All Lacrosse Drills
259 community-contributed drills sorted by popularity. Browse by skill or age level to narrow your search.
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.
Change of Direction
Develop dodging, footwork, and transitional movement into a shot. Focus on creating time and space. Set up 4 cones in sequence. At each cone, players perform a dodge, switch, or change of direction, then finish with a shot on goal. Emphasize powering off each move and finishing with a shot on the run. Variation: Move cone locations. Add a defender at the last cone. Put targets on the goal or add a goalie.
Crazy 8's
Build sport-specific cardiovascular fitness through pyramid sprints with built-in recovery. Sprint 10 yds (midfield to wing line) / Rest 10 sec Sprint 20 yds (wing to wing) / Rest 20 sec Sprint 30 yds (wing to restraining box) / Rest 30 sec Sprint 40 yds (box to box) / Rest 40 sec Sprint 60 yds (box to goal line) / Rest 60 sec Sprint 80 yds (goal line to goal line) / Rest 80 sec Sprint 95 yds (goal line to end line) / Rest 95 sec Sprint 110 yds (end line to end line) / Done Variation: Add a ground ball to each sprint or start from a push-up position.
Clears after the Shot
Work on clearing breakouts after a shot. Players set up in clearing positions. After a shot, players break to their clear spots and move the ball up the field. Variation: Add a ride with players in different colored pinnies to disrupt clears.
Circle Feeds GB's or passes
Improve stick skills through passing and catching on the move, plus ground ball work and conditioning. Arrange 8 players — 4 inside (back to back, stationary) and 4 outside rotating around them. Each outside player has a ball. Outside players rotate, passing and catching with the inside players. Focus on throwing to the box area and switching hands as fast as possible. Variation: Mix in ground ball pickups. Increase jogging speed and drill duration for conditioning. Advanced players can add behind-the-back passes.
X Dodge and Crease Picking
Practice dodges from X and crease player movement based on which side the ball comes from behind the goal. Ball starts with a player at X. The hand the ball carrier begins with tells the crease players he'll be dodging to the opposite hand and coming around the goal. Crease players position opposite and away from where the ball will be coming. Variation: Add pick and re-pick, or pick and roll for the crease. Can also run from the top of the diamond with crease players going low.
Wing Dodge and Crease Picking
Practice dodges from the wing and crease player movement in relation to ball position. Ball starts at the wing. Crease players position opposite and away from where the ball is coming. Variation: As players get comfortable, have crease pick and re-pick, or pick and roll to increase difficulty.