12-14 Lacrosse Drills
228 drills for 12-14 lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
Hit Spots
Develop goalie hand-eye coordination through progressive distance shooting. Goalie in ready position. Coach starts 2-3 yards away, lightly tossing balls while moving in an arc around the goal. Goalie saves and quickly returns the ball. Hit all shot positions twice, then back up to 5-7 yards and repeat, then 10-12 yards. Increase shot speed with distance. Vary release points so the goalie sees different angles. Variation: Bounce shots. Rapid fire sequences. Goalie makes outlet passes after saves.
Goalie Footwork
Develop goalie footwork, quickness, and ready-position discipline. Lateral Hops: Hop side to side over a shaft, staying in ready position (30 sec) Front to Back: Hop forward and back over a shaft in ready position (30 sec) 2-Step: Take 2 steps right or left over a shaft, maintaining ready position (30 sec) 4 Squares: Work a 4-hop pattern over 2 intersecting shafts (30 sec) Variation: Randomly toss a ball during any drill for a save. Run diagonal patterns on 4 Squares.
Punt Return Drill +1
Improve defensive approach above GLE with a recovering second defender. X starts with the ball. D1 is positioned to take away the middle. On the whistle, X dodges and D1 forces him down the alley. D2 recovers to the crease as D1 engages. Variation: Include attackmen and midfielders. Increase speed as players improve. Run from both sides.
Punt Return
Improve defensive approach and positioning above GLE. Defenders in a single line on the crease. At the coach's signal, sprint to the top cone and address the dodger. Force the ball carrier down the alley, away from the middle of the field. Variation: Include attackmen and midfielders for position-specific reps. Increase speed as technique improves. Run from both sides.
Lob and Dodge
Develop defensive footwork and approach on a live dodger. Coach throws a lob pass to one of 4 offensive players. As the catch is made, the defender comes out to address the ball and works to prevent the dodge and shot. Variation: Add an outlet pass option for the dodger. Attack from multiple locations.
Cover the Crease
Teach off-ball defensive positioning and recovery based on ball location. X1 starts with the ball and passes around the perimeter (X2, X3, X4). As the ball moves, the on-ball defender extends to cover the receiver while off-ball defenders recover inside to help guard X5 on the crease. Maintain man-you-ball triangle positioning at all times. Variation: Initially don't allow passes to X5 until recovery technique is mastered. Then open it up as a live 5v4 — offense scores if they move the ball fast enough to find X5.
Alley Footwork Drills
Develop defensive footwork fundamentals. Players sprint cone to cone using proper technique, planting and exploding toward each cone. Variation: Carry a stick and throw checks at each cone. Play shadow defense on a ball carrier running the same pattern.
Goalie Clear Passes
Develop clearing passes from the goalie through all levels of the field. Goalie starts with a ball. Outlet pass to the defenseman breaking up the left side. Defender passes to M1 breaking back to the ball. M1 turns and finds M2 breaking on the opposite side. M2 catches, turns, and feeds the attackman in the corner. Attackman turns into the middle for a 10-yard shot. Drill restarts after a save or reset. Variation: Set up multiple goals and run several groups. Allow the defender to play the ball after making the initial outlet.
Interception
Develop defensive extend-and-recover technique by intercepting passes. X1 passes to X2 — defender extends to play the ball. X2 rolls away and quickly passes to X3. The defender recovers to the inside, stick first, looking to intercept or knock down the X3-to-X1 pass. Variation: Allow the drill to become a 1v1 with the offensive player shooting if they beat the defender.
One Feeder Finishing
Practice finishing on cuts with a variety of good and bad passes. A line of players across from a feeding coach. Players cut one at a time across the field, catching various passes (high, low, behind) and finishing on the crease. Variation: Add a defender covering the cutter to pressure the pass and finish.
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.
Up and Over Shooting
Develop ball movement and positioning — move the ball from a low wing, up and across for a dodge and shot. 3 lines with cones: one 3 yards behind GLE, one at the top of the box, one at the opposite top. Balls start low. Bottom player dodges inside, bounces back, and feeds the top line. Top catches and moves it across to the third line, who dodges off the cone and shoots. Rotate clockwise. Variation: Switch sides. Designate the final shooter. Add defense. Put goalies in for live shots.