make a GOOD Pass to coach but separating hands from a defender with a small bounce
- Question marks – emphasize stick protection and getting hips back to cage
- Give and Go’s – Inside finishes, Catch + Shoot.. don’t hold on to the ball
Progressions
- Add other dodges or shot finishes
- Force shots to hit a certain part of goal
Catch & Finish
SET UP
Put players at Goal Line Extended with a coach or line of players up top with balls. The player at GLE flashes and cuts up the hash as the pass is delivered, working to catch the ball loaded and get their first 2–3 steps in while the ball is still in the air. Attackmen frequently find opportunities cutting up the hash, but the window to shoot is small, so the goal is to get the hips and shoulders back toward the cage and release the ball quickly before the defense can recover. Emphasize timing the cut, getting downhill, and finishing far side.
COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES
- Catch It Loaded: Arrive with your hands and body prepared to shoot rather than catching first and loading second.
- Win Your Steps Early: Get 2–3 steps in while the ball is traveling so you can immediately turn your hips and shoulders back toward the goal.
- Quick Release, Far Side: Attackmen don’t have much time when cutting up the hash—get the shot off quickly and look to finish far side.
PROGRESSIONS
- Add in guided defense