DRILLS DRILLS How to run an effective and

DRILLS, DRILLS How to run an effective and fun practice Samantha Eustace Head Coach, Mercer Women’s Lacrosse 2019 & 2018 SOCON Champions 2019 & 2018 NCAA Tournament Team

Practice Plan § We begin with the team running their own dynamic stretch as a team § This allows them to unwind from class and focus for practice § Then we bring it in and have a quote for the day – sometimes we will have a theme for the week. § Whether coaching youth high school and now college – I always have a practice plan with times. § I do not share with the team what we are doing as I want them to stay in the moment of a drill and not “look forward” or dread a drill.

Mercer Women’s Lacrosse Practice Plan 3: 00 -3: 15 Dynamic warm up-run by captains 3: 15 -3: 30 Perfect Passing -Mix up lines 4: 50 -5: 10 Cornell 8 M Shot Build up to 4 V 3 5: 10 -5: 30 7 V 7 Can sub on your own – looking for communication and fast ball movement. Defense has to clear to 40 3: 30 -3: 40 Ohio State Full Field Passing Drill 3: 40 -3: 55 Railroad Ground Balls Man to man defense 5: 30 Cool Down Thoughts on practice and announcements 3: 55 -4: 10 3 V 3 BTB Goals 4: 10 -4: 30 2 V 2 @ X and Elbow Defense focus on communicating – cannot go if someone does not send you Attack work on timing and ball movement 4: 30 -4: 50 Alley 3 Zone passing - transition

What is the shortest word in the English language that contains the letter a, b, c, d, e, f?

Feedback – Remember that feedback is one of the essential elements of good communication!

Communication must be HOT. Honest Open Two-Way.

Ways to Divide up teams § Toss in sticks and then divide into 2 piles § Brown eyes / everyone else § Stand on one foot- R goes one team L goes other team § Close one eye R goes one team L goes another team § Fold your hands right on top / left on top § Fold your arms right on top / left on top § Salty or sweet § Draw a dog in the air –tail to left / tail to right § Dogs or cats § How do you lick an ice cream cone up and down or sideways

Passing-Partner Passing § § § § Mix it up feet are always moving run through 1 handed and regular right left off side etc. . Add in twizzlers and BTB and ATW passing Fun to do challenges: “SERIES” drop it you are out – and in a plank until it’s over Right Left Offside R, Offside L, Offside R, Pops, Back of the stick Twizzler R Twizzler L Twizzler fake to a BTB

Passing- Partner Passing § Pick someone on the team to come up with series § Important to add in fun stick tricks ones § They practice for a bit and then all start together

Passing – Basketball Passing § Get in groups of 4 § Need 3 Balls § Stationary ball movement § Can add patterns Player at the cone is passing to open player and receiving a ball from one of the other 2 lines

Passing – Perfect Passing § 1 player is the post § Small shuttle line on other side § Can change out the post player § Either you or a player change what the pass is

Spoke Passing § Passes come from end of line § Can go in either direction § Work on timing to pop out for pass § Change the type of passes

Ground Balls – 1 v 1 to 2 v 2 to 3 v 3 to 6 v 6 § Coach walks around and sends in a GB § Line 1 is 1 V 1, Line 2 is 2 V 2 line 3 is 3 v 3 and then all back in for 6 v 6 § As soon as shot happens toss next GB in § If miss GB then 5 push ups

HUNGRY HIPPOS • Divide team in 2 teams • Half of each team goes inside the circle • Other half is outside as outlet • Coaches or injured players at the cones send balls through the circle • Players inside the circle have to pick up the ball and pass to an outlet • Can play defense and check a stick • A complete GB and pass = 1 point • Balls that go thru the circle are out

Diamond 1 v 1’s § Pass always comes from adjacent line so defender can get out on ball § 1 v 1 s to cage § Go in a circle

Alley 1 v 1 to 2 v 2 to 1 v 1 to 4 v 4 § Begins at line 1 for alley dodge 1 v 1 § Attacker can either choose to shoot or pass to X – if she passes to X she is out § Then 2 v 2 @ X (if they didn’t get ball in from player from line #1 pass a ball in from a player in line at 1 or 4) Line #1 § Then long bomb pass from player in line @ X up to line 4 Line #4 § Then all 4 back in for a 4 v 4

Back to Back Goals § Goal is set up facing endline – other goal is set up in men’s crease § Divide team in half decide which team is shooting at which goal (have to change this halfway through to make it fair) § Coach stands behind retraining line & tosses in a ball to begin. On a goal a new ball is rolled in – they don’t have to be lined up in a line § Timed for 1 minute § Then switch groups

2 v 2 Elbow and @ X § Specify the space they have to work in § Offense works on working together can clear thru or set pick on ball § Attack works on taking defender away so can cut to ball § Defense works on communication and how to hedge and help double ball

3 v 2 On Half The 8 § Ball can start in any of the 3 lines § Must stay on your half of the 8 § Work on holding space § Defense works on communication, sliding, and covering § Set up on both sides of the 8 meter

3 v 3 On Half The 8 § Ball can start in any of the 3 lines § Must stay on your half of the 8 § Work on clearing space, setting picks on ball or off ball § Have to work as a group of 3 to be successful § Defense works on communication, sliding, and doubling § Set up on both sides of the 8 meter

Draws 3 cages • 3 V 3 around the Draw • Any 2 players can take the draw • Assign each team to attack and defend goal #1 goal #2 goal #3 • If GK save clear it out and Goal #3 play it out until goal is scored Goal #2 • Rotate groups after 3 or 4 draws Goal #1

Great White North § Ball is thrown in to one of 2 low attackers § Begins with a 2 v 1 from crease § After goal or defender comes up with ball § Second ball is thrown up top and 2 additional attackers and one defender come in § Work on communication and spacing C

EB’s Crashing Drill § Attacker with the ball feeds into attacker in the 8 § Allow the catch § All 3 defenders work on crashing on ball without fouling § Work on crashing to space in front of attacker § Second phase is the attacker can catch and take a few steps to shoot

JUMP Cut Shooting § Ball starts on the wing and passes to X § Player catches and then heads to other side of crease and negative steps § Player up top in the box is on her toes and as soon as player at X is ready to feed she “jumps” out to the side of the box and cuts to ball and finishes with a shot. § Other wing goes next so ball should be fed from X alternating sides.

Husky Transition Both teams are going in this direction All players lie face down on ground in center circle Coach wanders through the circle and drops the ball Which ever team picks it up is on offense and goes hard to cage

Insert 30 This defender “inserts” as soon as ball is picked up by middie attacker C This pair enters after the ball passes the 30 § Transition Drill § Starts with GB from midfield attacker § Coach releases the middie defender after ball is past 30 § Look to push the fast break § Defender coming in from 30 looks to stop ball if possible

Hit The Deck § Set up in a 5 v 5 § Attack passes the ball around on a double whistle the defender on the ball hits the deck (lie down on stomach and get back up) § Defense must slide and adjust § Attack looks to move the ball quickly and take advantage

Speed Lax! § Divide your team up into small teams – we play 2 fields at a time § 4 v 4 or 5 v 5 w a goalie § Goalies cannot be the goalie § Use tennis balls § Play for 3 -4 minutes § Need a ref to help call the game § Be sure to have lots of tennis balls behind each cage