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.

Add "Youth Defensive Shuffle Drill" 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 — Free

Join 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.

1

Add to Practice

Tap the button on any drill and it lands in your plan.

2

Arrange & time it

Drag to reorder and set how long each drill runs.

3

Export & run it

Download a clean PDF and take it to the field — free.

Related Drills

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.

Defense (Individual)

Foot Work (Ladder)

2 in 2 out 1 in 1 out Icky shuffle Hop scotch One foot jumps

Defense (Individual)Offense (Individual)

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.

TransitionDefense (Individual)

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.

Defense (Individual)

Back to Back Goals

Description This is a high-tempo 3v3 live play drill focused on communication, conditioning, and game-like decision-making. Teams must clear to the opposite restraining before attacking the cage Setup -3 field players per team -Two goals set up back to back between restraining lines -Drill starts with a ground ball in the middle. -The team that gains possession chooses their scoring goal by clearing toward a restraining line. -Every offensive player must touch the restraining line with a foot before becoming involved in forward play -The ball does not need to touch the sideline and may move freely -Play live with substitutions on the fly

ConditioningTeam DefenseClearing

Pinch and Pop to a Fast Break

Practice the pinch-and-pop faceoff move transitioning into a fast break. Set up at the midfield X. Faceoff player goes against a coach or soft defender who will lose the draw. 3 attack players set up in the zone for a fast break. On the whistle, win the pinch-and-pop, gain the ground ball, and push the fast break. Variation: Use different faceoff moves. Add trailing players to develop into a slow break or 6v6.

TransitionFaceoff/Draw

Open

Two offensive players are stationed up top and move the ball back and forth to start the rep. As the ball is moved, defenders below the play shift, communicate, and adjust their positioning around the crease with light pressure, focusing on sticks in lanes and maintaining shape. The drill emphasizes off-ball awareness, defensive communication, and reacting to ball movement without live contact.

Team Defense

Medley Shooting Drill

Set up a shooter with a coach feeding from multiple angles. Start with a time-and-room shot, then drive down the alley for a run shot. Next, perform a split dodge across the middle and shoot to your strong side. Finish with a cut, receiving a feed from the coach. Emphasize catching with soft hands, keeping your base set, minimal cradle, proper follow-through, and using both hands. Repeat to build consistent shooting under game-like conditions.

ShootingStickwork