15+ Lacrosse Drills
239 drills for 15+ lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
Riding Drill 2-1-3 V with Dead ball off Sideline
Improve riding after a dead ball on the sideline. Lock your players onto the clearing team's attack and midfield. Play a 3-man zone with your attack, splitting the goalie and defensemen. Overload the ball side and force long passes or throws into traffic. Variation: Strengthen the clear to practice forcing turnovers in live situations.
Riding 2-1-3 V Ride with Dead Ball off Shot
Improve riding after a dead ball on the end line following a shot. Lock your attack and midfield onto the clearing team's players. Drop 3 attack players into a zone splitting the goalie and 3 defensemen. The attack zone up and attack the first clearing pass, forcing long or contested throws. Variation: Strengthen the clear to practice forcing turnovers in live situations.
Pitch and Pursuit
Practice riding long poles to the alley and forcing turnovers or long passes in transition. Defenders ride to the alley, forcing ball carriers into difficult long passes or turnovers. Variation: Send both defenders at once and allow long passes over the attack players. Great for teaching trap or adjusting rides.
Transition Drill 3v2 initiate from Behind after 2 Passes
Reinforce the X man's role in initiating offense from behind and forcing defensive slides. Coach rolls the ball above the box. Two offensive players stay above GLE, one goes to X. Players get the ball to X. The X man initiates, looking to draw a slide and create a 2v1 — either dodging to shoot or feeding the open crease player. Variation: Build up in stages — 1v1 behind, then 2v2, 3v3, up to 6v6 starting from behind.
Hogan Lacrosse Butt to Butt
Develop body awareness, low leverage, and the ability to scoop a ground ball and escape pressure. Two players stand back to back with a ball on the ground between them. First whistle: players back up and jockey for position over the ball. Second whistle: players can kick the ball out and pick it up, then get away from pressure. Focus on using feet and creativity to get the ball into a position for a clean pickup.
Handling Defensive Pressure
Teach players to handle defensive pressure, work for the ball, and create turnovers under time constraints. 6v6 in the attack zone. Offense holds possession for 6 minutes without leaving the box. After 45 seconds, add a 7th defender and work to double-team the ball. Variation: Shrink the zone with cones, remove offensive players, or use the goalie to double behind the cage.
4 on 4 Pressure
Force pressure as passes are made, then transition to a clear after every shot, goal, or save. 4v4 in the attack zone. Offense works the ball while defense pressures passes. After a shot, goal, or save, the goalie clears out and players break into transition. Variation: Go 4v3 or 3v4 to add or reduce pressure.
Run the Arc
Practice defensive positioning and holds at GLE when playing a ball carrier from behind. Defenders and dummy attackmen line up on the end line behind the goal. On the whistle, the attacker drives right. The defender beats him to GLE, wheels his hips, and turns him back using a cross forearm or top-hand hold. The attacker rolls through X and drives left — defender repeats. Continue until the defender has turned his man back twice on each side, then rotate. Variation: Challenge defenders to do it without sticks or with short sticks.
Extend and Recover
Improve on-ball and off-ball defensive positioning, including extending to the ball carrier and recovering to the hole. Start as a modified 2v2. Two offensive players pass back and forth, forcing defenders to adjust. When your man has the ball, extend and break down with a bottom-hand check. When your man passes, drop step toward the ball, stick up in the passing lane, and recover to help position in the hole. Maintain the man-you-ball triangle when off-ball. Variation: Progress to 3v3 or 4v4 as technique improves.
Out of Dodge
Improve defensive communication and sliding in a live 6v6 setting. 6 offensive players in a 1-4-1, 6 defenders plus a goalie. Offense passes the ball around. Coach calls out a defender's jersey number — that player sprints to the sideline and back. While he's gone, the ball carrier attacks the goal, forcing the remaining defense to slide and rotate. After a goal or turnover, repeat with a different player called out. Variation: Use different slide packages (crease, adjacent) against different sets (1-4-1, 1-3-2, 2-2-2).
Funnel
Practice defensive positioning and holds when playing a ball carrier from up top, directing them down the alley. Defensive middies and dummy offensive middies line up outside the restraining line. On the whistle, the ball carrier drives toward the goal. The defender turns his hips, points feet to the sideline, and takes away the middle. Establish contact with a top-hand hold — top hand on the ball carrier's lead shoulder, bottom hand on lead hip, gloves only (no stick contact). If the dodger rolls back, maintain contact and stay topside, driving them down the alley into the slide.
50 Yard Fight
Build 1v1 skills in a confined space with continuous reps. Two lines of players on each side of the crease extending to midfield — one offense, one defense. The lines restrict the dodging area. Top offensive player steps out and goes 1v1. The defender works on turning and forcing side to side until the attack zone, then plays it out to a shot or turnover. Drill is rapid fire — next pair goes as soon as the previous pair reaches the box. Variation: Change starting locations.