Why Water Access During Lacrosse Practice Matters More Than You Think
It seems like a simple question: Do you give water breaks, or let players drink throughout practice? But the answer touches on much more than just hydration. It’s about how you run your sessions, how you keep intensity up, and how you build habits that translate to game day.
This article is for coaches who care about every detail — including the ones that don’t show up in the box score. Because how your team drinks water might just be the most underrated part of practice.
The Old Way: Water Breaks on the Whistle
Traditionally, coaches called for water breaks every 20–30 minutes. Everyone jogs over, grabs a bottle, rehydrates, maybe chats a bit, and then moseys back to drills. This is still better than letting players get dehydrated — and absolutely necessary in extreme heat.
But the problem is, structured water breaks can interrupt the rhythm of practice. Especially in fast-paced sessions, those breaks can cool players down too much, extend beyond their purpose, and require coaches to constantly restart momentum.
More importantly, they don’t reflect the real conditions of a game.
The Game Day Reality: Water When You Can Get It
On game day, there’s no referee pausing play every 25 minutes to let you hydrate. You get water when there’s a stoppage. You get it while you’re off the field. You take quick sips, stay ready, and jump back in.
That’s why the best coaches now make accessible, self-managed hydration a regular part of every practice.
It’s not about eliminating breaks altogether. It’s about shifting your culture.
The Better Way: Water Is Always Accessible
Let players drink when they need to, not just when you tell them to.
Set up cones, gear bags, and water bottles in a consistent, safe area — and tell your team early on that they’re allowed to take quick sips in between reps, during transitions, or while rotating.
If you build this into the routine from day one, players won’t abuse it. They’ll learn to self-manage hydration like athletes at the college or pro level do. And if someone’s taking too long or using it as a way to avoid effort? That’s a behavioral issue, not a hydration one.
Benefits of Letting Players Sip Throughout Practice
Here’s what you gain:
1. Consistent Hydration
Your players stay hydrated without hitting extreme thirst or fatigue levels — which keeps performance high and lowers injury risk.
2. Faster Practice Flow
You’re not calling time just for water. You keep the energy moving. Players drink quickly and get back in line or reset positions while sipping.
3. Better Game Habits
You’re teaching players how to be athletes — not just kids at practice. Learning to hydrate quickly and efficiently is a real skill they’ll use in games, showcases, and tournaments.
4. Empowered Athletes
When you give players responsibility for their own hydration, you’re subtly teaching self-awareness, body management, and decision-making.
But Don’t Eliminate All Breaks
Of course, this doesn’t mean you stop calling breaks.
Here’s a good rule of thumb for scheduled water breaks:
Every 20–30 minutes for older athletes in mild climates
Every 15–20 minutes for youth players or in hot/humid conditions
Any time players show signs of overheating, confusion, heavy fatigue, or cramping
These longer breaks are also a chance to coach: review what you just did, preview the next drill, or pull small groups aside for feedback.
Just don’t rely on them as the only time your players are allowed to hydrate.
What About Younger Players?
With youth players (say, under 12), you may need to teach this habit more deliberately. Left to their own devices, they may forget to drink at all — or, if they’re new to sports, feel like they “need permission.”
So during the first few practices of the season:
Show them where water bottles should be placed.
Tell them when it’s okay to grab a sip (between reps, not in the middle of a drill).
Reinforce that it’s not about chugging — just a quick sip and back to work.
Once they get it, it becomes second nature. And your practices will run better for it.
Coach’s Pro Tip: Use Transitions
One of the easiest ways to build “sips, not breaks” into practice is to use natural transitions:
Switching sides during shooting drills
Moving to a new drill setup
While the coach is giving instruction to another group
When coming off during scrimmages or rotations
These little pauses are perfect for a few seconds of water. Players don’t have to ask. They just do it and keep the pace going.
Avoiding the Downsides
A few tips to avoid chaos:
Designate a water area away from live play for safety
Monitor new players for overuse — not all of them know what a quick sip means
Reinforce urgency — “In and out. Grab it, sip it, hustle back.”
Call timeouts if needed — If practice is dragging, take control. Reset the pace and give them a full break.
The Takeaway: Hydration Is Culture
When water is built into the culture of your practice — not something doled out like a reward — you develop smarter, more durable players.
You model what it looks like to care for your body without killing your intensity. You train players to be responsible for themselves. You keep your practice moving. You make it look effortless.
And the best part?
You’ll never again have to hear: “Coach, when’s the next water break?”
Because they’ll already know how to take care of it.
