Cool Stick Tricks & Drills

When running a lacrosse practice, it is important to enhance a team's strength through the use of drills. Running stick drills that target each position allow players to develop important game skills and learn stick tricks that will help them excel as an attacker, defenseman or middie.

  1. The Pick and Roll

    • The pick and roll simulates a real game attack versus defense scenario.

      Set up four players at the 8 meter mark, the 12 meter mark, and adjacent to the goal line. Player 1 begins with the ball near the goal. As player 1 attempts to drive up the lane, player 2 will set a pick. As player 1 passes, the ball player 2 should roll off the pick toward the center and look for a ball feed. This drill focuses on picking, dodging and of- ball offense, which are important skills for all positions. This goal of this drill is to set a pick at the goal and then roll off into an offensive formation.

    Five on Five Passing

    • Five attackers start with the ball and are positioned around the goal in a passing pattern. Five stationary defensemen are in a stationary formation in their interior. The ball becomes live as the last attacker catches the ball and drives behind the net. The defense should not know which passing pattern is in play and will react to the play as it unfolds. This drill focuses on defense reaction time and attack stick work. It teaches players to anticipate their opponent's next move.

    Center Circle Stick Work

    • Gather 14-18 players within the center circle. Players should begin to run within the circle as if they were in a game. One player starts with the ball. Upon the coach's whistle, the player with the ball must pass the ball a teammate. The player with the ball cannot return the ball to the person who passed it to them. This drill simulates game-time passing and teaches players to look for open teammates. This is also a good opportunity for players to work on their stick-handling tricks and agility.

    Pick and Peel Ground Balls

    • Ground ball turnovers often win or lose a lacrosse game.

      Three players should stand at the line. Player 1 rolls the ball on the ground 7-10 yards ahead. Player 2 and player 3 race to pick up the ground ball. Whoever successfully retrieves the ball immediately assumes the role of attacker, while the player who failed to retrieve the ball plays the role of the defenseman. The drill is complete when the attacker passes the ball back to player 1 or the defenseman successfully steals the ball from the attacker. This drill focuses on speed work and agility when pursuing ground balls.