Goal:
* Introduce the sport and its fundamentals: Provide an overview of lacrosse, explaining the objective of the game, key positions (attack, midfield, defense, goalie), and how the game is played.
* Get players familiar with equipment: Show how to properly hold a stick.
* Basic skills development: Begin teaching basic skills such as cradling, throwing, and catching. Start with slow, controlled drills to introduce these skills in a non-competitive environment.
* Introduce safety and rules: Explain key rules (e.g., no body checking, the concept of offside), emphasize safety (e.g., proper use of equipment), and encourage positive sportsmanship.
Goal:
* Refine advanced skills: Focus on improving more complex skills like shooting on the move, passing under pressure, and executing more advanced checks (e.g.,poke checks).
* Introduce full-game concepts: Begin teaching team plays, including set offensive plays (e.g., pick-and-roll, fast breaks) and defensive strategies (e.g., zone defense, rotating defenders). Emphasize the importance of teamwork and communication.
* Scrimmage practice: Incorporate more full-field or half-field scrimmages to simulate real game situations. Focus on implementing learned skills in a fast-paced, game-like environment.
* Teamwork and strategy: Teach players how to read the field during scrimmages, recognize when to attack and when to fall back, and make quick decisions under pressure. Discuss how to work together as a unit, whether on offense or defense.
* Conditioning: Start adding conditioning drills to improve stamina, speed, and agility, helping players stay strong throughout a full game.
Goal:
* Refine and enhance core skills: Continue to improve cradling, passing, catching, and shooting while incorporating them into more dynamic, game-like situations. Focus on refining shooting accuracy (e.g., shooting on the move) and developing passing under pressure to handle real-game challenges.
* Introduce and develop defensive fundamentals: Teach basic defensive positioning, stick checks, and footwork. Emphasize staying low, keeping the stick in front of the attacker, and defending in one-on-one situations. Gradually introduce team defense concepts like sliding and help defense.
* Incorporate offensive and defensive team concepts: Introduce and practice basic offensive movements (give-and-go, cuts, and screens), and defensive strategies (man-to-man, sliding, double-teaming). Focus on building teamwork, communication, and situational awareness.
* Apply skills in small-sided scrimmages: Provide opportunities for players to apply individual skills (passing, shooting, defense) in controlled scrimmages (e.g., 3v3, 4v4). This allows players to begin to understand the flow of the game and improve their decision-making.
* Build game understanding: Help players transition between offense and defense, develop a sense of when to attack, when to retreat, and how to work as a team during game situations. Teach how to execute offensive and defensive strategies in real-time play
Goal:
* Build confidence with basic ball skills: Help players develop consistency with cradling, passing, and catching while moving. Emphasize hand-eye coordination and stick control.
* Introduce movement and basic footwork: Teach lateral movements (side shuffling) and quick direction changes. Incorporate footwork into drills to get players used to changing directions while handling the ball.
* Improve throwing and catching accuracy: Focus on making accurate passes and practicing receiving passes under pressure. Teach the importance of keeping the ball at chest height and using soft hands when catching.
* Encourage fluidity in movement: Develop players' ability to cradling while running and passing on the move, allowing them to handle the ball more naturally.
Goal:
* Assess individual skills (shooting, passing, dodging, defense) to gauge current ability and areas for improvement.
* Introduce advanced individual techniques: Fine-tune dodges (e.g., split, roll, question mark), shooting mechanics (e.g., quick release, shooting on the move), and defensive footwork (e.g., positioning, hand placement, communication).
* Team Concepts: Begin working on offensive and defensive team plays such as off-ball movement, picks, and defensive sliding.
* High-Intensity Drill: Incorporate a scrimmage or mini-game to evaluate game awareness, communication, and speed.
Goal:
* Advanced Team Strategy: Refine offensive plays (e.g., pick-and-roll, fast break execution) and defensive strategies (e.g., zone defense, double-team techniques).
* Scrimmage with Specific Objectives: Conduct full-field scrimmages where players are given specific roles (e.g., focus on winning draw controls, man-up/down situations).
* Mental and Physical Conditioning: Emphasize game endurance, mental toughness, and focus under pressure.
* Game-Like Situations: Simulate high-pressure situations (e.g., last-minute scenarios, man-down situations, fast breaks).
Goal:
* Offensive and Defensive Strategy: Focus on team offensive strategies (e.g., fast breaks, pick-and-roll, spacing) and team defense (e.g., sliding, double-teaming, defensive rotations).
* Game Situations: Improve transition play (from offense to defense and vice versa), communication on the field, and high-pressure decision making.
* Scrimmage Integration: Implement controlled scrimmages (e.g., 7v7 or full-field) focusing on specific team goals (e.g., executing offensive plays, defensive rotations).
Goal:
* Offensive Skills: Perfect dodges (split, roll, face dodge), shooting mechanics (quick release, placement), and off-ball movement (cutting, reading the defense).
* Defensive Skills: Focus on 1v1 defense, stick checks (poke, lift, slap), footwork (pivoting, shuffling), and reading offensive plays.
* Team Play Integration: Focus on offensive spacing, picks and rolls, attacking from behind, and defensive sliding.