A fun small sided game to use for warm ups to get the kids ready for practice!
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
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- 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
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A fun passing drill to work on stick movement, spacing, and O/D Principles
Set Up
Create an 8×8 box using cones. Put 3 offensive players on the perimeter and 2 defenders in the middle. The offense is to play keep away. The offense must make a backdoor cut after every pass, cutting to open space. The defense must always pressure the ball and constantly sliding and recovering
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Make the box smaller and harder, or bigger and easier depending on skillset
- Play 4v3 or 5v4
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- Offense – Moving with and without the ball, passing, and maintaining good spacing
- Defense – Pressuring the Ball, sliding/recovery
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A fun and engaging groundball and transition drill that works on both offensive and defensive teamwork & spacing
Set Up
Set up cones in the shape of a diamond in the playing area. You can make it larger to force longer passes but the stand length should be about 8-10 yards away from each other. On the sideline, set up 3 lines of each team, depending on your group size. They should be alternating (dark, light, dark, light, etc..). Coach rolls a ball into the field (doesn’t have to be inside the diamond), and the team that picks up the ball is on offense. Another teammate from the winning team will join, giving them an advantage (4v3). At this point the game-play will move to the cones, and the defense has to stay inside the diamond while the offense needs to stay out. Play keep away until coach blows a second whistle, and then its live to the goal!
Coaching Points and Principles
Progressions
- Make the groups smaller (2 lines of each color) so it turns into a 3v2 for more spacing at younger ages
- if you have more than 4 players (5v4) we can put an offensive players on the crease who can rotate in and out during the keep away play
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- Ground Balls
- Offense – Make good passes, a teammate should be at an adjacent cone. If the player with the ball carries, the offense should move like a carousel maintaining their spacing. In transition to the goal, find the open teammate/advantage and get a good shot on cage
- Defense – Communicate, who has ball! Need no play the ball, and have backside zone since we are playing with 1 less player. One the ball is passed, a new defender should slid to the ball, and the previous defender on ball needs to get back inside for backside supper and help
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A fun game that works on spacing and creating scoring opportunities!
Set Up
Create a small 8×8 area in front of the goal, that is the lava. The player will play a 4v4 or 5v5 game, with the rule being the offense can’t stay in the lava more than 2 seconds. If a player dodges into the lava, they must get a shot or make a pass and leave within the time window. If a teammate wants to cut through the middle for a look at the goal, they can but must get back out of the crease. The defense has NO time rule for the lava if they want to support and help other teammates
Coaching Points & principles |
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- We are trying to keep the middle of the score field clear for our teammates
- We don’t want to overcrowd each other
- Players should all be moving during the entire game
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A fun small sided game that focuses on transition play with both advantages and creating advantages.
Set Up
Set up a small fair area field, we’re using the restraining box area here and put two attack and 2 defense in on each end. Set up midfielders at the midline on their defense end lined up in a single file line. The game is going start with one team have an advantage so we’re giving the dark team the ball first they go down and play three on two. Once the play ends a new offensive player from the defensive team will come in on the wing. The offensive midfielder will stay on the field and get back and play defense and there will be transition other way going 3v3. Same thing, play till the whistle and then a new player will come on and then we’ll go back down the other way 4V3. We are building this up until I get to 5v5. One team will have advantage for every rep, one team will play all even every rep. Once you finish the 5V5, start a new round and give the other team the chance to start the ball and have an advantage every rep.
Coaching Points & Principles
Progressions
- Add a shot clock
- Play full field
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- Transition play – recognize all even or advantages
- If playing with advantage, find the 2v1 and try to get a shot off quick
- If playing all even, focus on creating advantages by clearing space, dodging, drawing slides, etc..
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