Coaches Clinic Page 1 Second Coaches Clinic Welcome

www.guilfordlax.com Coaches Clinic Page 1

Second Coaches Clinic

Welcome


Coaching Technique

&Drills

John Ireland


Teach more than Lacrosse• Teach

– Teamwork– Discipline– Respect– Leadership– Sportsmanship

• It’s NOT all about winning

• It has to be fun• But it is more fun if

you win a few• A coach owes the

players a balance of FUN and Success


Player management• Set expectations for the kids

– Clear concise and predictable– Kids will rise to the expectations– Good Ideas to implement

• Players should get to practice 15 minutes early• Get their gear on before the official start of practice• Give them a warm-up activity to begin as soon as they get

there– Passing left and right– Working off the wall– Etc... WITH GEAR ON

• Coaches need to adhere to the rules too– If players are expected to be on time so should the

coaches– Players shouldn’t be allowed to demean other players,...

Neither should coaches– Etc...


Player management• Kids are people too

– Treat them like you want to be treated

– But don’t forget you’re dealing with kids

• No matter how smart they are they’re still not as smart as you – That’s what makes

them fun

• When you have something important to say communicate at eye level– Big guys are

intimidating


Plan your Practice• No long-winded speeches

• Allow time for:– Warm-ups/stretching

– Conditioning

– Cool-downs

• Keep practices moving– “an idle child is a recipe for

disruption”

• Drills– Short lines so kids are moving

– Don’t overcomplicate your drills

• Attempting too much “realism” can defeat the coaching points of the drill

• Fundamentals are important even for the professionals

– Don’t assume the fundamentals are too basic or boring


Plan your Practice• Start the practice with:

– A review of previous game’s or practice’s strengths and weaknesses

– An indication of what you want to accomplish in the current practice

– NO LONG WINDED SPEECHES– Be straight with the kids

• Firm criticism is ok but keep it upbeat

• End the practice with:– An assessment of the practice– What’s coming next– NO LONG WINDED SPEECHES– Be straight with the kids

• Firm criticism is ok but keep it upbeat


Plan your Practice• Give kids an opportunity to

“strut their stuff”– Let them try things in

practice they’re afraid to try in games

– Soon enough you’ll be amazed by what they can do

– They’ll be more creative when it counts

• Scrimmaging is NOT very instructional– Generally results in a

decrease in skill development

– It’s more of a reward than an opportunity for coaching/teaching

• Focus on TEAM PLAY


Coaching Technique• Amplify every positive thing that anyone does and make sure the

other kids hear your praise; it is a tremendous confidence builder

• It’s also appropriate to point out the negatives in the same fashion but MAKE SURE that you package it with something positive to keep the self-esteem up– Also keep your criticism even handed

• A good player that makes a mistake is often more at fault than the bad player that makes the same mistake

• Stay cool, because it is too easy to get frustrated with the youngsters; their maturity?

• No matter how hard you try, some kids just will not get it; some will continue to goof around, not appear to be interested, etc…

• Allow then a little time to goof around and bond as teammates


Be Prepared• Prepare for Practice

– Communicate what will be covered– Set a schedule and keep to it

• Have a set of drills prepared• Make sure the kids know it• 10 Minute for each drill

– Get the assistant involved– Work Hard/ Play Hard

• Reward with cool drills– Shooting, face off, fast break

– Keep everyone moving– No Child Left Behind!


Practice Basics

• 15-30 min – Warm-up– Fundamentals

• 20-30 min– Agilities– Endurance– Strength

• 20-30 Min– Skills Individual– Skills Field

• 20-30 min– Situations

• 15-30 min – Specialties


Starting a Practice• Warm Up

– Laps - jogging– Stretching

• Jumping Jacks, Hamstrings, Quads, Groin, Calves, Back, Shoulders, Neck, Push ups, Jumping Jacks

• Fundamentals– Line Drills

• Ground Balls to and away, Flip Drill, Pass right and left (inside and out), Over the shoulder, Face Dodge, Roll Dodge


Conditioning• Agilities

– Cone Drills– Foot Work– Stick Checks– Dodging– Shuttle Runs– Back Peddling– Shuffle Drill

• Endurance– Field runs– Defense Shuffle– 5 @ 1 ground balls

• Strength– Push-ups/Sit-ups– Lunges-shuffle– Man on back off-ball– Nail in foot


Individual Skills – Left and Right• Offense – Attack and Mids

– Four Corners– Meat Loaf– 3 Man Weave– Alley Drill– G-Balls– 1st moves - off G-balls & off

dodge– Cuts/Feeds

• Pass and Pick Away– 1-4 Pass to shots– Finishing – 1 on 1 & 2 on 1– Shooting Drills

• Middies– Face Offs– Playing both sides– Open Field Dodging– Looking for the open man

• Defense– Stick Checks

• Poke, slap, wrap, back, overhead (not recommended)

– Positioning• In front of cage• Goal Line Extended• Behind Cage

– Long Passes– D-Holds– D-Sides– 1 on 1

• Goalies– Stepping to the ball– Stick Position– Loud Mouth


Field Skills –Team Skills• Field Skills

– 2 on 1 Ground Balls; Man/Ball

– 3 man weave – 2 on 1 Four Corners– ½ Field Box Clearing– Full Field Passing– Shooting

• Sweeps and Rolls• Give and Go• Pick and Shoot• Scoop and Shoot• Dodge and Shoot• Shoot thru screens

– Breakout clears

• Team Skills– Talk– Positioning– 2 on 2 & 3 on 3– Unsettled Skills– Off Ball Positioning


Situations• Man-up/down• Fast Breaks• 2 on 1, 3 on 2, 4 on

3, 5 on 4 • "Low ball”• Transitions• Slow to 6 on 6• Dice drill• Quick clears• Rides & clears

• Pressure Defense• Shut off• Zone Defense• Man to Man


Specialties• Offense

– Settled Offense– Settle O – O looks – 2 minute drills– Slide packs– Man with and w/out

Pressure– Zone– Man Up Plays– Tempo Boost– Full field transition– Middies- Figure 8

• Defense– Zone Defense– Team D's – Man Down Plays– Defense- scoop, dodge,

pass, checking


End of Practice• More Conditioning

– 4th quarter energy– Get them home a little tired but feeling

that they did a lot– Sometimes the end of practices do

involve everyone, this brings everyone back together• Sprints, Distance, timed competition

– Warm Down - Stretch


Practice - EmphasisBantams Juniors Seniors

MarchStress the FundamentalsStick SkillsCradlingCatching; ThrowingGround BallsMoving with the ballDefensive positionAgility/Endurance/Strength

Left and Right HandCatching on the runOffenseDefense; Stick checksClear the BallRunning a play; simpleFast BreakAgility/Endurance/Strength

Stick Skills - AllOffense; Simple PlaysDodgingDefenseFull FieldTransitionAgility/Endurance/StrengthMan up – Man down

AprilLeft and Right HandCatching on the runOffenseDefense; Stick checksClear the BallRunning a play; simpleFast BreakAgility/Endurance/Strength

Stick Skills; DodgingOffense; Running PlaysDefense; Talking, Forcing the playFull FieldTransitionMan up – Man downAgility/Endurance/Strength

Stick SkillsOffense; Complex PlaysDefenseFull FieldTransitionFace off techniquesMan up – Man down; Plays Agility/Endurance/Strength

May/JuneStick SkillsDodgingOffense; move without the ballDefense; Full FieldTransitionAgility/Endurance/Strength

Stick SkillsOffenseDefenseFull FieldTransitionFace Off TechniquesAgility/Endurance/Strength

Stick SkillsOffenseDefenseFull FieldTransitionAgility/Endurance/Strength


Coaching Technique• Practices can be great provided the

players have the proper attitude and motivation

• This is the job of the coach and the team

• Have them encourage each other and help each other. This is about being part of a team. The better everyone gets the better the team. The more fun.


Go Guilford

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Coaches Clinic Page 1 Second Coaches Clinic Welcome