Lacrosse Drills from "Lacrosse Drills & Practice Plans

Cradle the Ball Lacrosse Drills

Cradling is an essential skill for young players to learn right away.

What you need – Players should have their sticks and of course, full equipment to do this drill.  Players can spend some time practicing this at home, because it does require some dexterity to do well.

How this drill works – Each player should have their stick and carrying a ball.  Cradling is necessary to control the ball while the player is running down the floor and dodging other players on the field. 

Coaches should notice the following: Grip, Wrist and arm action, and stick position.  This is a skill based lesson – and not so much of a drill for the younger players.

Grip – The top hand should be in a position that allows it to control the bounce inside the pocket.  The bottom hand will direct the stick when the player is running and if they are trying to make a pass or take a shot.  When standing still, the top hand should be underneath the stick, and the bottom hand should be on top.

The wrist and arm action – These should work in conjunction with one another.  The idea is to create the least amount of bounce in the pocket of the player’s stick.  The forearm on the top hand should work like a hinge, and not moving all over the place.  The wrist should not curl or flex too much. 

Stick position – The stick position for the beginner should be horizontal when they are stationary.  It is a standard pose for any player, except for when they may be experiencing pressure. 

When a defender must shield their stick from a defender, the stick moves to a vertical position, almost parallel with the player’s body.

An easy drill to build on this position is just to have players carry the ball around, either on the run, or just walking around.  Coaches should watch for technique.

Perimeter Pass and Shoot Lacrosse Drills

Quick passing to set up an open lane to shoot is crucial to gain good scoring opportunities.

What you need – Set up three attackers and three defenders in the offensive zone, with a goalie in the net.  There is one ball in this drill.

How this drill works – Perimeter passing can help to open up holes in the defense to take a quick shot at the net. 

In this drill, the three attacking players will stay on the perimeter and they will pass it quickly back and forth between one another while staying on the perimeter.  The key to this drill is to make quick, accurate passes so the attackers can make the defenders stretch to the point they can open up a seam to make a quick dodge and take a shot.

Coaches should watch that the players are using proper technique in passes, catches and using good dodging techniques before taking the shot.  The offense has 10 seconds to try and stretch the defense to the point where they are able to get a good shot on net.  One point for a shot on net or a goal, or one point for a defensive play preventing a shot or goal.

Result – This is good one on one work for players, and it also work on a variety of other skills.