WEEK 1 - U8
PRACTICE FRAMEWORK
DRILLS
Stick Grip - Coaches Demo - 5 Minutes
Partner Passing - Knee - 15 Minutes
4 Player Line Drills w/ Ground Ball and Escapes - 10 Minutes
1 v 1 Ground Balls - 10 Minutes
Space Game- 10 Minutes
This 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
DRILLS & HELPFUL VIDEOS
STICK HANDLING
PARTNER 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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To lay a foundation for stick work and passing, we want to set up a drill that makes it simple for kids to understand the principles behind passing and catching.
SET UP
Put players in group of 2, about 5 yards apart. Have kids start on one knee. If player is right handed, right knee would be down.. Left handed, left knee down.
We want to emphasis on our hand positioning on stick here. The anchor hand stays is position, but the control hand should be about half way up the lacrosse stick. Players will make passes back and forth
- When passing, make sure the hands/elbows are up, as we are trying to teach how to isolate the - upper body making a pass, by turning our shoulders.
Catching the ball, get the control hand back up to the top of the shaft, as it makes it easier to catch.
PRINCIPLES & COACHING POINTS
PROGRESSIONS
- Right to Left - Right to Right - Left to Left
- Left to Right
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
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.