need help

[OR_lax]

I am coaching a team of 3rd and 4th and i was wondering what you guys would recommend to start them out with. I want pratice to both be fun since this will be their first time ever playing but also get their fundamentals down. What are some drills you would reccomend and what skills should they be able to learn in this one season. Thank you.

[JD Hood]

I'd start them out with cradling, ground balls, passing and shooting. I'd hold the shooting as a reward because it's what most younger players really want to do. With the other fundamentals, create mini-games where all the players are active either together or with an assistant coach. The key is to keep them engaged and at this age, you'll have to change what they're doing every 5-10 minutes.

For specific drills I'd suggest a game where one player (coach to start with) is trying to tap the other players lax stick to knock the ball out. The players keep moving and cradling; if the ball comes out they pick it up with the stick. If you knock it out, then they put their stick and ball outside the defined area and they are now also helping you. This helps the players understand body positioning, cradling and ground balls.

Their are obvious variations on this ... but you get the idea.

Where is Oregon are you coaching? I'm in Vancouver, WA and play some club lacrosse in Portland.

Good Luck!
JD Hood

[OR_lax]

no i dont play in oregon i play for oak ridge in california hence the OR. but thanks for the help.

[WI_LAX_COACH]

I also coach this level. We do a bunch of stuff, the usual Line drills and as has been stated before a metric ton of cradling, passing and ground balls. We also break up and do a bucket drill.

We have a 5 gallon bucket in the middle and 4 kids playing 'defense'. while 4 'offensive' players attempt to pass and 'slam dunk' the ball into the bucket. We make a game out of it. If the offense scores, then they keep the ball. IF they get denied, they switch up.

The thing I can tell you, if you keep it fun, they'll dig it. Man ball is also a really good one.

[Titanoh]

When I was at this level, I found that I liked this set up:
Stretch (everyone in a circle, 2 people in the middle (leaders))
Run 1 lap (once they get the fundementals of cradling down, have them do the lap while cradling)
Have the get a partner and pass the ball.
Get them in lines and do line drills (GB's specificly)
Then put them in groups of 5. Have 1 defender in each group, have the 4 guys pass the ball around the square, and the defender has to try to get it (very tiring for the defender, so switch out ever 5-10min)
Then man ball.
Then dogfights (dosen't have much of a skill value, but is very fun), take everyone and put them in a circles. Take 1 kid and put him in the middle, and ball under him, then put another person in the middle, and they have to try to get the ball from him.
Then do another drill or something
Close practice up with 2-3 laps.