7-10 Lacrosse Drills
142 drills for 7-10 lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
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.
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.
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.
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.