An open spaced drill you can get the kids warm while working on their stick and ball control!
Set Up
Use a designated area on the field or use cones to create one, that the players must stay inside of. Every player has a ball, and on coaches whistle, they will start running around 50% speed. They must keep their head up and make an escape dodge every time they meet another player inside the circle. If you want to make it a game, players will leave the are if they drop the ball, or run out of bounds. The last player standing wins! Add a coach in for light defense to make it more challenging
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Use more constraints, specific dodging styles
- Add in defenders and coaches for light pressure
- Make field smaller to make it more challenging or larger to make it easier
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- Cradling and Ball Control! Keep the stick protected
- HEAD UP! See where you are running, don’t run into another teammate
- Use both strong and weak hands
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A fun game for young players to work on individual offense/defense
Set Up
Create a small area 10×10 or so, with 2 goals in the middle back to back. You can use smaller goals if you have, and don’t necessarily need goalies. Split the players up into 2 teams, and line up on sideline. The game starts with coach rolling a live ground ball in, and the winning team must try and score a goal on their opponents net. Once there is a dead ball, goal, our ball out of play, coach will roll a 2nd ball in for the same 2 players for another rep. Do 3-5 reps then change with new players starting from the sideline.
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Play 2v2
- Add in constraints or shooting areas
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- Groundball – Players should be working hard to win the ground ball, accelerating and running away from pressure.
- Defense – Focus on containment, don’t let the offensive player get to the middle of the field
- Offense – Use dodges and deception to win your 1v1 battle!
- Conditioning – a great workout for with multiple reps
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A drill that works on understanding how to read a defender when playing from the wing
Set Up
Put the players in a line on the wing, with the balls for them to start with. We are using cones to give the players a little guidance, but having a guided defender you don’t necessarily need them. The players will start to attack a space they see, and the coach will shade high or low. That will determine whether the player gets underneath, or gets over the top for a shot.
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Add in a 2nd coach and slide forcing a pass
- Execute on different side of the field
- Protect the stick while dodging
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- They want to attack the space the see free to start
- If a coach takes a side away they are trying to get to, they should naturally change direction
- Try to get a shot off as soon as you best the defender
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A live game where players can work on their skillset, creativity, and playing in small spaces
Set Up
You can play this game as half field, or full field. Make sure you are USING TENNIS BALLS OR SOFT LACROSSE BALLS for this game. Split players up into two teams, and play 3v3 or 4v4. One player on the defensive team has to play goalie, so it’s always an unsettled game. If the defense turns the ball over, or there is a dead ball, the defending team will clear it past restraining line (like basketball half court) and then they will be on offense. This is a great game for station play or small groups
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Change the number off players
- play a full field version with 2 goals
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- Unsettled offense and defense – Players should recognize the situation Offense – Draw a defender and find an open teammate / off ball move to space Defense – Play zone-like defense with slides and recovery
- Offense – Draw a defender and find an open teammate / off ball move to space
- Defense – Play zone-like defense with slides and recovery
- Awareness and Game IQ
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