LINCOLN-SUDBURY LACROSSE DEFENSIVE CONCEPTS AND SKILLS K-12
Identifying man to cover, calling number, and staying with that man
Staying in front of man, and between man and cage
Being aware of both the ball and the man while covering man off ball
Using a poke check and body check to challenge feeds and shots
Not chasing man when he is far from the cage- bungee cord
Attacking the ball when your man receives pass, then returning to hole
Ball-You-Man Triangle when off-ball (2 looks to man, 1 look to ball)
Packing in the Defense and keeping sticks up in the passing lanes
Recognizing when a dodger beats his man and sliding to help (adjacent)
Communicating with teammates prior to slide (Help right, help left)
Communicating with goalie and teammate to execute second slide
Protecting middle of the field, forcing dodgers from top down the side
Playing top side against dodgers from behind cage, forcing underneath
Using poke and drop step behind, and V-hold, wrap and chop at GLE
Recognizing ‘two hands a threat’ and using lift check to create turnover
Using crease slide to help teammate: timing slide, playing angles
After shot, sprinting upfield for outlet and using banana cuts down low
Locating Goalie for help after picking up ground ball near cage
Finding space with ball, curling from pressure, looking to redirect ball
In 2 v 1- body to man, stick up and to ball side, delaying: “slow to go”
In 3 v 2- playing ball aggressively, following stick back to ball
In 4 v 3- playing adjacents aggressively with sticks in lanes, rotating
In Fast Breaks- identifying point, delaying slide, holding triangle
In 5 v 4, establishing box, recognizing when to initiate rotation
In EMD, keeping tight box, locking crease, keeping sticks up
In EMD, understanding role in 4 man rotation, with coma slide
In EMD, shutting off attacker for passes or time during penalty
Using aggressive checks wisely to create turnovers
Understanding responsibilities during rides: hard, soft, and 10 man
Recognizing spacing and system of dead ball and sideline clears
Recognizing picks, communicating ‘switch’ or ‘stay’ or doubling
K-3
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LINCOLN-SUDBURY LACROSSE DEFENSIVE DRILLS K-12
K-3
Keep Away- stay with man, apply pressure
GB Clearing drill- have 1 v 1 gb behind cage- scoop, pass to goalie, break upfield
Alley races: 1 v1-work on staying in front of opponent- can’t go out of alley
2 v 2s- Have coach as open man- O gets open, D stays with
Monkey in the Middle- Keep stick up to knock down/intercept passes
4-6
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7-8
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4-6
Poke check shuffle- maintain base, avoid lunging! up on the toes!
Partner drill in alley- run with hips forward + shoulders turned using pokecheck-add lift
1 v1 Dodging- staying in front, using checks, applying bodychecks.
3 v 3’s Identify “help right, help left- get ready to slide-dodge at will
4 v 4’s Add second slide-emphasize communication, and involve goalie
2 v 1 Ground Balls- get ball to goalie, and both players break out
2 v 1’s with dodger- slow to go, keep stick up
3 v 2 Triangle drill- sticks up: out to ball, back to hole with stick up
4 v 3 Box- pressure ball, recognize adjacents, sticks up and rotating
Quarterback drill- Coach shoots, Two lines break out upfield, OFF RAILS, catch over the shoulder
Skeleton Breakouts- all 6 defenders sprint to spots- increase # of passes
7+ 8
Individual:
Agilities:
Behind Cage: backpedal/dropstep/shuffle to topside
Man-Down Bucket Drill- out to ball (have players at cones) arrive w check,back to bucket
Dodges from behind: Topside 1) no stick, just feet 2) add stick, use V hold or Chop/Wrap
Find It- out to ball, arrive with check, FIND IT, LIFT IT- smell the pits
Angled Line Dropstep and poke (everyone steps forward)
Alley Drill- run along side- C check to lift strong side, rake check to lift weak side
Ground Balls:
1 v 3 with 2 balls- find the open man-constant motion
2 v 1 man ball-emphasize communication and body check
1 v1 with trailer- emphasize back hand
Back to Back Box out (with ball underneath butts-first hands, then sticks)
Stick Skills:
Over the Shoulder Box Passing: Catch inside, throw outside
Shuffle-Line Passing: develop soft hands, emphasize on toes and low when shuffling
Bad Passes Drill- handle bad passes, also look to intercept
Partner Passing- restraining to restraining, hitch step, curl from pressure...
Clearing:
2 Man Breakouts- Coach Shoots, 2 Defensemen break out either side and redirect
32 Drill- Add two riders to 2 Man breakout...vary ride (shut off GK, offside, etc...)
6 Man Breakouts- after shot, everyone gets a touch, swing to backside
X Box- Corner to Corner, down the side, corner to corner
Team:
4 Cone Drill- D must get out on hands, then bust back in to pick off pass from opposite
Riding 1 v 1’s- D gets outlet, attackman rides, must hit upfield teammate
3 Man GB Clears- 2 go to ball, 1 opposite- play ball and redirect
Situational Drill- Recover Ball with less than 1 minute- practice doubling angles
Have Defensemen handle ball during full field transition drill!
6 or 7 v 4 Man Down- Keep the rotation tight and loud!
Drill Name: Alley Drill
Drill Skill: Moving up the field and redirect on pressure
Objective: Run the ball up the alley roll away from pressure and long pass
Steps:
1. Player 1 carries the ball up the alley rolls to the outside and redirect to player 2
2. Player 2 carries to opposite alley rolls to the outside and redirects back
3. Pass back to line 1 and restart
Pass 2
Carry
Carry
Pass 1
Line 2
Pass 3
Line 1
Drill Name: Alley Drill #2 Drill Skill: Moving up the field and redirect on pressure
Objective: Run the ball up the alley roll away from pressure and long pass to opposite
clear
Steps:
1. Player 1 carries the ball up the alley rolls to the outside and redirect to GK
2. GK catches and redirects to opposite alley
3. Player 3 runs the alley for clearing pass
Pass 1
Run
for
clear
pass
Pass 2
Carry
Line 2
GK
Line 1
Drill Name: Slide Recognition
Drill Skill: Recognition and Communication
Objective: Identify and Communicate Slide Responsibilities
Steps:
1. Have 6 offensive players move with ball moving in a standard offensive set
2. All 7 defenders must communicate ball location and slide responsibilities
which change with each pass
3. When coach blows whistle the on-ball defender takes a knee
4. All 5 defensemen must slide and adjust to dodge
5. All defenders must work to press the ball and recover backside
M1
M3
D1
“Help
Right”
D2
D3
“Help
Left”
M2
D4
D5
GK
D6
A1
A2
A3
Drill Name: 2 Man Breakout
Drill Skill: Clearing, Curling from pressure
Objective: Complete a sequence of cross field passes
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Coach takes a ¾ speed shot
GK yells “Clear” and both defensemen “Banana” cut 2-4 yds below GLE
GK chooses side and hits defenseman with pass
GK yells “Redirect” – defenseman with ball curls from pressure and redirects
ball to opposite defenseman
5. Defenseman catches ball curls from pressure and redirects once more
C
D2
GK
D1
Drill Skill: GB’s and Clearing
Drill Name: 3 Man Ground Ball Clears
Objective: Win contested ground ball, get to space, and redirect
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
D1, D2, & D3 Begin on crease
Coach sends ball to one corner, D2 and ball side defenseman chase to ball
Players fight for ground ball with winner of GB gets to space and free hands
Defenseman without ball rides on the ball
Player with ball then passes to either GK or opposite defenseman
Ball should be redirected twice after initial ground ball
C
D1
D2
GK
D3
Drill Name: 32
Drill Skill: Clearing and Riding
Objective: Throw Under Pressure and Spot Open Man
Steps:
1. Two Defensemen Banana Below GLE
7. One Rider Jumps Ball, Opposite Rider Splits the Two Defensemen
8. Goalie must pick side after shot
9. Invite Redirect by playing loose on second defensemen
10. Ball carrier must handle ball under pressure, read the ride, and find open
teammate
C
R
R
D2
GK
D1
Drill Name: 3 v 2 Triangle Drill
Drill Skill: Emphasize Key Man Down D Concepts
Objective: Attack Ball, Then Follow Stick Back to the Hole
Steps:
1. Attack at the three stationary cones and must stay within 1 yd of cone. D begin
stacked in an I
2. As A1 passes to A2, D2 who is responsible for covering both A2 and A3, sprints
to check A2’s gloves and shouting “BALL”
3. D1, who was covering A1 sprints to the hole with his stick in the air, shouting “I
GOT TWO”
4. As attack attempts to draw and dump, the D must use Get Out and Get In
movement necessary for Man Down Defense
5. Useful reaction drill for attack, They can shoot at will but ball is dead when it
hits the ground
A1
“I Got 2”
D1
D2
“Ball”
A3
A2
6. Ball moves back to A1, D1 goes to ball, D2 to 2
7. Ball moves to A3 D2 goes to Ball and D1 to 2
8. Continue
Drill Name: 4 Cone Drill
Drill Skill: On and Off Ball Defense
Objective: Attack Ball, Then Follow Stick Back to the Hole
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D starts at cone in “THE HOLE” , A1 starts with the ball
As A1 passes to M1, D sprints to ball and arrives with a check on the gloves of M1
M1 curls from pressure and passes to M2
D sprints back to the hole with stick in the air
M2 passes back to A1 while D attempts to intercept pass
M2
M1
D1
A1
Drill Name: Find It Drill
Drill Skill: Arriving and Checking
Objective: Defender Attempts to Beat the Ball to the Man
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D1 starts in THE HOLE
As coach passes to A1, D1 sprints out to A1
D1 chops down on A1’s hands, then stays with the check and lifts up
D1 attempts to dislodge the ball by lifting bottom hand of A1
Emphasize keeping the check on the hands of A1
C
D1
A1
Drill Name: Man Down Bucket
Drill Skill: Man Down Defense
Objective: Sprint to the Ball, Sprint Back to Hole
Steps:
1. Arrange Cones in Various Extra Man Offensive Formations
2. Have players rotate through cones, holding sticks out
3. Defenseman sprints to cone 1 with stick up, arrives with a check on the stick of
the player at the cone
4. Defenseman then pivots, turning his stick to the inside so that it is in the
passing lane, and sprints back to the hole
5. Defenseman then throws a “Check Sticks” check on the bucket, then sprints to
the next cone
6. Emphasize arriving with the check and following the stick back to the middle
D1
Drill Name: Drop Step and Poke Drill Skill: Agility and Checking Technique
Objective: Move Backwards while Checking Forwards
Steps:
1. All Defenders make a staggered line, where each player lines up 2 steps ahead
and 2 steps over with his stick away from him in front of his body
2. As D6 moves down the line, he drop steps with his hips open
3. While drop stepping, he uses his pokecheck and tries to hit each player’s stick
4. Ensure that defenders do not lunge!
5. Defenders should be low to the ground and on the balls of their feet.
D6
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
Drill Name: Vrabel Drill
Drill Skill: Anticipate and Intercept
Objective: Stick up and in passing lane, catch ball in defensive posture
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
D1 reads A2 and moves to greet ball
With his stick up and away from his body, D1 sprints to intercept pass
As D1 intercepts pass, A1 breaks upfield while A2 pursues D1
D1 can carry, pass to A1, or curl from pressure and hit goalie
A1
D1
GK
A2
Drill Name: Over the Shoulder Box Drill
Drill Skill: Medium Clear Pass
Catching over the shoulder
Objective: Catch Ball Inside and Throw Outside
Steps:
1. Begin with players in all four corners of the box
2. D1 starts with the ball and carries to bid point of box
3. D4 sprints away along end line
4. With head and shoulders forward and stick on the inside, D4 catches the ball
over his shoulder
5. Once D4 catches the ball over his inside shoulder, he will switch his stick to his
outside hand and hit D3 sprinting up alley line
6. Players should choke up to catch over the shoulder and use the whole stick and
arms extended to throw
7. Drill should be done in both directions to work both hands
8. After passing players moves towards corner he just passed to
D1
D2
D4
D3
Drill Name: X Box
Drill Skill: Long Passes
Objective: Corner to Corner Passes
Steps:
1. Players in lines at corners of end line and mid line
2. First pass is cross field pass
3. Next is low corner to opposite high
4. Pass 3 is cross field
5. Pass 4 is high corner to opposite low corner then reverse path with pass 5