15+ Lacrosse Drills
239 drills for 15+ lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
Side Ladder Clear
Develop a ladder clear, pushing the ball upfield through quick, connected passes. 2 goalies (or 1 goalie and 1 coach). Three lines on each side behind GLE. On "Clear," the first player breaks to the wing on a banana cut. Second player breaks up and cuts to the sideline near the top of the box. Third player sprints to midfield and cuts for a pass up the sideline. Ball moves goalie → wing → box → midfield. Players return to opposite lines. Variation: Adjust spacing between lines to change passing distances.
Out and Up Clear
Improve clearing and pushing the ball upfield quickly. 2 goalies (or 1 goalie and 1 coach) in the cage. Two lines on each side, about 3 yards behind GLE. On "Clear," the near player breaks to the wing on a banana cut while the wide player breaks upfield. Goalie clears to the wing; that player pushes the ball ahead to the player breaking downfield. Players return to opposite lines. Run both sides. Variation: Add a ride to pressure the clears.
Island 1v1
Battle for inside position in the island area — offense works to get hands free for a close shot, defense works to deny clean looks. Two lines (offense and defense) off to the side. Coach at the top of the box with balls. One pair enters the island (5-10 yards in front of the crease). Coach places the ball at the offensive player's feet with the defender behind. On the whistle, offense scoops and tries to score. Defense works for the takeaway or forces a bad shot. Goalie clears every save. Variation: Change 1v1 starting positions.
1v1 with a Center Slide
Teach dodging players to read slides and find the open man, while practicing inside slides. Offensive and defensive lines at the top and at X, plus a line of long poles off to the side. Top pair goes 1v1. A long pole sets up in the middle of the box. If the coach yells "slide," the middle defender slides on the 1v1. If no call, he stays home. After the top pair finishes, rotate the middle defender and run from X. Variation: Add an offensive player in the middle so the slider must leave a man, creating a dump-off opportunity.
Defensive Transition Retreat
Teach defensive players to retreat into the zone ahead of the ball and prevent fast breaks. Set up 4 cones above the attack zone (2 offense, 2 defense) and 2 cones off to the side (1 each). X1 and X2 attack from the top with the ball. D1 and D4 rush to slow the ball. D2 and D3 protect the middle, sliding to the ball or pass as needed. Defense focuses on retreating, slowing the break, and forcing an even-numbers situation. Play it out to a shot, goal, or clear. Variation: Change where the ball enters from — point or sides.
Fast Break Drill from Face-Off
Combine faceoff work with fast-break offense. Two middies come to the faceoff X, each with a ball. One ball is used for the faceoff, the other placed to the side. Winner attacks with the first ball; loser grabs the second and attacks the opposite end. Both push 4v3 fast breaks. Next pair steps in and repeats. Variation: Add a defender at the box area who runs in after the faceoff to create a 4v4 if the break doesn't convert. Add wing players for full faceoff reps.
Slow Break Trailer Shooting
Develop slow-break offense with an emphasis on finding trailing players cutting to the point for open shots. Balls start at 2 low cones. Those players dodge at GLE, looking to throw back or roll back. Two lines up top drift into the box, cut down on the slow break, catch the feed, and finish. Rotate to a different line each rep. Variation: Change dodge and slow-break locations. Add defenders to work on cutting and getting free.
Form Shooting
Force players to shoot on the run with proper hip rotation and balance. Players line up and take shots on the run, focusing on driving through with their hips and maintaining balance through the release. Variation: Add a defender or a second goal in the middle of the field to ensure shooters are going overhand rather than sidearm.
Feed the Crease
Practice defending crease players against picks, cuts, and feeds. 2 offensive players on the crease vs 2 defenders. Perimeter players move the ball around looking to feed the crease. Defenders constantly adjust, staying between their man and the ball to deny feeds. Communication is key to covering picks and rolls. Variation: Have offense work pick/re-pick, high-low cuts, and pick-and-roll on the crease.
Break Out to Fast Break
Develop ball movement, positioning, and hustle through a clearing-to-fast-break sequence where every player touches the ball. 4 lines behind the cage (3 attack, 1 midfield). On the whistle, attack moves the ball on a clear, getting all 3 a touch before feeding the midfielder breaking downfield. Keep clearing passes away from the middle. Once the midfielder has the ball outside the box, he turns and drives back in on a fast break — pass to the closest attackman, skip pass across, "one more" to the final attackman for the finish. Variation: Add defenders to increase difficulty.
Pick and Roll
Teach pick-and-roll mechanics in the offensive zone. Set up 4 cones — two up top, two on GLE about 10 yards out. Balls start low with X1, who drives up the lane toward a pick from X2. X2 stays still until X1 passes, then rolls to the goal looking for the feed. X1 keeps moving to create space for the pass. Both sides run simultaneously. Rotate players through each side. Variation: Change pick locations. Add limited defense to work on timing without disrupting flow.
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.