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Lacrosse Coach's Corner

Lacrosse Video Tip

Presented by ​​Brittni Hall, Camp Director

Nike Lacrosse Tip: Girls Offensive/Defensive Hammer Drill

Rationale: Attackers/defenders work on tight space man-up/ man-down scenarios.

Set Up: Place two cones, each on opposite sides, out wide by the 15-meter. Coach is positioned at the top with all the balls facing the goal. Defense/midfielders should be on the right side lined up behind the cone.

Attacker/midfielders should be on the left side lined up behind the cone.

Drill: Attack will always start a man-up.

  1. Have one attacker (x) step out in the 8-meter.

  2. The first person on each line is ready to go. How to start:

  3. Coach starts action by blowing the whistle and throws or rolls a ball to the first attacker on the left line. As this happens, the first defender immediately runs out and plays the scenario.

  4. It is a 2 v 1 and the play continues until defense (o) gets the ball out of the 12-meter or attack scores.

  5. As soon as ball is dead, those 3 players remain in; the coach immediately rolls or throws another ball out to the attack line.

  6. It is a 3 v 2.

  7. This continues until a 5 v 4.

  8. After attack is man-up for a certain number of sets, defense will start with a player in the 8-meter to have a man-up for the whole set up to 5 v 4.

Points to Focus Upon:

  • Attack man-up: move the ball quickly; emphasize communication and full attention as the play is unfolding. Work to always be in scoring position; constantly moving feet.

  • Defense man-down: COMMUNICATE, slide quickly, all defenders should be rotating; one person does not constantly have two players to mark.

  • Attack man-down: don’t hold onto the ball for too long, quick movements and stay wide. Take care not to “creep in” and inadvertently reduce offensive operating room.

  • Defense man-up: double team ball with adjacent defenders tight on players. Constantly communicate and make short slides to double.

I also found this great girls lacrosse drills video by Chris Robinson. He has successfully built McDonough into state and national champions through his innovative "dodge first" offense. His philosophy empathizes dodging to score rather than the more traditional offenses, which emphasize feeders behind the goal looking for cutters. Robinson's "dodge first" offense will limit your turnovers and increase your time of possession which puts more pressure on the defense and creates more scoring opportunities for your offense.

Check out more lacrosse training tips to help take your game to the next level!

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