Youth Defensive Shuffle Drill
Set up a 5-yard side-to-side area using cones. Players start in a low defensive stance, feet shoulder-width, knees bent, hands/stick in front. Shuffle laterally across the zone, keeping stick up when changing direction. Focus on quick, controlled footwork and proper stick positioning. Progress by adding a ball carrier to reinforce stick placement and reaction while maintaining defensive stance.
Use this drill in your practice plan
Add "Youth Defensive Shuffle Drill" to a drag-and-drop practice plan, customize timing, and export as PDF — free.
Start Planning — It's FreeRelated Drills
Foot Work (Ladder)
2 in 2 out 1 in 1 out Icky shuffle Hop scotch One foot jumps
Def footwork to GB
four cones set up about 5 yards apart in a square, and GB set a little ahead of the box. Sprint forward, side shuffle, back pedal until where you started, then sprint up to pick up GB. Can implement a dodge or dodge then pass coming out of the GB.
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.
Alley Footwork Drills
Develop defensive footwork fundamentals. Players sprint cone to cone using proper technique, planting and exploding toward each cone. Variation: Carry a stick and throw checks at each cone. Play shadow defense on a ball carrier running the same pattern.
4-Point Shooting
Setup: Line at low corner. Player 1 cuts diagonal to top corner, catches pass. Player 2 cuts underneath (left-handed), receives feed from P1. Player 3 cuts around crease arc (right-handed), catches from P2 and shoots. Shooter returns to start line. All other players follow their pass to next station. Continuous flow drill. Switch directions halfway through to finally finish lefty.
4v3
Work 4v3 situations in the half field. 4 offensive players vs 3 defenders. Coach starts play with a ground ball or pass. Play to a goal, save, clear, or whistle. Variation: Flip it — 3 offensive players vs 4 defenders. Defense clears all saves or takeaways. Add passing requirements.
Three Wide Offensive Drill
3-line setup along restraining line. Player 1 throws ball toward endline, sprints to scoop ground ball, makes big turn. Player 2 vacates crease as outlet, receives pass. Player 3 makes jab step then jump cut to vacated crease space. Player 2 feeds cutting player for shot. Sequence: ground ball → outlet pass → jump cut → feed → finish. Emphasizes ball movement, spacing, anticipation, finishing without goalie.
Over and Down Shooting
Develop ball movement and positioning — move the ball from the top, across and down for a crease finish. 3 lines with cones: one at the top of the box, one at the opposite top, one 3 yards behind GLE. Balls start at the top corner. That player dodges inside, bounces back, and feeds across to the other top line. That player catches and moves it down to the GLE line, who finishes across the crease. Rotate counter-clockwise. Variation: Switch sides. Designate the shooter. Add defense.