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Archives by Tag 'All Access Lacrosse Practice'

Behind the Scenes Denver Lacrosse: Coaches Meetings & Half-Field Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, May 14, 2013

In this behind-the-scenes glimpse, we visit Denver, Colorado for a look inside a recent University of Denver men’s lacrosse practice. Watch as head coach Bill Tierney leads his staff through a typical practice planning session before heading out to the turf for half-field drills.

Coaches Meeting

It’s the third day of practice and the Denver men’s lacrosse program is getting prepared for its season opener. We pick things up at a coaches meeting where the staff works together to devise a practice plan for that afternoon’s session.

Highlights: The roundtable discussion highlights the need for the team to go through as many specific scenarios as they can before moving into full-field work, including 6-on-4 and 7-on-5 situations to simulate challenging transition play.

Says coach Tierney, “We got to make sure we’re not extending to the ball because the opponent will skip the ball or take a shot on us coming down.”

Keep Away

Once out on the field, about half the team moves into a pressure passing drill. According to Coach Tierney, the drill will help the players get used to catching and throwing under pressure.

On the other end, the players (mostly defensive) work on a keep away drill. In this particular scenario, there will be one more offensive player than total defensive players, so it’s imperative for them to move around and keep their feet moving as they catch and throw the ball. It’s also crucial that players work hard on putting pressure on the offense as they catch the ball.

3-on-3 Defense Behind the Goal

Finally, practice wraps up with a 3-on-3 drill that initiates from behind the cage. Defenders specifically focus on making fluid switches behind the goal and being able to cover any cutting offensive players around the crease.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Lacrosse Practice with Bill Tierney.” To check out our entire All Access lineup, including new additions featuring Amy Bokker, John Desko, and Kelly Amonte Hiller, click here.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: All Access Lacrosse Practice, Bill Tierney, Denver Men's Lacrosse, Drills, Inside the Crease

All-Access Stanford Women’s Lacrosse Practice: Dodging & Feeding Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, April 9, 2013

In the latest edition of All Access, we take you to Stanford, California for a behind-the-scenes look at a Stanford University women’s lacrosse practice. Follow along as head coach Amy Bokker leads her squad through a 3 v 3 v 3 drill before getting into a favorite half field dodging drill.

3 v 3 v 3 Draw

For this first drill, three separate teams of three face off in a fight for possession. The drill begins with a face-off and then immediately transitions into three-team battle. It’s really an ideal drill for working on fundamentals and improving confidence against a wide range of pressure.

Look to really work on possession of the draw and then maintain possession with your team for 40 seconds. Also, look to move to space and always keep your feet moving. Don’t get stuck in one corner. After 40 seconds, the team with the ball at the end of possession gets a point. Play to five points.

Coaching Tips: It’s key to get high pressure on the ball and the feeling that’s there always going to be a double team on the ball (so it makes it harder to possess).

“52” Dodging/Feeding

In “52 Dodging”, you’ll start with a dodger across the top, a receiver sweeping across middle, and a feeder down low. Start on the left side of the field before moving over to the right side.

The drill begins with one dodger making a move against a first defender. As she is dodging, the sweeping player will slot through, and then pass to the feeder. The feeder will curl as if coming up. Meanwhile, the middle player will flash up, catch the pass, and then shoot on net.

Coaching Tips: Work both sides of the field and look to get off a ton of shots. Also, start by dodging to the outside at the onset. Eventually, switch to dodging to the inside.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Stanford Lacrosse Practice with Amy Bokker.” To check out the entire All Access lacrosse lineup (featuring the likes of Kelly Amonte Hiller and Bill Tierney), click here.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: All Access Lacrosse Practice, Drills, Inside the Crease, Issue #55, Offensive Drills, Stanford Women's Lacrosse, Team Drills

All-Access Duke Men’s Lacrosse: 1-on-1′s and other Individual Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, January 8, 2013

In the latest edition of All-Access, we take you back to Durham, North Carolina for an exclusive look inside a Duke men’s lacrosse practice. Watch as head coach John Danowski leads his 2010 NCAA Championship team through a number of 1-on-1′s and other individual drills.

Angles

In this first drill, midfielders and defenders are working on the different angles of catching the ball. Players will break out over their shoulder right-handed. This drill replicates those game situations when you are defending the paint and are getting out on the transition break. Players must be able to turn and get up field as quickly as possible. The key: You want to be able to catch the ball on an angle you don’t handcuff yourself.

In review, the midfielders and defenders break out on an angle, turn their shoulder, and catch a pass while on the run. Meanwhile, a defender runs with them down the center and serves as an outlet in the middle of the field.

Two Down the Field

Players work in pairs and run down the length of the field passing back and forth to each other. Players must maintain proper spacing and run the entire time. If you throw it away, it’s okay, just stay with your teammate to retrieve it. Players should go down three times. Says Coach Danowski on this fundamentals and conditioning drill, “Go fast and do it right!”

Scrappin’ Exchanges Drill

In this live 1-on-1 drill, coaches will give players a secret signal about his approach. The defender must approach his opponent well and not let him get the ball. Meanwhile, the goal for the offensive player is to get the ball. Essentially, offensive players must work their tails off to get open and receive the pass while being defended in a 1-on-1 situation.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD Duke Lacrosse Practice All Access – Volume I. To check out our entire All-Access catalog, click here.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: 1-on-1 Lacrosse Drills, All Access Lacrosse Practice, Drills, Duke Men's Lacrosse, individual drills, Inside the Crease, John Danowski

All Access Haverford Lacrosse Practice: Warm-Ups & 3-on-2 Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, August 14, 2012

In the latest edition of All Access, we head back to Haverford, Pennsylvania for a behind-the-scenes look at a Haverford School boys’ lacrosse practice. Follow along as head coach John Nostrant leads his team through a number of warm-up and odd-man full-field drills.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn several effective drills that are a practice staple for one of the nation’s most renowned high school programs. Then look for ways to implement them with your own squad as you gear up for another lacrosse campaign.

Warm-ups – Passing and Stickwork

On the heels of a pre-pracitice pep talk, Haverford immediately gets into passing and stickwork drills. While the offensive unit starts in “Diamond”, the defense gets things going with footwork and ground ball drills. The defensive unit first focuses on changing positions based on ball movement around the perimeter.

Next in Diamond, the offensive players are working on meeting the pass, rolling back, and protecting the stick. Notice how the outside guys are working on long passes around the perimeter and quick ball movement while the inside guys are making rapid-fire passes between teammates set out about 10-12 yards apart.

Notre Dame Drill

In the Notre Dame Drill, players pick up ground balls, kick the ball, move it, and handle pressure in a high traffic scenario. This is a nonstop ground ball drill where half the team in the same area of the field. The drill, which goes for about one minute per repetition, works on each player’s ability to handle pressure and get the ball out of their own end of the field. Go for about 4 reps total.

3-on-2 Continuous

With this final drill, players are coming down on a continuous 3-on-2 break where you got two top guys and a crease guy and one of the top guys will try to drive it down the side. You always want that middle guy to get down low on the high crease. If you do, try to pop it up through the middle. If the top guy tries to drive it across the top, then the crease guy comes out behind him. Make sure you designate a crease guy and he gets up the middle early.

As Coach Nostrant explains, there are a couple of different ways to approach a 3-on-2. For instance, you can drive it deep or you can put a guy inside and roll him out. If you drive it, the crease guy can pop out on the other side, while the other side drags it.

Notes: Look to play to points and make this drill competitive. Haverford will often put juniors and seniors up against freshmen and sophomores to get the competitive juices flowing.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Haverford Lacrosse Practice.” To check out our entire All Access catalog, head over to our lacrosse library.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: All Access Lacrosse Practice, Haverford Boys Lacrosse, John Nostrant, Practice Organization for Lacrosse

All Access Stanford Lacrosse: Agility and Conditioning Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, July 10, 2012

In the latest edition of All Access, we head out to Stanford, California for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a recent strength and conditioning session with the Stanford University women’s lacrosse program.

Follow along as Stanford sports performance coach Lesley Moser leads the team through dozens of agility and conditioning drills designed to improve quickness, acceleration, turning, and cutting – all critical skills needed for lacrosse players. Once you have picked up this effective agility program, look for ways to incorporate the exercises with your own squad this season.

For the following agility exercises, Moser sets out a number of cones five yards apart from one another. These will be important throughout the drills.

Agility Workout – Part I

1) 15-yard jog

2) 15-yard skip

3) 15-yard shuffle

4) Knee hugs; five yards out. Leg cradles, five yards back. Keep your knees up, toes up, and pull your toe up to your chin.

5) Forward lunges five yards out. Then backward lunges five yards back.

6) Lunges with a twist for 10 yards.

7) Backward SLDL 10 Yards. Note: For this exercise, stand on one leg while the other points backwards in the air as your hands reach out in front of you. Your head looks straight ahead. Your arms should reach out and keep your palms face up. It’s about balance and control.

8) Lateral lunge (both sides); 10 yards out and back. Take wide steps out.

Agility Workout – Part II

1) World’s Greatest; Lunge and then put one hand on the ground as the other reaches up to the sky. Tilt your head and body to the sky and open up the body.

2) Straight leg kicks 10 yards (hands behind your back). Stay tall, move forward, and make leg kicks. Then move forward again.

3) Heel toe walk for 10 yards. Feel free to use your arms with this one.

4) Ankle twists for 10 yards. Look to make quick little ankle steps moving forward.

5) Mini skips for 10 yards

6) A-Skips for 10 yards

7) A-Skips Lateral (Go for five yards out and back)

8) Shuffle out five yards and shuffle back five yards. Go three times total. Your head faces forward. Maintain good balance and posture throughout. Drop the hips and not the back.

9) Carioca 15 yards out and back

10) Two-inch run to sprint for 10 yards, then jog back. Go three times total. This exercise is exactly how it sounds with “two-inch running” before going into a full sprint for the last 10 yards.

11) 5 squat jumps

12) 4 split squats each side. Your chest stays out as you are still going for height.

13) 8 pogos

14) 8 tucks

The previous clips can all be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Agility and Conditioning” featuring Stanford Lacrosse. To check out more videos in our strength and conditioning collection, or to visit our All Access library, head over to our video library by clicking here.