Starting a girls’ lacrosse practice with beginners does not have to be complicated. The key is to build a strong foundation with simple drills that develop stick skills, ball control, passing, catching, ground balls, dodging, and shooting.

The drills below come from the LaxPlaybook library. Each includes coaching cues and a link to the full instructions and diagrams.

This progression starts with basic stick skills and gradually introduces movement, decision-making, and shooting.

1. Triangle Passing Drill

Focus: Passing, catching, communication, stick skills
Best for: Beginners

The Triangle Passing Drill is a simple way to introduce beginners to passing and catching while keeping players moving.

Players work in groups of three and pass around a triangle. The changing angles help players get comfortable receiving passes from different directions while also learning to communicate with teammates.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep the stick ready to receive the pass.

  • Watch the ball into the pocket.

  • Communicate with the intended receiver.

  • Pass accurately rather than focusing on power.

  • Move after making the pass.

  • Encourage players to use both hands.

As players improve, increase the distance between players or add movement after each pass.

2. Tic-Tac-Toe Cradling Drill

Focus: Cradling, ball control, movement
Best for: Beginners

The Tic-Tac-Toe Cradling Drill gives beginners a fun way to work on ball control while moving.

Instead of simply standing in one place and practicing cradling, players have to move through the drill while maintaining possession. This helps them become more comfortable controlling the stick while changing direction and moving around the field.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep the stick protected.

  • Maintain control while moving.

  • Keep your eyes up when possible.

  • Use both hands.

  • Stay balanced when changing direction.

  • Encourage players to keep moving with the ball.

This is a good early drill for helping beginners become more comfortable carrying the ball before introducing defenders.

3. 5-Yard Scoop Drill to Improve Ground Ball Pickups

Focus: Ground balls, cradling, ball control
Best for: Beginners

Ground balls are an essential part of girls’ lacrosse, and beginners should get plenty of opportunities to practice picking up the ball correctly.

The 5-Yard Scoop Drill focuses on repetitive ground ball pickups while helping players develop the habit of securing the ball and moving immediately afterward.

Coaching Cues

  • Approach the ball under control.

  • Get low when scooping.

  • Keep the stick head close to the ground.

  • Scoop through the ball.

  • Bring the stick up quickly after the pickup.

  • Protect the ball once possession is gained.

Encourage players to accelerate after the pickup rather than stopping once they have the ball.

4. Passing on the Move

Focus: Passing, catching, movement, conditioning
Best for: Beginners

Passing becomes much more useful when players can execute it while moving.

The Passing on the Move drill helps beginners develop pass reception and accuracy while maintaining constant movement. It also introduces the faster pace they will experience during a game.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep moving throughout the drill.

  • Show the stick as a target.

  • Pass where the teammate is moving.

  • Catch without stopping whenever possible.

  • Keep your head up.

  • Communicate before receiving the ball.

Once players become comfortable, increase the pace while maintaining an emphasis on clean passes and catches.

5. Quick Passes and Decision-Making Training

Focus: Passing, decision-making, communication
Best for: Beginners progressing to intermediate

Once players understand the mechanics of passing and catching, the next step is teaching them to make quicker decisions.

The Quick Passes and Decision-Making Training drill helps players work on passing accuracy while making decisions about where the ball should go.

Coaching Cues

  • Look for your next option before receiving the ball.

  • Move the ball quickly.

  • Communicate with teammates.

  • Keep your feet active.

  • Avoid holding the ball unnecessarily.

  • Focus on making the simple pass.

For younger players, keep the drill simple and give them time to recognize their options before increasing the speed.

6. Change of Direction Drill

Focus: Dodging, ball control, footwork
Best for: Beginners

The Change of Direction Drill introduces players to one of the most important parts of attacking: being able to change direction while maintaining control of the ball.

Players work on changing direction quickly while developing better agility, ball control, and decision-making.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep the ball protected while changing direction.

  • Stay balanced through the movement.

  • Change direction with purpose.

  • Keep the stick under control.

  • Accelerate after changing direction.

  • Practice going in both directions.

For beginners, focus on clean movement before worrying about speed.

7. Figure Eight Drill

Focus: Stick skills, passing, catching, movement
Best for: Beginners

The Figure Eight Drill is a useful stick-work exercise that introduces passing, catching, movement, and communication.

The changing movement pattern gives players different angles and helps them become more comfortable handling the stick while moving around other players.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep your eyes up.

  • Prepare the stick before receiving.

  • Communicate with teammates.

  • Move into space after passing.

  • Maintain control while changing direction.

  • Start slowly before increasing the pace.

This drill can also be used as a warm-up once players understand the movement pattern.

8. 4 Point Shooting Drill

Focus: Shooting, catching, stick skills
Best for: Beginners

After working on passing and ball control, beginners can start putting those skills together with shooting.

The 4 Point Shooting Drill gives players opportunities to shoot from different angles around the goal while working on catching and finishing.

Coaching Cues

  • Get your hands into a comfortable shooting position.

  • Watch the ball into the stick.

  • Keep your eyes on the target.

  • Focus on accuracy before power.

  • Follow through toward the target.

  • Recover quickly after the shot.

Start with shorter shooting distances and gradually increase the challenge as players become more comfortable.

9. Scoop and Shoot: A Fun, Simple, and Effective Drill

Focus: Ground balls, transitions, shooting
Best for: Beginners

The Scoop and Shoot drill combines two important skills: picking up a ground ball and quickly turning that possession into an offensive opportunity.

This makes it particularly useful for beginners because they get to practice a fundamental skill and immediately connect it to a game situation.

Coaching Cues

  • Get low when scooping.

  • Secure the ball before accelerating.

  • Transition quickly after the pickup.

  • Keep the stick protected.

  • Get into a balanced shooting position.

  • Focus on a controlled finish.

The goal is not simply to complete the drill quickly. Players should learn to maintain control while transitioning from the ground ball into the shot.

10. “Mouse and Cat” Lacrosse Drill

Focus: Stick control, dodging, evasion
Best for: Beginners

The “Mouse and Cat” drill introduces beginners to the idea of protecting the ball while an opponent applies pressure.

Attackers focus on ball handling and dodging, while defenders work on staying close and anticipating movement.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep the stick protected from the defender.

  • Use your body to protect possession.

  • Keep your feet moving.

  • Change direction with purpose.

  • Watch the defender while maintaining ball control.

  • Encourage controlled pressure rather than excessive contact.

This is a useful progression after players have developed basic cradling and change-of-direction skills.

How to Progress These Drills

For a beginner team, you do not need to introduce all 10 drills in one practice.

A simple progression could look like this:

Step 1: Build Stick Skills

Start with:

  • Triangle Passing Drill

  • Tic-Tac-Toe Cradling Drill

  • Figure Eight Drill

The goal is to make players comfortable catching, passing, and controlling their sticks.

Step 2: Add Movement

Move into:

  • Passing on the Move

  • Change of Direction Drill

  • 5-Yard Scoop Drill

Now players are learning to perform those skills while moving around the field.

Step 3: Introduce Decision-Making

Add:

  • Quick Passes and Decision-Making Training

  • “Mouse and Cat” Lacrosse Drill

Players begin learning how to react to teammates and defenders rather than simply performing a predetermined movement.

Step 4: Finish With Shooting

Use:

  • 4 Point Shooting Drill

  • Scoop and Shoot

These drills connect the fundamental skills players have been practicing to finishing opportunities.

Beginner Girls’ Lacrosse Coaching Tips

Focus on repetition

Beginners need lots of touches. Keep lines short and avoid drills where players spend most of their time waiting.

Teach one thing at a time

Give players one or two coaching cues instead of trying to correct everything at once.

For example, during a ground ball drill, start with “get low and scoop through.” Once that becomes comfortable, add the next instruction.

Use both hands

Introduce both dominant and non-dominant hand work early. Players may struggle at first, but regular practice will help develop confidence with both hands.

Add pressure gradually

Start without defenders. Once players understand the movement, introduce passive pressure and eventually more game-like competition.

Keep practice moving

Young players learn through repetition. Set up multiple stations when possible so players spend more time catching, passing, cradling, scooping, and shooting.

Final Thoughts

For beginner girls’ lacrosse players, the priority should be building confidence with the stick and learning how to control the ball while moving.

The drills in this progression cover the fundamentals from passing and catching to cradling, ground balls, dodging, decision-making, and shooting.

Start simple, give players plenty of repetitions, and gradually add movement and pressure as their skills improve.

Explore the individual LaxPlaybook drills above for the full drill instructions, diagrams, and coaching details.