Finding Space & Advantages

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Phase 3: Attacking & Creating Space – Focus Points being finding the advantages and playing vs more pressure

Week 10 Practice  / 60 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.

Theme Description This practice is designed for young players to think about finding space and attacking advantages

10 Minutes

3v1 Box Passing

3v1 Box Passing Preview

A great pre-practice drill to work on team passing

Set Up

Create a box using 4 cones, about 10 yards apart. Place 3 offensive players on the outside and 1 defender in the middle. The offense must stay outside the box, while the defender stays inside. They play keep away, and the cones are used as guidance for the off ball teammates to move to proper passing lanes. If the defender steals the ball or bad pass occurs, swap with the offense player!

Coaching Points & Principles

  • Moving your feet with and without the ball
  • Good passing and catching mechanics
  • Defense keep stick up in passing lanes

Progressions

  • Add a defender in to play 3v2
BeginnerFoundational SkillsGuided - Token OpponentHigh SchoolIntermediateOffense Spacing PrinciplesPassingSmall Area GamesTeam PassingU10U12U14U8Women’s Lacrosse

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10 Minutes

3v3 Wide Field Game

Same model as the 2v2, but we are adding a 3rd player in. 

2v2 Wide Field Game Preview

A fun game that works on teamwork and live gameplay

Set Up

Create a 30 yd wide × 20 yd long (wider than normal — this is intentional). Two teams of 2. One small goal each end (or two cone goals 6 ft wide). Regular lacrosse rules apply,  passing allowed, carrying allowed.  The extra width is the entire teaching tool here. Don’t tell kids to spread out, the wide field makes spreading out feel natural and rewarded. Watch what happens. Play 3-minute games, Winners stay, losers rotate if you have enough players. If small group, just flip possession after each goal.

Coaching Points & Principles

  • Are kids opening up to space naturally?
  • Using the attack to space principles
  • After goals, see if kids can answer questions like, “How did that space open up?”

Progressions

  • String the field
  • Add a offensive players that is ALWAYS on offense, like our Rabbit Game
3v3Ball Control & CradlingBeginnerDefensive Positioning & FootworkGame - Live PlayIntermediateMen’s LacrosseOff Ball Defensive PlayOff Ball Offensive PlayOffense Spacing PrinciplesSmall Area GamesU10U8Women’s Lacrosse

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10 Minutes

Half Court Small Ball

Girls Small Ball Half Field Preview

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

  • 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
  • Awareness and Game IQ

Progressions

  • Change the number off players
  • play a full field version with 2 goals
3v24v3AdvancedAnticipation & RecognitionDecision MakingGame - Live PlayHigh SchoolIntermediateSmall Area GamesSmall Area GamesTeam Systems & Conceptual PlayTransitionU10U12U14U8Women’s Lacrosse

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Football!

Football Preview

A fund game that introduces all even play and playing against pressure

Set Up

Make a 25 x 20 yd. field with a 3 yd. scoring zone on each end. The teams play 3v3 and score by cradling down downfield, making passes, and finishing with passing into the end zone. Once a TD is scored, the opposing team re-starts the game from their end zone.  Players can’t carry the ball into the endzone unless they have made 2 passes already. Everyone must move to find space and connect

Coaching Points & Principles

  • Cradling – Carry the ball vs pressure
  • Finding Space
  • Play vs Pressure

Progressions

  • Set more passing limits
  • Play 4v4 with more advanced players or u10/u12
Ball Control & CradlingBeginnerDefensive Positioning & FootworkGame - Live PlayIntermediateMen’s LacrosseOff Ball Defensive PlayOff Ball Offensive PlayPassingSmall Area GamesU10U12U8Women’s Lacrosse

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