Develop transition skills in unsettled, man-advantage situations. Defense lines up outside the box at GLE. Offense is diagonal, 15 yards outside the box corner. Coach calls a number (2-6) — offense sends that many players, defense sends one fewer. Roll the ball to the offense to begin. Play to a shot, save, or clear. Variation: Send an extra defender after a set number of passes to transition from unsettled to settled.
Use this drill in your practice plan
Add "Scramble" to a drag-and-drop practice plan, customize timing, and export as PDF — free.
Start Planning — It's FreeRelated Drills
2v1 to the Cage
The drill starts with the coach throwing the ball in to initiate a 2v1 toward the cage. Cut the field in half and attack from a top corner. Keep it in tight. The two offensive players work to move the ball quickly and attack the net, while the defender focuses on playing the middle, having their stick up, communicating, and forcing a low-angle or outside shot.
Fast Break Drill from Face-Off
Combine faceoff work with fast-break offense. Two middies come to the faceoff X, each with a ball. One ball is used for the faceoff, the other placed to the side. Winner attacks with the first ball; loser grabs the second and attacks the opposite end. Both push 4v3 fast breaks. Next pair steps in and repeats. Variation: Add a defender at the box area who runs in after the faceoff to create a 4v4 if the break doesn't convert. Add wing players for full faceoff reps.
Blind Man's Bluff
The coach selects a random mix of offensive and defensive players. Anything from 3v3 to 4v2 or even 3v5 to simulate unsettled play. Players walk around with their eyes closed while the coach moves them, ensuring they’re randomly spread across the field. On the coach’s signal—“STOP!”—players freeze, keeping their eyes closed. The coach rolls out a ball and yells “Ball down!”. Players open their eyes and immediately play out the situation, attacking or defending based on their numbers. The focus is on loud, clear communication, proper spacing, and quick reads. Offense practices moving without the ball and exploiting openings, while defense adjusts formations and anticipates passes on the fly.
Short Field
Move the nets up to create a pretty small, tight field to play up and down. This will be a live 4v4 back and forth. Focus on 2 man games and playing fast and tight. Keep score for a fun competition to boost energy at practice or finish for sprints.
Sqaures
There are 4 lines (A,B,C and D), each at a point on a square. Player A starts with the ball and runs toward player B. Player B runs toward line C (perpendicularly to player A's movement) and receives the ball from player A. Player B continues with the ball as player C moves toward line D. Player B passes to player C, who advances toward line D. The ball continues to be passed around the square. Variations: - Add more than one ball - Change directions - Left-handed
Continuous Crease Roll and Top 8M Defense
Drill Description This is a fast-paced defensive drill that gives defenders repeated reps defending crease rolls and 1v1s from the top of the 8M. Balls are placed behind the GLE and at the top of the 12M, with attacker lines at both locations. One defender lines up on the GLE at the hash next to the crease. The attacker behind the GLE goes first and chooses which side to roll. As soon as a shot is taken or the ball becomes dead, the attacker at the top of the 12M is immediately released. The defender must recover quickly, approach with shooting space awareness, slow the attacker, and force her outside. The drill runs continuously at a high tempo.
Gronk Dodging
Set up 2–3 cones 5–10 yards apart to simulate defenders. Catch the ball, square your shoulders to the defender, and engage them with your body. Use a Gronkowski-style dodge: lean into the defender, step off your drive foot to create space, then shoot on the run. Focus on body positioning, balance, and timing to maintain control and generate an open shot. Progress to multiple “defender” cones for live-action practice.
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.