9-12 Lacrosse Drills
197 drills for 9-12 lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
4v4 GB to a 5v4 or 5v5
- A line of attack/defense at the 30 - Start with a 4v4 ground ball from the GLE - If attack gets it, they clear to the 30 and one attacker adds to the drill from the attacking line creating at 5v4. - If defense gets it, they clear to the 30 and drop the ball, then one attack and one defense adds to drill creating a 5v5
4v4 Split Drill
- Divide the field in half so there are two separate playing areas on one half of the field. Place a goal at each half field so each side has its own goal. - Create two teams, for example white and dark. On one side of the field place: - 4 white attackers - 4 dark defenders On the other side place: - 4 dark attackers - 4 white defenders - Players must remain on their assigned side for the entire drill. - Start the ball with the white attacking group. They play live 4v4 against the dark defenders and try to score. - If the offense scores or the defense creates a turnover, the defending team immediately works to clear the ball to their attacking teammates on the opposite side of the field. Once the clear reaches the opposite side, that group begins their own 4v4 possession. - Play continues back and forth between the two sides each time a goal is scored or a turnover occurs. Focus Points - Clearing and switching fields if you get stopped - Quick ball movement
Shuffle Partner Passing
Players line up 10 yards apart in the alleys and work with a partner, shuffling down the sideline to develop stick skills on the run. If age and skill allow for it, players should keep their stick up field, one line right hand, one line left hand.
3v2
2 defenders run from boards, round cone in center and touch rag line. Coach throws ball into one of 3 offence lines for 3v2. Offence should work on drawing defenders and setting picks from behind to allow ball carrier to run past and shoot.
4 line shooting
Line 1 runs to top of crease, shooting on the run Line 2 face dodges their line and shoots from top of house Line 3 face dodges their line and shoots from top of house Line 4 C-cuts for a shot inside house After shot, player goes to next line. Lines 2 and 3 player lines up closest to the house. righties in line 1 encouraged to cross hands over and fake short and reach for far side.
4 line pass and shoot
Give and go R2 R1, R2 goes in for shot and lines up behind L1. R1 lines up behind L2. Have R1 and L2 start lower down so skip pass is longer If 2 goalies then R1 goes into R2 line and R2 finishes shot and goes into R1 line. Same for L1 and L2. shooter becomes dummy defender and shooter has to face dodge or fake and step past defender before shooting. Defender then returns to back of line
2v2 Circle Ground Ball to Outlet
Setup: -Split players into two teams -Each team forms 2 lines (alternating) outside the center circle -One coach stands outside the circle The coach rolls a ground ball into the center circle Two players from each team (one from each line) are released and enter the circle to play a 2v2. The team that picks up the gb is offense; the other team is defense. Offense must: Complete one pass to their teammate, then complete a pass to the coach to score a point. The ball becomes dead if it goes out of bounds. Rotate new players in after each rep Play to a set number of points or for a set time
3 By
Set up a mini hockey-style 3x3 net and play live with a tennis ball, 3v3 in a tight space. Offense focuses on quick ball movement, spacing, and finishing through traffic, while defenders emphasize communication, sticks in lanes, and protecting the middle. The small net and condensed area force fast decisions, creativity, and constant engagement from all players.
Ladders
Set up a speed ladder or use tape on the ground with 8–10 boxes, leaving enough space at the end to accelerate out. Run athletes through simple patterns at first (one foot in each box, in-in-out-out), emphasizing low hips, quick feet, and balance, then have them open their hips and sprint out at the end to reinforce transition from footwork to game movement.
Mirror footwork
Set up 2 lanes. Players look directly at each other. One player shuffles laterally, other player mirrors and stays square. Can also be done forward/backward.
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.
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