SYL - WEEK 1
PRACTICE FRAMEWORK
This weeks practice is designed to help lay a foundation and give players principles to think about regarding skill work and development. Being able to get comfortable cradling, catching, and throwing is paramount for any young player. Even athletes at the professional level continue to practice their skill development on these core principles
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1. Dynamic Stretch - 5 Minutes
2. Core Stick Skills - Handling the Stick - 5 Minutes
3. Core Stick Skills - Eyes of the Stick - 15 Minutes
4. 4 Player Line Drills - Ground Ball with Bridge - 15 Minutes
5. 2 v 2 Ground Balls - 10 Minutes
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Dynamic Stretch 5 Minutes
2. Core Stick Skills - Handling the Stick - 5 Minutes
3. Core Stick Skills - Partner Passing - 15 Minutes
4. 4 Player Line Drills - Ground Ball with Bridge & Escapes - 15 Minutes
5. Agility Cradle w/ Shot - 15 Minutes
6. 3 Player Box Passing - 10 Minutes
7. Tight 1 V 1 - 10 Minutes
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1. Dynamic Stretch - 5 Minutes
2. Core Stick Skills - Handling the Stick - 5 Minutes
3. Core Stick Skills - Partner Passing - 15 Minutes
4. 4 Player Line Drills - Ground Ball with Bridge & Escapes - 15 Minutes
5. Agility Cradle w/ Shot - 15 Minutes
6. 3 Player Box Passing - 10 Minutes
7. Tight 1 V 1 - 10 Minutes
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1. Dynamic Stretch - 5 Minutes
2. Core Stick Skills - Handling the Stick - 5 Minutes
3. Core Stick Skills - Partner Passing - 15 Minutes
4. 4 Player Line Drills - Ground Ball with check & Escapes - 15 Minutes
5. Agility Cradle w/ Shot - 15 Minutes
6. 3v2 Player Box Passing - 10 Minutes
7. Tight 1 V 1 - 10 Minutes
DRILLS & HELPFUL VIDEOS
STICK HANDLING
PASSING PASSING
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We want players, especially new to the game, to hold and carry the stick the right now. Often, players who have been playing for a few years, don’t always always the right way for success.
SET UP
Kids set up in a big circle with coaches inside. Every player should have a ball. Kids will start this drilll stationary
- Top Hand is control hand (Stick in fingers, not palm) bottom hand is anchor hand
- Keep the stick vertical so stick remains around ears or chin
- Use Control Hand wrists to cradle stick back and forth while the anchor hands holds steady
PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS
PROGRESSIONS
- Have players run in a circle around coachscription text goes here
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PASSING THE BALL PRINCIPLES
ANCHOR HAND AT BOTTOM OF SHAFT, CONTROL HAND ABOUT 10-12” UP (HALFWAY UP SHAFT)
CONTROL HAND GRIP - SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR STICK
POINT HIPS AND SHOULDERS TO TARGET
HANDS UP IN COMFORTABLE POSITION
TRANSFER WEIGHT BACK TO FRONT
RELEASE CONTROL HAND - SNAP MORION, DRIVE KNUCKLES INTO GROUND
4 PLAYER LINE DRILLS
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This is a great drill to focus on Ground Balls and Stick Control. We do this drill so players focus on the Principles of Ground Balls and Stick Protection after gaining possession.
SET UP
Put players in groups of 4 or 5 on the sidelines facing the middle of the field. Groups should be at minimum 15-20 yards apart from each.
In front one each line is a cone 10 Yards Away. A coach or player holds a stick about waist high, over the ball. Player (a) must scoop the ball, going under the stick. After possession, the player with ball carries and curls around the cone 10 yds
- Get Low to Scoop the Ball
- Scoop and bring the stick close to body “Kiss the Stick”
- Carry the Ball around the cone, making sure stick stays to the outside (Imagine a defender on us)
PROGRESSIONS
- Have Player hold stick over the ball directly to start to scoop through with a little pressure. - Have player make a light check on stick head
1 V 1 GROUND BALLS
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Moving into a 2 v 2 situation, not players must win contested ground balls. Using 4 players, we can build on this drill
SET UP
Get 2 Lines of each color, alternating on the field. Coach will roll the ball out to the group, and the winning team must get the ball, and bring it back to the lines.
PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS
PRINCIPLES AND COACHING POINTS
- Using a good ground ball technique, that we practiced in block 1. - Calling out “BALL” If you are the player that’s going to scoop it.
PROGRESSIONS
- START 1 V 1 AND BUILD INTO 2V2
SPACE GAME U8
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For young players, we want to create an environment where they are learning about space as a core principal. This game has many add-ons we can use to progress to different challenges, If you want to set up 2 games on different areas of the field, it will progress quicker.
SET UP
Give every player a ball and set up as many cones scattered on the field, as they are players. Players start on a cone, and then on coaches whistle, they must find and run to a different open cone as quick as possible. After the 1st time, make a rule that if a player drops their ball, or goes to a cone with another player there, they are now defender. Coaches take 1 cone away for every player that becomes a defender. On the next whistle, the defenders can try to disrupt the offensive players by taking away space to open cones and/or check ball out of stick.. coaches determine level of defense. Play until there is 1-4 players left.
ZIG ZAG STICKWORK
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This drill is designed to enhance the players overall stick and ball control with some agility work built in so they can start learning how to change direction while protecting the ball.
SET UP
Put 6 Cones in a Zig Zag pattern on each side of the cage, about 5 yards apart from one another. Players run through the cones cradling the ball in a secure position. Add a guided defender to show stick protection
Once they have completed all the cones, player makes a pass to coach for a give and go, and then follow with shot on cage. The person who played defense, scoops a ball and shoos.
- When cradling through cones, keep stick vertical and close to body
- Change Hands so stick is always the player behind / Intro to shooting, over hand shots - Add a guided defender
PROGRESSIONS
- Add in roll away dodges through cones / 2 Players go at a time and give each other GB
TIGHT 1 V 1
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Playing with some contact, allows the offensive player to “feel” the defender on them, and naturally try and move in the other direction, which is why Tight 1 V 1 is a great introduction to dodging.
SET UP
2 Players Start Engaged with each other. On the coaches whistle, Player with ball must get to the goal while the defender tries to keep them away.
- Start engaged so the player defending the ball is in between the player and goal
- Offensive player should feel defender to make the right move
- Defense is learning how to take away space, but then try to recover and turn opponent back
PROGRESSIONS
- Have players use opposite hands / Introduce Bounce dodging and creating space
3 V 1 KEEP AWAY
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We want players to understand that if we want to be able make good passes, off ball players have to cut to open space and passing lanes
SET UP
Set up a box using cones, about 10 yards apart. 5 Players will participate at a time. 3 Players outside on cones, 2 inside playing defense
The players must pass the ball around in a circle. Players must cut to open cones to make an easy pass
- Cut to the open cones with stick up in a target area for teammate
- Keep Passes around players head, give them a chance to catch clean PRINCIPLES AND COACHING POINTS
PROGRESSIONS
- Play 3 v 2