A great passing drill to work on team ball movement working inside out agains a zone
Set Up
Set up the drill by dividing players into two teams and assigning each team a color. Arrange all players in a large circle around the field, alternating colors. Give 1 player on each team in the perimeter a ball. Place one player from each team in the middle of the circle. On the coach’s signal, both outside players begin with a quick dodge to simulate pressure, then bounce back out and pass to a teammate on the perimeter. That player quickly moves the ball to another teammate on the perimeter, and after this second pass, the ball is fed back into the original inside player. The inside player then passes the ball back out to the next point person on the perimeter, and the drill continues in a continuous flow. The ball can move in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. This drill is designed to build timing, quick decision-making, and inside-out passing skills. See below for progressions to increase the challenge.
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Have the players throw to random perimeter teammates, not just 1 direction
- After the player dodges, have them cut to the crease and exchange with the teammate there
|
|
- Passing! make good passes to your teammate, that is very catchable. The quicker we move the ball, the better!
- head up, always keep your eyes up to find a teammate
- Communicate, call for the ball, show your stick!
|
This fun an engaging drill will enhance your teams stick work, shown by Head Coach Cindy Timchal (Navy)
Set Up
Create 2 boxes that are roughly 5×5 yards. Put a defensive line on the outside corner of each box and the offense in the lower corners. To start, put 3 offensive players in 1 box, and 1 defender guarding 1. Send a new offensive player in the gameplay, and after the first pass the defender is a released and can play live, in this 4v1. For every pass made by the offense, add in a new defense until it’s 4v3. Play keep away as long as you can, until a turnover. A defender from current play, will carry a new ball across to their offensive box and repeat the same game
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- For younger players, make the playing area a little bigger or you can play 4v2
|
|
- Offense – Play vs Pressure and in tight spaces. Need to catch and pass quickly to keep the defense moving!
- Defense – play ball and backside zone with slides and recovery as the ball is passed. Keep your sticks IN AIR to try and knockdown passes!
|
This is a team defensive drill for intermediate through advanced players that develops man-to-man pressure, forcing the ball to a weak hand, and executing the sliding package behind the ball.
SET UP
Set up two attackers behind the cage and two at the elbows, with defenders matched up. Start the ball up top and pass behind, where the defense works to force the ball carrier to their weak hand. As the offense moves and attacks, defenders work on hedging, applying on-ball pressure, and executing cross-crease slides with the next defender rotating down. If the ball carrier travels behind the cage, defenders communicate and switch rather than following.
COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES |
|
- Force the Weak Hand: Overplay the strong hand and use your approach angle to influence where the dodger attacks.
- Hedge, Don’t Overcommit: Off-ball defenders should deter the dodge while remaining responsible for their own matchup.
- Slide & Rotate: When the on-ball defender gets beat, slide across the crease quickly and have the next defender rotate down to cover the lowest offensive player.
|
Play this 4v4 or 5v5
|
|
- Offense – read the slides, move the ball to pressure
- Defense – Slide, Recover, Communicate
|
