Coach’s Handbook1. Offense2. Defense3. Rides4. Clears

5. Terminology6. Drills

7. Coaches Goals

Offense• Deuces• 30’s and 40’s• Wheel• 50’s and 60’s• 1-4-1

Deuces

Deuces

30’s and 40’s

Wheel

50’s and 60’s

1-4-1

Defense• The basics:–Man to Man– Zone–Man Down

Defensive Constants

• Communication• Footwork• Body Position• Poke checks• “V-Hold”• Goalie Talk

Man to Man• Call out the number of the man you are

covering, then cover your assigned opponent.

• Communicate to your teammates, and listen to the information they provide

• Stick topside! Nobody can score from behind the goal.

• Lockoff’s and Press Play are specialties.

Man to Man

Zone• Many types, so as coach you decide

what you will use – see DVD of Zone Defense.

• Communication is huge to pass off opponents between different sectors!

• Cover high-threat areas.

Generic Zone

Man Down• Basic “Box and

One”• Keep it tight• Communicate!

Rides• Man to Man (man down, defense has

goalie)– Force the long pass

• Zone– Communication to pass of opponents

from zone to zone• Hard– Hard press ride for tight game situations

Clears• Endline – Defense or Goalie takes it• Sideline – Middie takes it• “400” – Middie takes an endline clear

in special circumstances.

Clears (Illustrated)

Defensive Terminology“Hot” GF player responsible for the first slide“Two” GF player responsible for the second slide“Backside” GF player responsible for covering two players furthest

away from the ball during a slide

“Slide” goalie or defensive communicator’s call to initiate sequence where we provide assistance to the GF defender in need of support

“Go” the actual physical action of “Hot” providing support

“Release” the call from “Two” that actually allows “Hot” to “Go”

“Locked” This term is only to be used when we want to disallow a player from touching the lacrosse ball no matter where they go on the field

Terminology (Cont’d)“Black” A defensive call when we believe our defender can take

the ball from the offensive player – all other players should be “LOCKED”

“Pipe” Goalie call indicating that a player is about to move to the front of the goal from behind the goal. This should mean an increased effort to prevent this continued movement by our defender.

“Ball One” Indicates the location of the ball in our six quadrants

“Push Three” Indicates where our goalie wants the offensive player to be directed by our defensive efforts

Field Quadrants

Drills• Stickwork Drills – You can go with the basic line drill–More complicated stickwork drill follows

as an example• Ground Ball Drills– One on One– Two on One– Three on Two

Basic Line Drills

Stickwork Drill

CatchLeft,ThrowRight

Left,Left

Left,Left Catch

Right,ThrowLeft

Right,Right

Right,Right

20 yards

20yards

Stickwork Drill• Assumes everyone can catch/pass left/right• Start slow then pick up the pace• Add more balls, try to get 6 balls going at once• Plenty of touches in about 7-10 minutes• In addition to basic catching and passing

– Simulates pushing the ball upfield– Being vocal– More balls create more confusion (clarity amid chaos)– Short sticks and long sticks, even goalie, in same drill– End running full speed– If there is an overthrow, there are several other balls in

play– Little rest between throws

Coaches Goals• Initial– Teach Ball Drills– Instruct all players how to catch, throw, switch

hands, and scoop properly– Give extra attention to less experienced players

during the drill– Keep the drill moving – Coaches keep one extra ball

to keep drill moving– Learn all players names – must know all names by

second practice– Constantly identify players by first/last name until

you have them memorized– Be instructive but constantly be upbeat and

encouraging

Coaches Goals (Cont’d)• Intermediate

– Prove how much of ball drill sequence is remembered– Improve stickwork– Get numerous successful catches and passes at each step

within the drill– Introduce Ground Ball Drill – “Ball Down”, “Ball”, and “Release”– Elements of a “Good Shot”

• Less than 10 yards from the goal• Momentum toward the crease• Overhand Shot on the run• Shoot as hard as you can (Power) under control (Placement)

everytime• Bounce shot when possible

– Conditioning– Incorporate coherent plays based off your players strengths

Coaches Goals (Cont’d)• Advanced– Always work on keeping up the basics (the

beginning of practice should be rote, but with few if any dropped passes)

– Incorporate advanced plays, zone defenses, and clears

– Work on developing “field sense” including using players who have it already or naturally to step up and lead their lines.

– Focus on “whole team dynamic”