Deception & Protecting

Deception & Protecting
Phase 2: Create & Manipulate: As players transition into the Early Train to Compete phase, the focus shifts from executing skills to intentionally creating advantages. Players learn how to manipulate defenders through two-man actions, off-ball movement, proper spacing, and early ball movement while developing the ability to play through second and third actions. Defensively, the emphasis is on communication, help principles, and recognizing how to disrupt offensive advantages. Coaches encourage players to read the game rather than memorize patterns, using competitive, game-like environments that develop intelligent, adaptable decision-makers.	Week 4 Practice / 90 Minute Session	Activities Knockdowns and Skips Offensive Skill Station - C-Drill Shooting Defensive Skill Station - 3 Cone Approach w/ Slaps 3v2 Ball Reversal 6v6 Scrimmage
Knockdowns and Skips - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
Fun game that can get players to work on deception from both an offensive and defensive perspective Set Up Set up a small area, and put offensive players in pairs across from each other, each group has 1 ball. Add in 3-4 Defensive players in the middle. Players on the outside will try to make passes across the field, and they can pass to any person, not. just player directly across. The defense is going to try and lockdown or intercept passes. If a player who throws a knockdown or interception, they are now in the middle and that defender will now move to the perimeter as a passer Principles and Coaching Points Progressions Use less players/balls for younger teams Make field smaller to challenge the offense further Add constraints, using off hand, who they can/can’t pass to, etc..		Offense – Use Deception when passing (no looks, etc..) Defense – head on a swivel, try to see both sides of the field to find balls in air. Sticks UP!
Offensive Skill Station - C-Drill Shooting - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A Shooting drill to work on our deceptive Hitch into a shot Set Up Use cones to help show the footwork movement here. Put 4 cones down in a row pointing to the goal. Add 4 Cones that instersects through the cones at the cone closest to goal. Add 1-2 more cones down to create a C shape. The players start with the ball in a loaded position like they are going to shoot. They will step down into the cones staying loaded, and plant off their front foot. The idea is to explode back uphill slightly, and then getting back down hill (C motion). The shots will be on the run moving our feet, or you can incorporate a step down shot with planted feet. Coaching Points and Principles Progressions Start with a pass catching it loaded right into the drill Add in a guided defender Set up cones anywhere on field for different shot types/locations		Stay loaded through the initial dodge. Hands back and away like you are loaded to shoot Plant off the front foot to explode back up his Use your elbow and shoulders to emphasize the hitch (fake shot). No need to use any head movement. Get back downhill for a shot
Defensive Skill Station - 3 Cone Approach w/ Slaps - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A defensive drill that emphasizes footwork work and stick control Set Up On the side of a goal, set up 3 cones all about 5 yards away from each other and the goal. The player will start by approaching the goal, breaking down with short choppy steps, and then making a quick slap check to the back of the net (NOT the pipe). They will then backpedal and do figure 8’s through the 3 cones, and then approach the goal again with a check. Have them get 5-10 reps of this adding id different footwork to the drill! Coaching Points and Principles		FOOTWORK! We want to work on our foot speed, so make sure the approaches, bad pedals, and figure 8’s, they players body stay under control. Try to get faster every rep, use a timer if it helps Checks – We want to work on our hand coordination, so we are making SHORT chop checks to the back of the net. If the player checks the pipe, they have lost that control so the hand speed and coordination is important!
3v2 Ball Reversal - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A game that works on sliding and recovery, and then changing sides of the field with ball reversals Set Up Put 3 offensive players in a triangle in the offensive end, and 2 defenders. To start the drill have the offense pass the ball, with the defense sliding and recovering appropriately. Once every player on offense has touched the ball once, the game is live. The offense should continue to reverse the ball, make the slides long for the defense, trying to get an open wing step down shot. if the point becomes a free lane to shoot, that can work too. But the offense should be more stationary, working on moving the ball quick. Players should think about moving the ball AWAY from pressure, don’t force the short or skip passes. Ball reversal creates defensive scramble, and attack after reversal Coaching Points & Principles		Offense, move the ball fast, try to get the best open shoty Defense slide and recover principles of 1 player always on ball, and the other splitting the other 2 offensive players.
6v6 Scrimmage - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A live 6v6 scrimmage allows players to apply the skills and concepts practiced throughout the session in a game-like environment. Play continuously while encouraging communication, decision-making, and teamwork. Keep coaching interruptions to a minimum, using brief teaching moments between possessions to maintain the flow and maximize repetitions. Constraint Ideas: Possession clock • Every player touches the ball • Assisted goals only • Bonus points for defensive stops or caused turnovers • Start from specific situations (clear, ground ball, man-up, etc.) • Limit dodges or require a dodge before shooting • Reward good spacing and ball movement • Play uneven numbers (6v5, 5v6).

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Knockdowns and Skips
Offensive Skill Station - C-Drill Shooting
Defensive Skill Station - 3 Cone Approach w/ Slaps
3v2 Ball Reversal
6v6 Scrimmage

Phase 2: Create & Manipulate: As players transition into the Early Train to Compete phase, the focus shifts from executing skills to intentionally creating advantages. Players learn how to manipulate defenders through two-man actions, off-ball movement, proper spacing, and early ball movement while developing the ability to play through second and third actions. Defensively, the emphasis is on communication, help principles, and recognizing how to disrupt offensive advantages. Coaches encourage players to read the game rather than memorize patterns, using competitive, game-like environments that develop intelligent, adaptable decision-makers.

Week 4 Practice / 90 Minute Session

Please Note:The practice is designed to bring value across multiple age levels. You can use this as a foundation to build and develop your own practice. With that being said, we highly encourage you to adjust the drills based on your team’s age and skill levels. Lacrosse Drive should always be used as a starting point — you can make drills easier or harder by changing the constraints.

To make a drill easier, you might Increase the playing area, reduce the number of defenders or rules, add time or space to make decisions

To make a drill harder, you might: Shrink the field or add boundaries, add defenders or touch restrictions (e.g., “one-pass before shooting”), or Limit time or space to force faster decisions

Small adjustments to field size, player numbers, and rules can significantly change the challenge level while maintaining the same core learning goal.

Knockdowns and Skips

Set Up

Set up a small area, and put offensive players in pairs across from each other, each group has 1 ball. Add in 3-4 Defensive players in the middle. Players on the outside will try to make passes across the field, and they can pass to any person, not. just player directly across. The defense is going to try and lockdown or intercept passes. If a player who throws a knockdown or interception, they are now in the middle and that defender will now move to the perimeter as a passer

Principles and Coaching Points

Offense – Use Deception when passing (no looks, etc..)
Defense – head on a swivel, try to see both sides of the field to find balls in air. Sticks UP!

Progressions

Use less players/balls for younger teams
Make field smaller to challenge the offense further
Add constraints, using off hand, who they can/can’t pass to, etc..

Offensive Skill Station - C-Drill Shooting

Set Up

Use cones to help show the footwork movement here. Put 4 cones down in a row pointing to the goal. Add 4 Cones that instersects through the cones at the cone closest to goal. Add 1-2 more cones down to create a C shape. The players start with the ball in a loaded position like they are going to shoot. They will step down into the cones staying loaded, and plant off their front foot. The idea is to explode back uphill slightly, and then getting back down hill (C motion). The shots will be on the run moving our feet, or you can incorporate a step down shot with planted feet.

Coaching Points and Principles

Stay loaded through the initial dodge. Hands back and away like you are loaded to shoot
Plant off the front foot to explode back up his
Use your elbow and shoulders to emphasize the hitch (fake shot). No need to use any head movement.
Get back downhill for a shot

Progressions

Start with a pass catching it loaded right into the drill
Add in a guided defender
Set up cones anywhere on field for different shot types/locations

Defensive Skill Station - 3 Cone Approach w/ Slaps

A defensive drill that emphasizes footwork work and stick control

Set Up

On the side of a goal, set up 3 cones all about 5 yards away from each other and the goal. The player will start by approaching the goal, breaking down with short choppy steps, and then making a quick slap check to the back of the net (NOT the pipe). They will then backpedal and do figure 8’s through the 3 cones, and then approach the goal again with a check. Have them get 5-10 reps of this adding id different footwork to the drill!

Coaching Points and Principles

FOOTWORK! We want to work on our foot speed, so make sure the approaches, bad pedals, and figure 8’s, they players body stay under control. Try to get faster every rep, use a timer if it helps
Checks – We want to work on our hand coordination, so we are making SHORT chop checks to the back of the net. If the player checks the pipe, they have lost that control so the hand speed and coordination is important!

Advanced Block - On Air (no opponent)Defense Defensive Positioning & Footwork Defensive Stick & Body Contact High School Intermediate U14

3v2 Ball Reversal

A game that works on sliding and recovery, and then changing sides of the field with ball reversals

Set Up

Put 3 offensive players in a triangle in the offensive end, and 2 defenders. To start the drill have the offense pass the ball, with the defense sliding and recovering appropriately. Once every player on offense has touched the ball once, the game is live. The offense should continue to reverse the ball, make the slides long for the defense, trying to get an open wing step down shot. if the point becomes a free lane to shoot, that can work too. But the offense should be more stationary, working on moving the ball quick. Players should think about moving the ball AWAY from pressure, don’t force the short or skip passes. Ball reversal creates defensive scramble, and attack after reversal

Coaching Points & Principles

Offense, move the ball fast, try to get the best open shoty
Defense slide and recover principles of 1 player always on ball, and the other splitting the other 2 offensive players.

3v2 Anticipation & Recognition Attack Decision Making Defense Defense Slide & Recovery Foundational Skills Game - Live Play High School Men’s Lacrosse Midfield Off Ball Defensive Play Shooting Small Area Games Step Down Shooting U10 U12 U14

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6v6 Scrimmage

A live 6v6 scrimmage allows players to apply the skills and concepts practiced throughout the session in a game-like environment. Play continuously while encouraging communication, decision-making, and teamwork. Keep coaching interruptions to a minimum, using brief teaching moments between possessions to maintain the flow and maximize repetitions.

Constraint Ideas: Possession clock • Every player touches the ball • Assisted goals only • Bonus points for defensive stops or caused turnovers • Start from specific situations (clear, ground ball, man-up, etc.) • Limit dodges or require a dodge before shooting • Reward good spacing and ball movement • Play uneven numbers (6v5, 5v6).

Advanced Beginner College Game - Live Play High School Intermediate Men’s Lacrosse U10 U12 U14

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