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Laying The Foundation:
Teaching Lacrosse Fundamentals to the 9-12 Year
Old Player
by Coach Joe Seivold
Sept 18, 2002
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Durham Academy Head Coach Joe Seivold |
Fall Lacrosse: Developing Good Habits
and Getting Kids Psyched! October 30, 2002
As all good coaches know, inspiring kids to play their
best is paramount to the success of any program. Lacrosse
has a way of “hooking” kids; Fall Ball clinics
and rec programs should do the same. Kids who are inspired
by a Fall Ball Saturday will practice the skills introduced
at the clinic at home, ask for new gear at Christmas,
and be chomping at the bit for Spring. But how to do
it?
After the teaching portion of the clinic (for middle
school aged players), it’s time to get the kids
moving in competitive game situations and drills that
allow them to incorporate the skills taught and have
fun. First, do some exciting variations on the old 1
v 1 ground ball:
1) Gladiator Grounders: put kids in 4 lines, no more
than 3 deep per line (more kids=more sets of four lines;
remember, more ‘touches on the ball’!) The
lines should form the four corners of a box, or square,
10 yards apart. The two players diagonally opposite
each other at the front of the line are on the same
team. The coach rolls the ball anywhere inside the square,
creating a 2 v 2 ground ball. Notice that because the
lines face “in” players are running at each
other to fight for the ball (this is more game-like
than having two guys running parallel in the old 1 v
1 drill). Once one of the two teammates picks up the
gb, he must move it to his teammate, while the two players
now on defense must “ride”, trying to create
a turnover. The drill ends when two passes take place
between teammates, or when the defensive team picks
up a grounder off a turnover. This drill will create
pressured ground balls, contact between players, and
force kids to pass and catch under pressure; all essential
skills for player development. To add to the competition,
award 2 points for successful completion of the two
passes and 1 for gaining possession off a turnover –
first team of two to 10 wins.
2) Gladiator Grounders to the cage: same drill as above,
but now whichever team wins the grounder goes to the
goal. The ball must be passed successfully before the
team with the ball can shoot. Again, the losing team
plays defense, and if a turnover is created, the team
that gains possession goes to the goal. A point system
can be added here as well.
You can also turn the kids on to some shooting drills
that go beyond standing in line waiting for your turn
to cut and shoot. NOTE: You need A LOT of balls to run
a good clinic.1) Ground ball Drives: Coach rolls a ball
out; player runs, scoops and drives to the cage, shooting
on the run. After following through towards the cage,
the player turns and cuts back towards to coach, receives
a pass, and shoots a ‘room and time’ shot.
Make sure a shooting net is on the cage, and tie cans
in the corners. Hit the can, bonus points!
2) The Arc: lay 5 balls in a semi-circle about 12 yards
from the cage. Shooter starts at the top of the box.
On the whistle, he races to any of the five balls, scoops
and shoots on the run. Then he must sprint back to the
next ball, scoop and shoot again. Repeat through five
balls. Coach times this on a stopwatch; fastest time
wins, points deducted for missing the cage.
After running the above four drills (if numbers warrant,
have half your guys doing the ground ball stuff, the
other half shooting, then switch), it is time to move
into the scrimmage phase.
Fall Ball clinic scrimmages should be 7 on 7: 2 attack,
3 mid, 2 defense per team. Again, more touches on the
ball! The other key modification is the passes requirement;
teams must make a certain number of completed passes
in the offensive half of the field before going to the
goal. The coach should count these out loudly. “Need
two!” Need one!” you’re free!” Note
that being free does not mean that they HAVE to go to
the goal, only that they can. Encouraging passes in
this way eliminates the One Big Stud from running through
the defense and dunking time after time. Move the ball!
Play games up to three, then rest. Or, if there are
three teams, play first goal wins, loser off, winner
stays, no team stays for more than two, By the end of
the clinic, you will have a pack of tired but excited
young laxers.
Next time: The psychology of coaching the youth player.
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