4 man 2 ball
A great stick work drill to start every practice or warm up before games where players get into small groups of 4 and get a lot of touches. I really like this drill as it is an alternative to the old school line drills as the kids get many more touches.
4v3 with new wrinkles
We always talk about fast paced drills that simulate game situations and forces players to think, recognize and react. Practicing clearing can sometimes really slow down even the most fast-paced practice. In a 4v3 drill, with a few simple wrinkles we can integrate breakout passes, spacing, re-direct passes, and riding all in the fast paced ¾ field transition drill. The key is to keep the drill moving even with the three different segments. We do not want players waiting in line to lose interest, so keep it fast paced and moving
4v3 Half Field Fast Break With Trailer
This is the old school way to teach fast breaks. It practices offensive ball movement and defensive rotations movements in a classic 4- on-3 fastbreak. The trailer ensures the offense has a sense of urgency which is much more like a live game fast break.
Tight box shooting drill
The tight formation increases difficulty in passing while working on quick passing and getting off a quick shot on goal. This is a great drill to work on quick ball movement and getting off a shot quickly. A fun way to increase stick skills.
Face off wing challenge
We all know how imperative face offs are in a game and having great wing play is a key part of winning faceoffs.
Up and Over Clearing Drill
A great drill to work on the long passes there are so crucial to clearing. It is a common practice for a good riding team to force the long pass because this is the most commonly dropped pass in the game, especially at the younger levels. Having your least skilled players (long sticks) making the most difficult pass is typically a recipe for disaster.
Beat the Clock
This is a great way to build stick skills while reinforcing the principles of your offensive scheme.
Criss Cross Shooting Drill
The goal is to give offensive players lots of repetitions at cutting and shooting on or around the crease.
Face Off Drills Solo or With a Partner Coach
Face offs are a key segment of the game that has an immediate impact on both possessions as well as scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, very few programs have a specific face off coach or even enough coaches to spend dedicated time in this important area.
Up 1 Add 1 Transition drill
I remember when I played many many years ago the only fast break our coach worked on was the 4v3 break. As the game has evolved we have learned that fast breaks come in so many different ways to the point that people do not even say the words “fast break” anymore but now we hear more often “unsettled situations” I love this drill because it works on taking advantage of having the extra player at every stage. You even get to work on clears as well!
Full Field Zig Zag Passing drill
What a great stick skill drill to have players catch and pick up ground balls at different angles and at different distances. This is also a great drill for when you are vastly outnumbered as a coach as you can have many balls going at once.
Box Triangle Stick Skill Drill
This drill is also commonly used in hockey and soccer. For lacrosse this not only works on the stick skills of the offensive player but also teaches the defense how to slide and recover as well as handle Man Down or unsettled situations.
Simple Pregame Faceoff Routine Working on Pops and Clamps
Sometimes we just need a simple routine for our face off guys to go through before a game or practice. Something to build the muscle memory and create focus before competition begins. This simple routine can be your answer.
6v6 Unsettled Breaks
This is a drill to work on 6V6 in transition, ball movement and team defense in a fast paced fun drill. This is a great drill if you are working with a large group of players.
2v2 alley in ground ball
What happens immediately after a loose ball pick-up? Here we focus on ground balls, ball movement, rides and clears all in one drill. Drills that directly emulate game scenarios, are fast-paced, and focus on a number of fundamentals simultaneously in every activity are great and this one certainly does that.
5 minute 2v1 drill
This fast drill encourages a tremendous amount of hustle from the players, the drill offers up a fast 2V1 to 2V2, it is really a shooting drill, encourages players to quickly recognize and ‘make plays’ as well as defenders learning to handle the ball in close quarters close to the cage, as well as attack players playing defense. High pace, high energy will add passion to your practice and get the kids moving and engaged.
Pinch and Pop Face Off Drill
Controlling the ball on a face off is key part of the game. This drill works on repetition and technique so that when it is game time you are guaranteed possession of the ball.
Man up Man down skill builder
This is a great drill to test who should be on man and man down as it forces fast ball movement under pressure. It also forces the defense to work as a unit and rotate to the ball.
Over under face off drill
This is a great drill to work on communication between your face off man and his teammates coming in from the wing.
The V drill
The V Drill is a great way to teach the proper mechanics and fundamentals of a double team. Traps and double teams apply to Defensemen and Middies applying a trap to obtain a possession, Attackmen riding, and even, dare I say it, Goalies, who may find themselves at the end of the game down by one getting pulled to help create a turnover. So, knowing how to properly apply the trap is something worth practicing - for everyone.