Defensive Transition Retreat
Teach defensive players to retreat into the zone ahead of the ball and prevent fast breaks. Set up 4 cones above the attack zone (2 offense, 2 defense) and 2 cones off to the side (1 each). X1 and X2 attack from the top with the ball. D1 and D4 rush to slow the ball. D2 and D3 protect the middle, sliding to the ball or pass as needed. Defense focuses on retreating, slowing the break, and forcing an even-numbers situation. Play it out to a shot, goal, or clear. Variation: Change where the ball enters from — point or sides.
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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.
5v4 Fast Break with Trailing Middie
- Can have 7v6 as well with trail. - Setup with 3 middies on attack and 2 middies on defense coming in from the 50 with 2 attack and 2 defenders low (or 4 attack and 4 defenders low) - Add the 3rd defensive middie once the ball passes the 30. - Defense needs to slow down the ball and then get organized until they can get into a settled offense. - Offense needs to push the fast break before defense can get settled. - Switch out the low girls every 3-4 reps.
Half field 3v3 continuous
- break into 2 teams - there will be 3 lines of each team lined up at the 30 - the light team starts on attack and the dark team starts on defense in a 3v3 - if the light team scores or turns the ball over, the dark team clears to the 3 lines of dark on the 30, 3 light players re-defend. - Once cleared, the 3 dark defense goes out, the 3 new dark players are on offense and the light players that were just on offense are now on defense.
3v2 Drill
Set three offensive players (Player 1–3) against two defenders (Player 4–5) in the attack zone. Coach starts with a ground ball or pass to offense. Offense works quick passes, sharp cuts, and stick skills to create high-percentage shots. Defenders communicate, slide, and maintain positioning. Play continues until a goal, save, clear, or whistle. Rotate roles to keep all players active.
Rock and Roll from X Dodge
Practice dodging around X and transitioning from one side of the crease to the other. Players line up at X with balls. Set a cone on GLE (left side, 3 yards off crease) and another on the opposite side (5 yards above GLE, 3 yards off crease). Attack the first cone, touch it, drive back behind the crease, sprint to the second cone, inside roll, and finish. Go rapid fire. Switch sides halfway through. Variation: Move cone locations. Add defenders at the cones.
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.
Roast the Approach
Set two lines of offensive players: righties on one side, lefties on the other. First player starts with the ball on the inside facing an approaching defender. Pass out, read the defender’s angle, then attack down the alley or toward the middle for a quick, controlled shot. Next player rotates to become the defender. Drill flows continuously, emphasizing strong body positioning, stick protection, quick decision-making, and fast shot release under pressure.
Dodging Shuttle
Can be done anywhere or to goal