Small Area Games

Small Area Games
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 Partner Passing Progression w/ Shuffle Station 1: 32 Break Station 2: Chaos Keep Away Attack vs Defense Drill w/ Katie Woods (UConn Womens Lacrosse) 6v6 Situational Scrimmage
Partner Passing Progression w/ Shuffle - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
Get the legs moving and the sticks warm with this passing drill! SET UP Pur your players in partners, and start them at the on the side of field around restraining box. They should be 3-5 yards apart, depending on you skill level. The players will shuffle down the field, passing the ball back and forth. There are 2 progressions, the first one the players will keep their sticks up field matching teammates (left line is lefty, right line is righty). The second progression, players would catch the ball cross face (behind them) pulll stick back across face, and pass back (no hand exchanges) PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS		Try to get the ball in an out of stick with 1 cradle or less After player makes pass, recoil and get stick back up for a target!
Station 1: 32 Break - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
A fun & fast paced transition game for youth players that helps build game IQ! Set Up Create a small field area game, using the retraining area or cones. Put 2 attack and 1 defense on each end, and midfielders lined up on the sideline. A coach with balls, will roll a live ground ball in, and players will play a live game. In this game, there will always be a 3v2 on each side, so the offense has the advantage. When there is a dead ball, coach can roll a new contested ball in, or start a new group! Coaching Points & Principles Progressions Play 4v3, set up 2 midfielders of each team If you don’t have goalies, turn the goals upside down to make it harder to score		Offense – Find the advantage! play fast by finding an open teammate to get the best shot! Defense – Communicate, play zone like where you need too pressure the ball with backside support to play the next pass
Station 2: Chaos Keep Away - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
Set Up Create a small area playing field and split players into 2 teams. Both teams at opposite end of the fields, and lacrosse balls to the middle of the field. I usually like to you 1/2 balls to players.. so if there are 20 total players, use 10 balls. On the whistle, the players will run in trying to get a ball. Once they gain possession, they must run away and escape the defenders staying in the playing area. The team with the most balls at the end of 1 minute wins that round Rules Coaching Points & Principles Groundballs! Winn the ground ball battles Stick control & cradling with the ball vs pressure Teamwork, don’t be afraid to pass to open teammates to maintain possessions Boys Version for Reference: https://lacrossedrive.com/chaos-keep-away-game/		Players can pass to teammates to escape pressure and maintain possession If they go out of bounds with a ball, turnover to defending player Players without the ball, can pressure to take away and flip a possession The team who possesses the most balls after 1 minute, wins
Attack vs Defense Drill w/ Katie Woods (UConn Womens Lacrosse) - Link to Drill	Set Up	Focus Points
Attack vs. Defense is a competitive transition game for intermediate through advanced players that puts offense and defense head-to-head, rewarding fast-break execution, finishing, defensive stops, and clearing under pressure. SET UP Split the team into attack and defense, with midfielders used to initiate the transition opportunities. Set up two piles of balls on the goal line and midfield lines approximately every 15 yards, with midfielders positioned on the numbers. Each rep creates a transition opportunity that can lead to a 4v3 fast break to the cage. The two sides compete using a point system: if the attack scores, they earn a point; if the defense gets a stop, clears the ball, and advances it past the designated restraining line or midfield line, they earn a point. Points can cancel each other out, creating a back-and-forth competition where each group must execute its responsibility to gain the advantage and ultimately win the game. COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES		Push the Advantage: When the offense gains a transition opportunity, play fast, move the ball, and attack the cage before the defense can organize. Finish the Possession: Both sides have a clear objective—offense must put the ball away, while the defense must turn a stop into a successful clear to earn the point. Perform Under Pressure: The competitive scoring system adds consequences to each possession, challenging players to communicate, make good decisions, and execute when the outcome matters.
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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Partner Passing Progression w/ Shuffle
Station 1: 32 Break
Station 2: Chaos Keep Away
Attack vs Defense Drill w/ Katie Woods (UConn Womens Lacrosse)
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.

Partner Passing Progression w/ Shuffle

SET UP

Pur your players in partners, and start them at the on the side of field around restraining box. They should be 3-5 yards apart, depending on you skill level. The players will shuffle down the field, passing the ball back and forth. There are 2 progressions, the first one the players will keep their sticks up field matching teammates (left line is lefty, right line is righty). The second progression, players would catch the ball cross face (behind them) pulll stick back across face, and pass back (no hand exchanges)

PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS

Try to get the ball in an out of stick with 1 cradle or less
After player makes pass, recoil and get stick back up for a target!

Station 1: 32 Break

A fun & fast paced transition game for youth players that helps build game IQ!

Set Up

Create a small field area game, using the retraining area or cones. Put 2 attack and 1 defense on each end, and midfielders lined up on the sideline. A coach with balls, will roll a live ground ball in, and players will play a live game. In this game, there will always be a 3v2 on each side, so the offense has the advantage. When there is a dead ball, coach can roll a new contested ball in, or start a new group!

Coaching Points & Principles

Offense – Find the advantage! play fast by finding an open teammate to get the best shot!
Defense – Communicate, play zone like where you need too pressure the ball with backside support to play the next pass

Progressions

Play 4v3, set up 2 midfielders of each team
If you don’t have goalies, turn the goals upside down to make it harder to score

3v2 Advanced Anticipation & Recognition Attack Decision Making Defense Defense Slide & Recovery Game - Live Play High School Intermediate Lacrosse IQ Midfield Small Area Games Small Area Games Team Systems & Conceptual Play Transition U10 U12 U14 U8 Women’s Lacrosse

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Station 2: Chaos Keep Away

Set Up

Create a small area playing field and split players into 2 teams. Both teams at opposite end of the fields, and lacrosse balls to the middle of the field. I usually like to you 1/2 balls to players.. so if there are 20 total players, use 10 balls. On the whistle, the players will run in trying to get a ball. Once they gain possession, they must run away and escape the defenders staying in the playing area. The team with the most balls at the end of 1 minute wins that round

Rules

Players can pass to teammates to escape pressure and maintain possession
If they go out of bounds with a ball, turnover to defending player
Players without the ball, can pressure to take away and flip a possession
The team who possesses the most balls after 1 minute, wins

Coaching Points & Principles

Groundballs! Winn the ground ball battles
Stick control & cradling with the ball vs pressure
Teamwork, don’t be afraid to pass to open teammates to maintain possessions

Boys Version for Reference: https://lacrossedrive.com/chaos-keep-away-game/

Ball Control & Cradling Beginner Disruptive - Light Physical Opponent Dodging & Escapes Foundational Skills Intermediate Small Area Games Small Area Games U10 U8 Women’s Lacrosse

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Attack vs Defense Drill w/ Katie Woods (UConn Womens Lacrosse)

Attack vs. Defense is a competitive transition game for intermediate through advanced players that puts offense and defense head-to-head, rewarding fast-break execution, finishing, defensive stops, and clearing under pressure.

SET UP

Split the team into attack and defense, with midfielders used to initiate the transition opportunities. Set up two piles of balls on the goal line and midfield lines approximately every 15 yards, with midfielders positioned on the numbers. Each rep creates a transition opportunity that can lead to a 4v3 fast break to the cage. The two sides compete using a point system: if the attack scores, they earn a point; if the defense gets a stop, clears the ball, and advances it past the designated restraining line or midfield line, they earn a point. Points can cancel each other out, creating a back-and-forth competition where each group must execute its responsibility to gain the advantage and ultimately win the game.

COACHING POINTS & PRINCIPLES

Push the Advantage: When the offense gains a transition opportunity, play fast, move the ball, and attack the cage before the defense can organize.
Finish the Possession: Both sides have a clear objective—offense must put the ball away, while the defense must turn a stop into a successful clear to earn the point.
Perform Under Pressure: The competitive scoring system adds consequences to each possession, challenging players to communicate, make good decisions, and execute when the outcome matters.

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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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