Play vs Pressure

Play vs Pressure
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	Activities 3v3 Plus 2 Keepaway 3v2 Groundball Keepaway w/ Jenny Levy (University of North Carolina) 22 Small Ball 4v4 Pick and Slips w/ Double Teams 6v6 Situational Scrimmage
3v3 Plus 2 Keepaway - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
Set Up Split your players into 2 teams and Create a 10×10 or 15×15 playing area. Inside put 3 of each team. On the perimeter on alternating sidelines, add a support player. The team with the ball inside must play keep away and move the ball from one side of the field to the other, using their support players. If the other team gets the ball from a turnover, now they play keep away with the same rules. *Support players cannot throw to opposite support players Play for 1-2 minutes, and see which team gets the most support player passes to make it a competition. Coaching Points & Principles Progressions Shrink field to make it harder put 4v4 inside		We want to try and move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other, when playing vs pressure. The goal is for players to move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other to maintain possession Defense pressure ball, all even, no advantages Offense must maintain good spacing and move to space to make or receive a pass
3v2 Groundball Keepaway w/ Jenny Levy (University of North Carolina) - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
3v3 Ground Ball is a competitive possession game that teaches players to box out, work with teammates, escape pressure after the pickup, and complete a clean outlet pass to finish the play. SET UP Set up three players against three players around a designated ground-ball area, with an outlet player positioned approximately 10–15 yards away. Initiate each rep by rolling or placing a loose ball into the playing area and allow the players to compete live for possession. Players should use their first step to box out, work with teammates, and secure the ground ball through pressure. Once possession is gained, the player does not have to pass immediately—they can carry into open space to escape pressure before finding the outlet. Finish the rep by completing a clean pass to the outlet player. Progress or simplify the game by changing the numbers, including playing 2v2, or adjusting the distance of the outlet. COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES		Box Out First: Make the first step a box-out step—get your body between the opponent and the ball before attacking the ground ball. Escape the Pressure: Securing the ground ball is only the first action. Carry into space when necessary before trying to make the outlet pass. Finish the Play: Use deception or a stick fake to avoid blocked passes, protect the stick through pressure, and complete a clean pass to the outlet.
22 Small Ball - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A great small sided game that works on advantages, recognition skills, and getting players to compete! Set Up You will use Foam Lax Balls or Tennis Balls for this game. Using the restraining box area of the field, set up a fulfilled game using two goals at each end as you can see here we have flipped the goals upside down to make it a little bit more challenging to score. You can also use small goals if you have them. But you’re gonna split the group into two teams and the players are gonna play 2v2. The rule is one player has to play goalie when on defense so it’s a 2v1 constant advantage. The goal is for them to start seeing and recognizing the advantages. Find the 2v1 and move the ball to the right player to get open shot. When a player scores or the ball goes out of bounds, you can automatically turn it over to the other team and go the other way in a fast paced motion. It’s a lot of fun, kids will love it, and you’ll be able to create scoring opportunities where they will be able to explore some new ways to get the ball in the back of the net. Principles & Coaching Points		Find the advantages! Move the ball to your open teammates until you get the best shot Play Fast! We want quick traction typer plays here, if they slow it down, add a 10 second shot clock Have Fun!
4v4 Pick and Slips w/ Double Teams - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A great 4v4 drill that works on the 2-player game Set Up Put 2 Pairs of offense on each wing, and add in defenders for both as well. The drill is starts with 1 side setting up pick & slip. The defense will try to double the ball, forcing the player with the ball to run away from pressure to find a teammate. Once the double team happens, the other 4 players not he field are activated on offense and defense If the attacker in the pick scenario, REJECTS the pick, it will stay a 1v1 with her and and the defender to the goal Coaching Points and Principles		Make it a point system Offense gets 1 point for a goal and/or escaping a double team effectively Defense gets 1 point for a successful turnover, or tagging/pulling the jersey of the offense Offense gets 1 point for a goal and/or escaping a double team effectively Defense gets 1 point for a successful turnover, or tagging/pulling the jersey of the offense 2 Player Game Picks and Slips – Offense needs to find space when they slip, and be able to escape pressure Defense must communicate and talk through the picks and try to get the offense into neutral Picks and Slips – Offense needs to find space when they slip, and be able to escape pressure Defense must communicate and talk through the picks and try to get the offense into neutral
6v6 Situational Scrimmage - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
This drill puts players into real game situations where score, time, possession, and personnel dictate how they should play. Set up live 6v6 and choose a specific scenario before each possession, adjusting the clock, score, or numbers to create different problems—such as short-time EMO/MDD, protecting a lead, needing a goal, or killing the clock. Allow players to communicate and solve the situation with limited coaching, then quickly reset with a new scenario. Coaching Points		Understand the score, time, possession, and personnel before play begins. Short-time EMO/MDD: Offense plays with urgency without forcing; defense protects the middle and understands when it must pressure. Kill the clock: Value possession, use the entire field, support the ball, and recognize when attacking the cage is unnecessary. Defense vs. keep-away: Communicate pressure, identify when to double, rotate behind the double, and anticipate the next pass. Need-a-goal offense: Play with urgency, attack favorable matchups, move the ball quickly, and understand how much time is available. Emphasize smart substitutions and timeout awareness when appropriate.

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3v3 Plus 2 Keepaway
3v2 Groundball Keepaway w/ Jenny Levy (University of North Carolina)
22 Small Ball
4v4 Pick and Slips w/ Double Teams
6v6 Situational Scrimmage

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.

3v3 Plus 2 Keepaway

Set Up

Split your players into 2 teams and Create a 10×10 or 15×15 playing area.

Inside put 3 of each team. On the perimeter on alternating sidelines, add a support player. The team with the ball inside must play keep away and move the ball from one side of the field to the other, using their support players. If the other team gets the ball from a turnover, now they play keep away with the same rules.

*Support players cannot throw to opposite support players

Play for 1-2 minutes, and see which team gets the most support player passes to make it a competition.

Coaching Points & Principles

We want to try and move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other, when playing vs pressure. The goal is for players to move the ball from 1 side of the field to the other to maintain possession
Defense pressure ball, all even, no advantages
Offense must maintain good spacing and move to space to make or receive a pass

Progressions

Shrink field to make it harder
put 4v4 inside

View Drill Page →

3v2 Groundball Keepaway w/ Jenny Levy (University of North Carolina)

3v3 Ground Ball is a competitive possession game that teaches players to box out, work with teammates, escape pressure after the pickup, and complete a clean outlet pass to finish the play.

SET UP

Set up three players against three players around a designated ground-ball area, with an outlet player positioned approximately 10–15 yards away. Initiate each rep by rolling or placing a loose ball into the playing area and allow the players to compete live for possession. Players should use their first step to box out, work with teammates, and secure the ground ball through pressure. Once possession is gained, the player does not have to pass immediately—they can carry into open space to escape pressure before finding the outlet. Finish the rep by completing a clean pass to the outlet player. Progress or simplify the game by changing the numbers, including playing 2v2, or adjusting the distance of the outlet.

COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES

Box Out First: Make the first step a box-out step—get your body between the opponent and the ball before attacking the ground ball.
Escape the Pressure: Securing the ground ball is only the first action. Carry into space when necessary before trying to make the outlet pass.
Finish the Play: Use deception or a stick fake to avoid blocked passes, protect the stick through pressure, and complete a clean pass to the outlet.

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22 Small Ball

A great small sided game that works on advantages, recognition skills, and getting players to compete!

Set Up

You will use Foam Lax Balls or Tennis Balls for this game. Using the restraining box area of the field, set up a fulfilled game using two goals at each end as you can see here we have flipped the goals upside down to make it a little bit more challenging to score. You can also use small goals if you have them. But you’re gonna split the group into two teams and the players are gonna play 2v2. The rule is one player has to play goalie when on defense so it’s a 2v1 constant advantage. The goal is for them to start seeing and recognizing the advantages. Find the 2v1 and move the ball to the right player to get open shot. When a player scores or the ball goes out of bounds, you can automatically turn it over to the other team and go the other way in a fast paced motion. It’s a lot of fun, kids will love it, and you’ll be able to create scoring opportunities where they will be able to explore some new ways to get the ball in the back of the net.

Principles & Coaching Points

Find the advantages! Move the ball to your open teammates until you get the best shot
Play Fast! We want quick traction typer plays here, if they slow it down, add a 10 second shot clock
Have Fun!

2v1 Beginner Game - Live Play Intermediate Lacrosse IQ Men’s Lacrosse Small Area Games Small Area Games Transition U10 U8 Women’s Lacrosse

View Drill Page →

4v4 Pick and Slips w/ Double Teams

Set Up

Put 2 Pairs of offense on each wing, and add in defenders for both as well. The drill is starts with 1 side setting up pick & slip. The defense will try to double the ball, forcing the player with the ball to run away from pressure to find a teammate. Once the double team happens, the other 4 players not he field are activated on offense and defense

If the attacker in the pick scenario, REJECTS the pick, it will stay a 1v1 with her and and the defender to the goal

Coaching Points and Principles

Make it a point system
- Offense gets 1 point for a goal and/or escaping a double team effectively
- Defense gets 1 point for a successful turnover, or tagging/pulling the jersey of the offense
2 Player Game
- Picks and Slips – Offense needs to find space when they slip, and be able to escape pressure
- Defense must communicate and talk through the picks and try to get the offense into neutral

6v6 Situational Scrimmage

This drill puts players into real game situations where score, time, possession, and personnel dictate how they should play.

Set up

live 6v6 and choose a specific scenario before each possession, adjusting the clock, score, or numbers to create different problems—such as short-time EMO/MDD, protecting a lead, needing a goal, or killing the clock. Allow players to communicate and solve the situation with limited coaching, then quickly reset with a new scenario.

Coaching Points

Understand the score, time, possession, and personnel before play begins.
Short-time EMO/MDD: Offense plays with urgency without forcing; defense protects the middle and understands when it must pressure.
Kill the clock: Value possession, use the entire field, support the ball, and recognize when attacking the cage is unnecessary.
Defense vs. keep-away: Communicate pressure, identify when to double, rotate behind the double, and anticipate the next pass.
Need-a-goal offense: Play with urgency, attack favorable matchups, move the ball quickly, and understand how much time is available.
Emphasize smart substitutions and timeout awareness when appropriate.
Require players to communicate the situation to one another rather than relying on the coach.
Keep coaching windows short—let players make decisions, experience consequences, and adjust on the next possession.

Advanced Anticipation & Recognition Ball Control & Cradling College Decision Making Game - Live Play High School Intermediate Small Area Games Small Area Games Team Systems & Conceptual Play Transition U10 U12 U14

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