Develop dodging skills, footwork, and ball protection through a gauntlet of moves. Players line up with balls. 5 cones in a straight line, 5 yards apart. At each cone, execute a dodge (coach-assigned or player's choice). After 2-3 reps, add a soft defender at each cone. Progress to allowing defenders to check. Variation: Move cone positions. Add a shot on goal after the final cone.
Add "Gauntlet" to your practice plan
Sign up free and this drill is waiting for you in the builder — drag to arrange, set the timing, and export a printable PDF.
Add to Practice — FreeJoin coaches building plans from 250+ lacrosse drills — no credit card required.
How “Add to Practice” works
No spreadsheets, no setup. From this drill to a printable plan in under a minute.
Add to Practice
Tap the button on any drill and it lands in your plan.
Arrange & time it
Drag to reorder and set how long each drill runs.
Export & run it
Download a clean PDF and take it to the field — free.
Related Drills
Split and Roll Dodge
Teach players to chain dodges together — split dodge into a roll dodge, finishing with a shot. Players line up at the top of the box with balls. Set up 3 cones: one in the middle of the box (5 yards in), and one to each side (5 yards down and over). Players drive in, split dodge at the first cone, go right or left, roll inside at the second cone, and drive for a shot. Variation: Move cone locations. Add defenders at the cones for pressure.
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.
Give and Go Drill
- The ball starts at the top near the 15 (higher than the 12m) - Start in your right hand and dodge to your left hand - Once you get to the left elbow, pass down to a coach that in next to the goal - Once you pass, cut backdoor on your defender
Diamond 1v1s
Set up cones in a diamond around half the field. Set up 1 cone and another cone 5-7 yards inside. Offensive and defensive players line up at each cone with balls. The defensive player starts on the outside, offensive player on the outside. On the whistle, players exchange, coach throws a ball to offensive player and offensive player dodges to the goal against defensive player. Focus on good approaches for defense and hard dodges & separation for offense.
Lob and Dodge
Develop defensive footwork and approach on a live dodger. Coach throws a lob pass to one of 4 offensive players. As the catch is made, the defender comes out to address the ball and works to prevent the dodge and shot. Variation: Add an outlet pass option for the dodger. Attack from multiple locations.
Zig Zag to live play
Begin up towards the restraining line, set cones up in a zig zag (9-16), each player has to pass before they can drop and get set up. Once the last player receives the pass, they begin a "slow break" to live play. Good for Man up/down situations.
5v5 off a draw half field
1 draw taker each team, 4 lined up on half circle and 4 down low for attack/defense
3v2 to 2v1
Goalie starts with a ball in the crease and passes to three offensive players (Player 1–3) at half field. Offense attacks a 3v2 against two defenders (Player 4–5). The last offensive player to touch the ball rotates back to defend in a 2v1 vs. the defenders, while the other two rotate out to the D line. Goalie or recovered ground balls start the 2v1. After the 2v1, release three new offensive players to repeat.