Set three offensive players (Player 1–3) against two defenders (Player 4–5) in the attack zone. Coach starts with a ground ball or pass to offense. Offense works quick passes, sharp cuts, and stick skills to create high-percentage shots. Defenders communicate, slide, and maintain positioning. Play continues until a goal, save, clear, or whistle. Rotate roles to keep all players active.
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Static 4v3
This drill starts with 4 offensive players and 3 defenders. The 4 offensive players are set up in a rectangle, the 2 low players are at about GLE and 3 yards off the crease, the top players are about 7 yards above the cage even with the bottom 2 players. The 3 defenders set up in a triangle in the middle of the rectangle. The purpose of this drill is for the defense to work on rotating. Specifically, reading the offense's body language and understanding when a full rotation is necessary, versus being able to hedge and go ball to ball. This is traditionally a box lacrosse drill, but it proves to be quite useful at younger levels to help develop defensive IQ. To make this more a defensive drill, the offense is NOT allowed to move. They must stay static in their spots, but its important to emphasize to the defense that they are not trying to take the ball away, but slow down the offense.
5v4 Fast Break with Trailing Middie
- Can have 7v6 as well with trail. - Setup with 3 middies on attack and 2 middies on defense coming in from the 50 with 2 attack and 2 defenders low (or 4 attack and 4 defenders low) - Add the 3rd defensive middie once the ball passes the 30. - Defense needs to slow down the ball and then get organized until they can get into a settled offense. - Offense needs to push the fast break before defense can get settled. - Switch out the low girls every 3-4 reps.
2v1 Drill
Play 2v1 in the attack zone. Coach starts with a ground ball or pass. Offense works quick ball movement and stick handling to create scoring opportunities, while the defender practices positioning and slides. Play continues until a goal, save, clear, or whistle. Focus on decision-making under pressure.
Numbers
Players line up with the offense at the top of the field and the defense on the sides. The coach calls out a set of numbers, such as “43,” where the first number is offensive players and the second number is defensive players. That many players sprint in to compete for the ball and play a live possession, e.g., 43 - 4v3, 55 - 5v5, 32 - 3v2. Variations can adjust the number combinations to create even or uneven matchups.
Riding Drill after a shot on Goal
Improve riding after a shot on goal. Defense gets back and picks up clearing players as they set up. Lock defenders onto the attack, and get midfielders back before the clearing team to prevent the fast break. Variation: Strengthen the clear to practice forcing turnovers in live play.
T-Drill
- setup 4 cones in a T shape - to start, sprint out to the cone in the middle and break down you feet like you are approaching an attacker - slide shuffle to one cone, left or right - sprint to the opposite cone and then sprint back for a ground ball
Grip it and Rip it
Develop goalie reactions to shots from multiple locations and distances. Goalie in the crease. A coach receives a pass from anywhere in the attack area and immediately shoots. Both passer and shooter move continuously. Farther shots should be harder; closer shots should emphasize placement. Work all save areas. Variation: Bounce shots. Rapid fire sequences. Goalie makes outlet passes after saves. Multiple passes between coaches before the shot. Up close, use fakes and non-traditional releases.
Over and Down Shooting
Develop ball movement and positioning — move the ball from the top, across and down for a crease finish. 3 lines with cones: one at the top of the box, one at the opposite top, one 3 yards behind GLE. Balls start at the top corner. That player dodges inside, bounces back, and feeds across to the other top line. That player catches and moves it down to the GLE line, who finishes across the crease. Rotate counter-clockwise. Variation: Switch sides. Designate the shooter. Add defense.