Start practice with a fun small area game
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- Transition Play – Playing fast
- Finding the advantages
- Defense organization – unsettled, all even
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A conceptual passing drill for teams that want to get high volume reps for their positional players
Set Up
Place all the attackmen at X and the Midfielders at the high wings. Every line has a ball, the players will dodge, and then roll back and throw to the next teammate in line
Coaching Points & Principles |
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- Dodge with the ball, and with a purpose.
- Protect the stick with a roll back
- Communicate
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A progression drill that works on defensive approaches and stickwork
Set Up
Put 3 Players in the shape of a triangle, on GLE and above, and add 2 defenders inside. The offense will pass the ball around and the defense is focused on sliding to ball and recovering to the crease. The offense can hold the ball for 1-2 seconds to allow the defense to get set. Speed up as the players play. There are 2 progressions here and focus points for the defense.
Progression 1: No Skips
Progression 2: Add in Skips
Coaching Points & Principles |
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- Defense approaching ball, should have stick up towards the head of the offensive players stick, not hanging low
- Defense recovering top the crease, always have stick up and in passing lanes. This will be vital to take away the skips
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A fun game to work on defensive approaches and recovery around the crease.
Set Up
Be sure to use tennis balls or soft lacrosse balls for this game, as players and goalies will see high volume shots. Put 3 offensive players in a stationary triangle and 2 defenders in. The game starts with a pass from coach to 1 offensive player. The offense will pass quick shoot as soon as they have the lane and advantage, give a shot clock if needed (5-8 seconds), as we want to it be fast reps. Have each group do 3 reps, then change all players. Give bonus points to the defense if they knock down skips
Coaching Points & principles
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- Offense – quick ball movement, finishes with quick release
- Defensive – Sliding / Recovery and protecting the middle of the field.
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This small sided game breaks the game down into small sided games in a full game environment.
SET UP
Start by placing cones down the middle of the field (on one half). There will be two teams on the field, and offense and a defense. Put 3 offensive players on each side of the field, and match them all with a defender. The offensive players, must stay on the side of the field they started on, but the defense has the freedom to move from side to side. Ideally on each side of the field, you will have a small sided 3v3 game, and the offense can transfer the ball to the other side to get different looks and/or moving the ball away from a sliding defense.
PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS
PROGRESSIONS
You can play 4v4 (2 v 2 per side) if you want to work on a 2 man game or just increase playing area for more spacing and younger players. To make it more challenging, play 8v8 (4v4 per side) to make spacing smaller and work on stick skills and in tight play |
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- Offense – Players must be able to find open space if their teammates want to transfer across field. They need to be moving off ball
- Offense with the ball, can play 3 man game to try and get shots off using spacing, picks, dodges, etc..
- Defense should be challenging the offense to move the ball to other side of field by using good angles, double teams, and close out defense
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Finish practice for a free play 6v6, but add in bonus points for the offense and defense for certain outcomes
Offense: Gold Medal Goals, Assisted Goals
Defense: Knockdowns, Slide/Recovery Turnover
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