Clearing in youth lacrosse can feel like solving the most frustrating riddle on the field. You’ve made the stop, your defense has done its job, but if you can’t transition the ball upfield, all that hard work unravels in an instant. Turnovers mount, momentum slips away, and morale crumbles as players glance at each other with exasperated expressions and outstretched palms, searching for answers.
It’s a problem all too common in youth lacrosse, where the best ball handlers are often parked on the offensive end, waiting for a pass that never comes, while less experienced players are tasked with navigating the chaos of a pressured clear.
To help tackle this issue, I’ve broken down the most common mistakes in clearing at the youth level, but this is just the beginning of the conversation. Let me know what I’ve missed because, ultimately, we’re all here to learn and grow together.