9-12 Lacrosse Drills
199 drills for 9-12 lacrosse players. Browse by skill focus and add them directly to your practice plan.
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.
2v1 Corner GBs
Set up two offensive players and one defender in the corner, then roll a ground ball out to start the rep. The two offensive players work together to scoop cleanly and move the ball with light pressure, focusing on communication and off ball player moving to space (not in line with defender). Emphasize effort and quick ball movement rather than physical contact & competition.
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.
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
Split field 2 v 2
Work together in a pair mirroring each other. Field is cut in half down the middle. 2v2 until someone scores. Mirror ball carrier. Set picks and roll. Play together.
Hockey GBs
Each player has a ball on the ground and works to keep it moving within a small space, roughly two feet, while keeping their head up, maintaining control, and avoiding collisions with other players. The focus is on tight stick skills, spatial awareness, and ball protection under pressure. When the coach blows the whistle, all players explode out of the box, transitioning into a sprint.
King of the Hill
Two players start butt-to-butt with a ball placed between them. On the whistle, both players compete to gain possession of the ball. The player who secures it can either maintain possession or try to exit a marked area, while the other resets for the next round. Variations include setting a time limit to secure the ball and making it a tournament competition.
Numbers
Players line up with the offense at the top of the field and the defense on the sides. The coach calls out a set of numbers, such as “43,” where the first number is offensive players and the second number is defensive players. That many players sprint in to compete for the ball and play a live possession, e.g., 43 - 4v3, 55 - 5v5, 32 - 3v2. Variations can adjust the number combinations to create even or uneven matchups.
Weave
There are three lines of players (A, B and C) at the fifty yard-line facing the goal. The middle line (line B) is supplied with all of the balls. The first players in each line start down the field, the middle line cradling the ball. Player B passes the ball to his left to player C, and runs behind him to take his place at the left wing position. When player C receives the ball, he crosses the field to pass to player A, then runs behind him to take the right wing position. When player A receives the ball, he crosses the field and passes to player B, then runs behind him to take his position, and player B crosses again to pass to player C.
Clearing Relay
Players line up in all four corners of the box with goalies at both sides in between the lines . At the same time, players to the left of each goalie sprint upfield and receive an outlet pass from the goalie over the shoulder and sprint through the other side and get in line. Drill moves continuously with goalies throwing back and forth. Emphasize catching on the run, crisp outlet passes, quick ball movement, and catching over the shoulder..
One-Handed Shooting
Set players in a line with a feeder near the goal. Player A cuts along a designated lane, receiving a timed pass from the feeder while practicing quick footwork and cradle. They catch, absorb momentum, and execute a one-handed shot with proper rotation. After shooting, they rotate to the end or a recovery spot. Player B begins their cut as Player A finishes, creating continuous flow.
Zig Zag Approach Drill
Set up three large triangles and two small triangles with cones on the field. Players line up at the start of each triangle. Drill moves in a zigzag pattern: approach an offensive player in athletic stance with stick extended, take away one side, then backpedal short as if the attacker dodges, and break to the next cone at full speed. Long approaches use extended steps, short approaches use quick, choppy steps. Focus on balance, positioning, and reacting to the offensive player.