High School Men’s Lacrosse Practice Plan: Mastering Transitions and Fast Breaks
Practice Overview:
This 2-hour men’s lacrosse practice plan focuses on developing transition play and fast breaks, essential components for success at the high school level. The practice is divided into 4 segments of 15 minutes each and 3 segments of 20 minutes, with one drill per segment. Coaches will guide the team through fast-paced drills that emphasize quick decision-making, proper positioning, and communication during transitions.
Segment 1 (0:00 – 15:00): Warm-Up and Stick Work
Drill: Dynamic Warm-Up and Quick Passing Drills
• Description:
• Start with a dynamic warm-up, including jogging, high knees, lunges, and agility drills to prepare the players for intense lacrosse practice.
• Transition into a quick passing drill where players focus on cradling, passing, and catching on the run. This drill serves as both a stick work warm-up and a foundation for transition play.
• Coaching Points:
• Emphasize quick, accurate passing while moving.
• Remind players to keep their eyes up and communicate with their teammates.
• Coaches should focus on proper hand positioning and smooth transitions between cradling and passing.
Segment 2 (15:00 – 30:00): 3v2 Fast Break Drill
Recommended Drill: 3v2 Scramble drill
• Coaching Points:
• Emphasize decision-making and communication on both offense and defense.
• Encourage attackers to make quick passes and capitalize on the numbers advantage.
• Defenders should focus on cutting off passing lanes and forcing low-angle shots.
Segment 3 (30:00 – 45:00): 4v3 Transition Drill
Recommended Drill: 4 v 3 with wrinkles
• Coaching Points:
• Offense: Emphasize spacing, quick ball movement, and finding the open player.
• Defense: Communicate and slide to the ball effectively to limit scoring chances.
• Coaches should reinforce the importance of both defensive recovery and offensive positioning.
Segment 4 (45:00 – 1:00:00): Full-Field Transition Drill
Recommended Drill: 5v4 Dynamic Transition Scramble Drill
• Coaching Points:
• Reinforce the importance of maintaining speed while transitioning from defense to offense.
• Encourage offensive players to move off the ball and create passing lanes.
• Defenders should focus on recovery speed and communication during slides.
Segment 5 (1:00:00 – 1:20:00): 5v5 Transition Scrimmage
Drill: 5v5 Transition Scrimmage with Controlled Breaks
• Description:
• Run a half-field scrimmage with 5v5 to practice transition scenarios in a game-like setting. The drill focuses on transitioning from defense to offense with fast break opportunities when possible.
• Coaches will stop play at specific moments to reset the drill and emphasize transition strategies.
• Coaching Points:
• Focus on team communication during fast breaks and transitions.
• Encourage quick decisions on the break while maintaining control of the ball.
• Provide coaching feedback on both offensive and defensive positioning throughout the scrimmage.
Segment 6 (1:20:00 – 1:40:00): Transition and Clear Drill
Drill: Transition and Clearing Patterns from the Playbook
• Description:
• Run through specific clearing and transition patterns from the team’s playbook, focusing on precision and timing.
• Players practice clearing the ball from the defensive end with speed and accuracy, then transition into an offensive setup.
• Coaching Points:
• Emphasize timing and accuracy on long passes during clears.
• Reinforce the importance of players knowing their roles in transition from defense to offense.
• Coaches should provide corrections on positioning and movement off the ball.
Segment 7 (1:40:00 – 2:00:00): Full-Field Scrimmage
Drill: Full-Field Scrimmage with Fast Break Emphasis
• Description:
• Conclude the practice with a full-field scrimmage, focusing on fast breaks and transitions. Players are encouraged to capitalize on fast break opportunities and execute transitions as practiced in earlier drills.
• Coaches will let the scrimmage flow but provide feedback between plays to highlight important transition moments.
• Coaching Points:
• Encourage players to apply what they’ve learned in the earlier transition drills.
• Emphasize quick decision-making during fast breaks and transitioning between offense and defense.
• Coaches should reinforce teamwork and communication throughout the scrimmage.
Additional Notes:
• Equipment Needed:
• Lacrosse sticks, balls, cones, goals, and pinnies.
• Focus on Speed and Control:
• In fast breaks, players must balance speed with ball control to avoid turnovers.
• Conditioning:
• These transition drills naturally integrate conditioning into the practice, enhancing endurance for game scenarios.
• Communication:
• Transition and fast break success relies heavily on communication; coaches should stress its importance throughout the practice.
This 2-hour men’s lacrosse practice plan incorporates fast break and transition drills to enhance high school players’ ability to execute quick transitions from defense to offense. By focusing on game-like scenarios, this practice allows coaches to build effective transition strategies while developing players’ decision-making and teamwork skills.
