New coach from Eau Claire, WI - U of W - EC

[Npaulseth]

Hey guys, I just wondered on to the site. It's a nice place you guys have here. I coach a club lacrosse team for UWEC. This is my first time ever coaching any "real" team before, with the exception of youth league lax. I am from MN, and have been playing lacrosse since 2000, and had the opportunity to be friends with/immitate Colin Achenbach (use to play for PACE, D2) as he was the first player ever from MN to go and play out east on a scholarship.

Well, my question is: Our team has a solid defensive core, but our middys really are our weak point of the team. Almost all of our goals against were due to our middys getting beat and not sliding to the guy who was getting beat.

We have a lot of new players on the team that have zero experience with the sport. I am the only coach on the team, so most of my questions/support have been directed to my old HS coaches. So, what do you guys think would be some good drills to teach the middys that focus on defense?

Thanks a lot, and great site.

Noah

[1/2man1/2amazin]

I'd say go with a sticks and helmet practice, go at walking pace, constantly stopping and explaining to the weak players exactly whats happening and where they need to be. It will probably be really boring for you and the experienced players, but I've never played on a team that hasn't had at least 2 or 3 practices like that.

[Npaulseth]

Thanks. I've sort of been doing that. I find myself skipping along too fast, and forget that some players have never been on a lacrosse field before.


Noah

[imipono]

I saw someone else post that they have the team run 3v4 and 5v6 that helps the offense find the open guy and helps the defense learn the slides and gets them talking to each other. You could knock off a d man to get the middies more involved that some of your more experienced d guys can help them with the slides. try that and see how it works. Make sure they understand position and get their sticks up to block passing lanes, then one on one drills can help with individual d to help.
*Luis

[Npaulseth]

Awesome, thanks. I actually have both 4 vs 3 and 5 vs 6 drill on today's schedule.

Here's what it looks like for today: (we just played a game and had horrible ground balls btw)

1. Jog

2. Stretch – should be done by 6:10

3. Line drills – throw to, over shoulder, ground balls. - should be done by 6:25

4. Man Ball drill – (three people lay of their back and someone rolls a ball out) – 6:35

5. Ball down drill – 6:50 (I have 4 guys surround a ball and then have each player get low and drive through the pile, picking up the ball)

6. 4 vs. 3 – 7:10

7. 6 vs. 5 – 7:30

8. Scrimmage for rest of practice – work on plays and good passing – have middies cut and set picks. Work on crease middy play/pick setting.

We have practice till 8.

[Petem0ss]

Npaulseth, welcome. I'd paint a line right down the middle of the restraining box & make sure the off-side middies get to the line w/ their stick up in the passing lane when the ball is on the opposite side of the field. And I'd also have them to make all of the calls as far as who is hot, who is backing etc depending if you're sliding adjacent or from the crease. I'd have the offense work the ball around the outside to start against all of the 6V6 offensive sets you think you'll see - 1-4-1, 2-2-2, 2-3-1 etc. It's a good review for your D-men as well.

[TheKOB]

is the problem individual defensive skills, field awareness, etc?

If the problem is with positioning (ie the middies are using their stick like it's a sword not a foil) then give 'em nubs (an 18" long piece of shaft) and have them go at it...no stick checks, obviously, just pushing out. Eventually give them back their sticks once they mastered moving. Also, set up cones in a zig-zag pattern, and practice having them run along with a man while checking, once they get their sticks back.

[CoachK]

I believe someone was referring to my team with the 4v3, 5v4, 6v5 progression... Well, last year it worked great... This year, so so. It did a great job with the defense, and with the combination of a few other drills, the offense is having a very tough time scoring on our own defense 4v3, 5v4, or 6v5. Games start next weekend, and we'll see if our defense is as stellar as I think it is now.

Kevin's drill with the zig zag checks is great. Make sure to keep an eye on their footwork. If it's postitioning, I can't think of anything better than 4v3 and 5v4, w/ and w/o creasemen.

[Npaulseth]

is the problem individual defensive skills, field awareness, etc?

If the problem is with positioning (ie the middies are using their stick like it's a sword not a foil) then give 'em nubs (an 18" long piece of shaft) and have them go at it...no stick checks, obviously, just pushing out. Eventually give them back their sticks once they mastered moving. Also, set up cones in a zig-zag pattern, and practice having them run along with a man while checking, once they get their sticks back.


It's both, actually. They aren't good 1 vs 1, and they don't know when to slide. They're learning though. I already do the nub drill, and that seems to help a lot. I think I'll try that zig-zag drill out sometime soon. A lot of our guys show a big improvement from practice to practice, so it really makes coaching a worthwhile thing.

Thanks again.

[imipono]

I believe that WAS you coachK, I really liked that idea!
A quick idea: you can start off the 4v3,5v4, 6v5 sets and drill by having them pick up ground balls. If the d gets it have them clear to midfield and have the middies ride. Its starting with an unsettled situation for both squads kinda like a face off resembling a game more and a little more fun than just a rote drill/scrimmage. Toss the ball in and have them work on ground balls: the offense has to settle and work on passing, shooting and the defense can work on getting ground balls, recovering and getting back to position, communication. Change it up some but sometimes keeping the guys one their toes is a good idea to keep them interested.
Have you ever played that old "hide the bacon" game? That's a great groundball drill when adapted to lacrosse skills, I used it in after school stick skills clinics/camps but I'm sure the college kids would like it, as long as it wasn't called "hide the bacon". You split the guys up and give them numbers; say you have 10 kids split them up and give them anumber from1 - 5. have them face each other at either end of the restraining line. Put the ball in the middle and call a number then that numbered pair has to go out and fight for the ground ball and go to the net for a shot. The great thing is you can call one number or all the numbers and they never knowso it'll help a little with reaction time. It's just a fun game.
I digress...

[Npaulseth]

I believe that WAS you coachK, I really liked that idea!
A quick idea: you can start off the 4v3,5v4, 6v5 sets and drill by having them pick up ground balls. If the d gets it have them clear to midfield and have the middies ride. Its starting with an unsettled situation for both squads kinda like a face off resembling a game more and a little more fun than just a rote drill/scrimmage. Toss the ball in and have them work on ground balls: the offense has to settle and work on passing, shooting and the defense can work on getting ground balls, recovering and getting back to position, communication. Change it up some but sometimes keeping the guys one their toes is a good idea to keep them interested.
Have you ever played that old "hide the bacon" game? That's a great groundball drill when adapted to lacrosse skills, I used it in after school stick skills clinics/camps but I'm sure the college kids would like it, as long as it wasn't called "hide the bacon". You split the guys up and give them numbers; say you have 10 kids split them up and give them anumber from1 - 5. have them face each other at either end of the restraining line. Put the ball in the middle and call a number then that numbered pair has to go out and fight for the ground ball and go to the net for a shot. The great thing is you can call one number or all the numbers and they never knowso it'll help a little with reaction time. It's just a fun game.
I digress...

Awesome. My old HS coach told me to do the "hide the bacon" drill. He said his players really like it and it works on communication when it's more than 2 vs 2.

Noah

[Npaulseth]

I just thought of a new ground ball drill. I wanted to see if you guys think it would be worth while. If you have any questions, post them up.

Noah

http://www.geocities.com/npaulseth/groundballdrill.html

[monmlax]

I was in the same boat with poor d, and I did the princeton drill. What you do is take a shaft and cut it into thirds so you have 10" shafts. You make the middies or d play with it during practices, and it focuses on footwork. Worked wonders for my team.

[laxjunkie]

Set your offense up in formations 3-2-1, 1-4-1, etc. and go man2man or zone w/ the D. Take a dodge ball and start one guy w/ the ball. Talk about who is adjacent and who is the least threat. Talk about what do you do if someone cuts, etc.

It's a great visual, you're not waiting for someone to catch the pass (they always seem to drop balls in these situations, dragging it out even longer).