5/6 WEEK 1 / PRACTICE 1

WK.1 — P1

Focus: Fast Break, X-feed mini-play, early small-sided game

0:00–0:08 | Ladder Agility Warm-Up with Stick 

  1. Two foot forwards: 2 feet in each square moving forward → sprint out 5 yds.

  2. Ickey Shuffle – 2 feet in, 1 foot out, quick lateral steps → sprint out 5 yds.

  3. Lateral In/Out – 2 feet in, 2 feet out, lateral steps

LADDER VIDEO

LADDER DIAGRAM

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0:10–0:18 | 2 Cone Throwback Drills (4 min per drill - 2 min per Left & Right Hands ) 3-4 players at station

  • Step Back: Player 1 runs to cone 1 → Cuts hard to their right, steps back, turns to the inside → Throws back to Player in line

  • Roll away: Player 1 runs to cone 1 → Punches stick to outside and follows stick → Turns and throws back to Player in line

THROWBACK DRILL VIDEO

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0:18–0:28 | Small-Sided Game – 3v3 Bulldog Drill

Purpose: Force quick reads, spacing adjustments, and off-ball movement.

How to Play:

  • Set 2 small goals 50 feet apart / or 2 sets of 1 goal and play half court.

  • 3v3, set 2 teams on each side to rotate quickly. 1 team starts with ball. Rotate after 2 minutes.

  • No goalies — must score on open net, players must defend.

  • Only 2 players from on each team aloud on ground balls

  • Set picks, cut to goals, communicate

3V3 BULLDOG VIDEO

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WATER BREAK
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0:30–0:40 | Position-Specific Work

Attack: 2 Dodges from X Shot

  • Set up cone along GLE

  • 1 Lines: Attack behind X.

ATTACK VIDEO

Midfield: Dodge Shot

  • Middie dodges and shoot

  • 2 step shots, jump shots

MIDDIE VIDEO

Defense: Approach, Footwork & Body Position

  • #1 Defensive Stance Drill
    #2 Hawk Drill Sideway Run
    #3 Hawk Drill + Sideway Run
    #4 Drop Step Drill
    #5 Zig Zag 1v1 cone drill
    #6 Umbrella Drill

6 LACROSSE DEFENSE DRILLS

Goalie: Basics & Fundamentals

  • Hand & Feet positions

  • How to Save ball, quick shuffle or step to passing lane.

GOALIE BASICS 1
GOALIE BASICS 2
GOALIE BASICS 3

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0:30–0:48 | 10v10 Shape

Purpose: Give players clear starting spots so they understand game spacing.

  • Attack: 2 at wings (GLE extended), 1 at X/crease.

  • Mids: 2 up top (split), 1 float (midline or shallow cut). Faceoff to Settling offense

  • Defense: 3 across arc, protecting crease & wide lanes.

  • Goalie: Directs clear & organizes D.

Walk them through in a slow jog with ball movement so everyone sees how they fit.

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0:50–1:00 | Mini-Play 1 – X Feed Cutter

Purpose: Teach simple, high-percentage scoring look from behind the cage.

  • Step 1: Ball starts at X → Player Dodges 2x to make pass

  • Step 2: Wing player V cuts to lose defender and cuts towards cage

  • Step 3: X feeds to cutting wing for quick stick.

Progression:

  1. Walk-through with cones & no defense.

  2. Half speed vs with 2 v 2

  3. Live reps with real pressure 2 v 2 ( Defense on Middie and Attack)

Key Coaching Points:

  • Cutter must time run so ball arrives in stride.

  • Feeder keeps stick high to disguise pass.

  • Off-ball players keep spacing & be ready for next pass if crease isn’t open.

X FEEDER CUTTER

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WATER BREAK
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1:02–1:15 | Transition Drill – 4v3 Fast Break

Purpose: Teach fast-break spacing and decision-making.

Setup: 3 attack and 3 defensemen in L shape near goal

  • Offense: Coach clears to middie at half field who runs down.

  • Dump → to top middie if there is a slide.

  • Shoot → if no slide.

  • Dump to middie → middie looks to see which half middle defender is on, if over on left side → pass to low right → shot

  • if middle defender if over on right side → pass to lower left → shot

  • Keys: Rotate players every round.

FAST BREAK VIDEO

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1:15–1:25 | Clearing Passing Drill Intro

Purpose: Introduce basic clearing

  • Every player knows where to go

  • Goalie passes to Defender who makes pass out

  • Middies take ball down → Finish play to goal

3:57 DIAMOND PATTERN CLEARING

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WATER BREAK
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1:25–1:45 | 5V5 Scrimmage

  • 2 games going at once / Half Court / Winners stay on

  • 2+ Passes before shot / 15 second shot clock before having to shoot, or going to other team

  • Swap in. 5V4 for pressure and Chaos.

  • Why: fast reps, high pressure situations

1:50–2:00 | RST Conditioning – 8 × 30-yard sprints

  • Sprint 30 yards all-out.

  • Walk back (~20 sec) recovery.

  • Repeat 8 times.

  • Why: Scientifically proven to build repeat sprint ability, which translates to in-game bursts.

Wrap & Team Huddle

  • Quick recap of 4v3 fast break and clears.

  • Call out 1–2 players for hustle or smart play.

5/6 WEEK 1 / PRACTICE 2

WK.1 — P2

Focus: Team defense basics, first dodge reps, early small-sided game for decision-making

0:00–0:08 | Cone Agility Box Drill

  1. Square Drill: 4 Cone 5 yards apart. Starting at cone 1 → Sprint to the cone 2 → Shuffle to the cone 3 → Backpedal to the cone 4 → Shuffle to cone 1.

  2. X Drill: 4 Cone 5 yards apart. Starting at cone 1 → crossover to cone 3 → shuffle to cone 2 → back reverse crossover to cone 4 → Shuffle to cone 1.

  3. L Drill: 3 Cones 5 yards apart. Starting at cone 1 → Sprint to cone 2 → Sprint back to cone 1 → Sprint around cone 2 → Loop around cone 3 → Sprint back around cone 2 and back to cone 1

CONE DRILL VIDEO

CONE DIAGRAM

0:10–0:18 | 2 Cone Throwback Drills (4 min per drill - 2 min per Left & Right Hands ) 3-4 players at station

  • Split Back: Player 1 runs to cone 1 → Punches stick to outside and follows stick → Switches stick to opposite hand and runs back to cone 1 while throwing to Player in line

  • Split Roll: Player 1 split doges running to cone 1  → Punches stick to outside and follows stick

THROWBACK DRILL VIDEO

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0:18–0:28 | Small-Sided Game – 4v4 “Protect the House”

Purpose: Introduce defensive slides & recovery in a controlled game format.

Setup:

  • 2 Sets of games

  • 4v4, goalie optional (if goalie plays, shrink shooting lanes with cones).

Rules:

  • Offense must complete 2 passes before shooting and only score if they dodge/cut inside the cones.

  • Defense gets 1 point for forced turnover or GB win.

  • Rotate groups every 45–60 sec.

44 CONTINUOUS

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WATER BREAK
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0:30–0:40 | Position-Specific Work

Attack: Dodge from X + Inside Quick Stick Finish

  • Attack from X dodges on cones

  • Feeder at wing runs down alley / Attackman from X passes to crease player for no-cradle finish.

ATTACK DRILL

Midfield FOGO: Split to practice clamps, exits, and fast breaks

Other Midfield:
Split Dodge to Feed

  1. Middie starts at top center with the ball.

  2. Split dodge hard right or left at a cone

  3. Explode down the alley with your stick to the outside.

  4. Read the defense:

    • If no slide → shoot on the run.

    • If slide comes → pass to crease or wing.

  5. Finish the play (shot or feed → shot).

Defense: Stick Checks

  • Stick Checking methods & Drills


CHECKING VIDEO 1
CHECKING VIDEO 2
CHECKING VIDEO 3

Goalie: Save + Clear Under Pressure

  • Make save, immediate outlet pass to breaking middie.

  • Coach/player applies light stick pressure to simulate ride.

GOALIE BASICS 4
GOALIE BASICS 5
GOALIE BASICS 6

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0:30–0:48 | Teach Basic Team Defense + Slide

Purpose: Build defensive communication habits from day one.

Drill:

  • 2 games going on with half fields and mini goals, no goalies

  • 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 half-field setup

  • Middie starts with ball while defense works to defend and work on slides

  • Start slow, then speed up.

TEAM DEFENSE DRILL

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0:50–1:00 | Pass & Pick Away

Purpose: Teach players to set picks and finish down low

Steps:

  1. 2 - 3 drill running at a time. 3 lines of players along arc at cones, low left wing, low right wing and top center

  2. Top center players throws pass to lower right wing player and goes to set a pick at 5 and 5.

  3. right wing player sweeps across top of arc, while lower left wing player runs pick play at 5 and 5

  4. right wing player passes to low left wing player who is open for shot at crease

PASS & PICK DRILL

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WATER BREAK
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1:02–1:15 | Hopkins 3v2

Run drill fast paced. Begin again after ball is dead or goal is score. Repeat drill 5-6x before rotating groups.

Setup:

  • 2-4 drills running at a time (two mini goals and two 6 foot cages)

  • 3 players set up around goal and 2 defenders inside. Those waiting can be outside behind cones behind

  • Coach throws ball to one of the middies, defense has to react fast.

  • If Offense scoops it up they fast break and try to score, if Defense picks it up they clear it, drill resets with same players.

  • Defense must slide and rotate to defend shots.

Key: Communication and quick decision-making are more important than perfect execution here — push pace.

HOPKINS 3V2 DRILL

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1:15–1:25 | Ride System Drill – 6-Man Roles

Purpose: Teach every player where to be during a ride.

  • 2 drills running at once.

  • Attack lock off all midfield outlets.

  • Mids pressure ball carrier or drop into passing lanes.

  • Defense pushes up to cut deep options.

  • Practice against clearing team breaking out at half speed.

RIDING DRILL 6V6

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WATER BREAK
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1:25–1:45 | 10V10 Scrimmage

Setup a 2-3-1 offense, have the X attack dodge and feed cutters, work on motion.

Work on & look for:

  • feeds from X, dumps, picks, motion and filling on offense

  • slides, recovers and clears on defense

1:50–2:00 | RST Conditioning – 8 × 30-yard Sprints

  • Sprint 30 yds all-out.

  • Walk back (~20 sec) recovery.

  • Repeat 8 times.

  • Why: Builds repeat sprint ability, directly transferable to lacrosse bursts.

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Wrap & Team Huddle

  • Recap key defensive terms: “Ball,” “Hot,” “Recover.”

  • Call out one player for best communication or effort on defense.