Effective & Efficient Practice: Stations

[jmsaway]

Since I am a one-mane show, I feel a group of four stations for 5-7 minutes each would allow me to instruct and maximize the touches the kids get. These are 7th/8th grade so I am looking for fundamental stations - any ideas?

[rubeo990]

Passing, offense, defense, ground balls.

[Titanoh]

Passing, offense, defense, ground balls.
Please, please, please teach your middies how to play defense. All of these, and do not make a station for shooting.

[LALAXMAN]

I think stations work best for smaller groups, which means more individual type skills or activities with 2 - 5 players. Save the team offense and defense for a different portion of practice. For younger players, the most important skills are ground balls, fast breaks and shooting, so my suggestions would be (choose 4): ground balls, individual defense, dodging/cradling, shooting, stickwork, and a basic spacing drill such as the box drill (see http://www.lacrosse.org/pdf/findspace1.pdf)