Defense (Individual) Lacrosse Drills
42 drills tagged with "Defense (Individual)". Use these in your practice plans to build focused, effective sessions.
1v1 Scramble or Recover
Teach decision-making in scramble and recovery situations. Set up 3 groups across the half field, each with an offensive and defensive line. Offense starts with the ball. On the whistle, pairs go 1v1 standing side by side. The offensive player presses to the cage, looking to change direction or accelerate past. The defender works to recover to the hole or get a takeaway. Recovering to the middle is the priority for the defender. Rotate through each group. Variation: Change starting locations for each group.
Bump and Run Coverage
Set up the drill like a football pass play with an offensive player lined up across from a defender who does not have a stick. On the whistle, the offense makes one hard move and goes, while the defender bumps, runs, and stays tight in coverage to prevent the offensive player from catching an outlet pass from the coach.
Umbrella Approaches
5-person drill: 4 offensive players on perimeter (varying distances), 1 off-ball defender in middle. Ball starts with D4, passes randomly to perimeter players. Defender makes approach, opponent executes double move at 75% speed, returns ball to D4. Defender recovers, creates ball-you-man triangle, prepares for next approach. Three different approach angles/distances. Ends with ground ball recovery and clear. Emphasizes off-ball positioning and recovery.
Skip Stopper
3-person drill: two offensive players positioned 10-15 yards apart on perimeter with limited movement space (3-4 yards each). One defender in middle attempts to disrupt skip passes between them. Offensive players can carry, look away, throw across body. Defender must pivot, maintain athletic stance, create ball-you-man triangle, get stick in lane. Continue 6-10 passes or until 3 interceptions/deflections, then rotate positions.
Simon Sez
3-person groups: one slide defender, two off-ball communicators. Slide defender positions relative to imaginary alley/corner dodge. Off-ball defenders call out specific terminology (pop, fill, sneak, crease) based on predetermined situations. Slide defender must react immediately to commands without verbal confirmation - reaction is the only proof he heard. Rotate positions every few reps. Focus: terminology, tone, volume, confidence.
Throw the Survivor
Setup: 8 defenders play offensive roles. Predetermined dodger forces slide. On-ball defender slides to meet dodge at angle. Off-ball defender recovers to crease. First pass (throw) goes to filling midfielder who exchanges with crease player. Second pass (throw) goes backside. Original on-ball defender must recover and make approach to new ball carrier. Focus: efficiency, communication, footwork.