South Windsor Girls’ Lacrosse Individual Skills [How to use: click on “Slide Show” above. Next click on “From Beginning.” Finally use the "page up" and "page down" key on your keyboard.

Handling the Stick and the Cradle Emphasis: wrists and fingers, with the top hand doing most of the work “Triple Threat” (shot/fake, pass, run) Switching the stick – “Across the face” (similar to a “face dodge”) – “V” switch (drop the butt end of stick) “Snake” Drill: slalom course with cones works “across the face” (see next slide) “V” Shape Drill: D puts stick at O’s chest level. O practices “V” switch

Xo “Snake Drill”

Handling the Stick and the Cradle (cont.) Protecting the stick (when cradling in tight, in traffic) – “Protection Drill” (“shoulder, shoulder, ball”): O has 1 foot “nailed” to floor; D may go anywhere to check. Give O a direction that her team’s attacking – Technique: drop the head of the stick down. Front elbow leads vs. the front check; the back elbow leads vs. the back check. Cradle is almost non- existent; no spazz cradle. Move the body with the stick

Passing and Catching Start most skills without the ball. Do a # of repetitions this way. No D; build confidence “Sweet spot” (ball rests in at top of the crosse) “Stick flat”—horizontal position; ball’s in the sweet spot – “Sweet Spot” Drill: stick below your knee/on angle. Control with wrist (see video with Jen Adams) “Wall Ball”: [see video at

“Partner passing” #1—kneel facing partner. “Stick flat,” back elbow’s up, and follow through #2—kneel perpendicular to partner; forces pull across, emphasizes upper body Possibility: use a heavy stick (weighted=fill the shaft with sand) #3—on feet with movement numerous variations (work on velocity, length, etc.)

Passing and Catching (cont.) “2 lines” passing: start at midfield, use “square” (lateral passes), shot at 6-8 meters (if the ball goes wide, go to the end of the line— no shot on goal) “3 person weave drill”: wings are always cutting back to the ball. Once you pass, you cut behind the person you pass to. (see next slide)

X X X “3 person weave drill”

“Post Drill” Both “posts” have a ball; player in middle goes towards one post, pivots and catches from opposite post; throws the ball back, and re- cuts for the next post’s pass (30 seconds—use a variety of catches and throws; mix in GBs, fakes, dodges, etc.) [see next slide] Coaching Points: Teach the pivot step; ball should be in the air on the pivot

X X X “Post Drill”

“Asterisk Shuttle”—chaos X X X X X X X X Players cutting to their left after pass

Passing and Catching (cont.) “3v2 Find Space” 1 st —put down 4 cones in a square; 3 players on 3 cones (an “L” shape) Emphasis: calls, catch inside the shoulder box, throw with the outside hand] Add a defender (teach defensive calls); add a 2 nd defender (additional calls) [see next slide] 2 nd —remove the cones—drill becomes fluid; they must “find space.” Progression: “3v2 FS” to “5 Lines” (see GB drills) to “3v2 Fast break” to “3v2 Change” (see Transition drills)

“3v2 Find Space” X D X X D

“3v2 Find Space” with Defense X D X X D

Ground Ball “2 lines” (“with” and “without” help) “3 lines” (“with” and “without” help) “5 lines”: 5 lines—two teams: 1, 3, and 5; 2 and 4. Roll out ball. Each team must successfully pass the ball to each of its players. Ball goes back to coach, and the next group begins. Use skills from 3v2 Find Space drill [Players need to anticipate and “find space”— see 2 moves ahead] (see next slide)

“5 Lines” X C X X D X XXD DD

Transition “3v2 Fast Breaks”: Defensive calls: “Break” (they have #s=the advantage), “Ball,” “Got two” (player left with 2 players) [see next slide] “Bobcat”: D on sideline; attack and midfield at center draw) C calls out #; D sends out one less (see slide)

“3v2 Fast Breaks” X D X X X X X D D D G

“Bobcat Drill” X D X X D X X D D C G

Transition (cont.) “Clump”: 7 standing in a huddle at center draw circle. On whistle, they must move the ball full field. (Teaches spacing, getting ahead of the ball, speed/pace of ball, cutting, levels, and reversing the field, plus many others.) Adjustments: Do not allow person with the ball to run the ball up. Stop play on the transition. Have players close their eyes, and ask the player with the ball, “What do you have?” Ask a player off ball, “Where do you fit into the scheme of moving the ball?” etc.

X X X X X X X G Clears—Clump Drill