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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

2 Highly Efficient Clearing Drills for Up-Tempo Lacrosse

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

Join Colgate men’s lacrosse coach Mike Murphy as he demonstrates a pair of high-tempo clearing drills. Watch as Coach Murphy provides an overview of each drill before breaking down the action with his players on the field. These clearing drills incorporate proper fundamentals, conditioning, transition aspects, and playing at a high tempo while under control.

Bang it Off the Wall Clearing Drill

This is an efficient drill that Colgate uses to simulate clearing situations, playing fast in the middle of the field, getting looks to the inside and outside, and getting quality shots as well.

Start with a defender with the ball on the GLE. He will break out wide and then make a long pass to a midfielder near midfield. From here, the midfielder will turn and pass across midfield to another midfielder, who then breaks up field before passing to another player, who then turns and fires to an attacker behind the GLE.

Next, the attacker will then turn and look for a streaking teammate cutting in from up top for a quick shot and score. Meanwhile, a feeder on the opposite side of the cage will also hit a second streaking player for a shot on goal. Overall, there will be two shots on goal, one coming after the other.

In summary, this is a terrific full-field drill performed at a brisk pace that features quick turns, fast ball movement, and lots of shots on cage. You can also do this drill on both sides of the field at once to get players more reps.

Coaching Tips: Middies should be working hard to the ball. Shooters should be calling for the ball. Remember, this is not a shooting drill, it’s a scoring drill.

Dragon Clearing Drill

The Dragon Clearing Drill enables attackers to run the field and get shots in. It also allows middies to play the middle of the field utilizing proper stickwork before getting some shots in. The defense works on crossfield passes. The second part of the drill focuses on unsettled play as the attack and defense play in a 3 v 2 situation.

The drill starts with three lines of players. Three at a time, players run up the middle of the field, keeping proper spacing and passing back and forth. Then after a pass around midfield, one outside player will then streak in and get a shot off on goal while on the run. From here, two different feeders hit the other players for shots as well. Altogether, the three drill participants get shots off on the cage.

Finally, things move into 3 v 2 action at the end of the drill. Players will go full-field with a clear (similar to the first drill) and then the action finishes in a 3 v 2 scenario and shot on goal.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD ”High-Tempo, High Energy Practice Drills” with Mike Murphy. To check out more videos focusing on team drills, click here.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: Clearing Drills, Colgate men's lacrosse, Drills, Inside the Crease, Issue #55, Mike Murphy, Transition Drills

Essential Goalie Drills: Footwork and Warm-Ups

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

In this week’s player development feature, follow along with Haverford School (PA) boys lacrosse coach Travis Loving as he reveals goalie footwork drills and his go-to in-season warm-up. In addition to reinforcing proper technique and fundamentals, these drills will get your players adequately prepared to cover every angle of the cage.

Goalie Footwork Drills

We begin with a series of goalie footwork drills that place an emphasis on technique and will help players explode to the ball. Notice that all drills are performed with a lacrosse stick in hand.

Side to Side – Players hop from side to side with quick feet across a designated line on the field.

Right Foot Side to Side – The drill is the same as before but now players should only use their RIGHT foot.

Left Foot Side to Side – The drill is the same as before but now players should only use their LEFT foot.

Side to Side Mixed – Start with side to side both feet and then the coach will direct which foot to use from there.

Front to Back – This drill is similar to before, but now players will be going front to back with their steps instead of side to side.

Front to Back Left Foot – Now players should only use their LEFT foot.

Front to Back Right Foot – Now players should only use their RIGHT foot.

Figure Eight – Players should now jump with two feet in a figure eight pattern.

Figure Eight in Reverse – Now do figure eights in reverse order. Start at the back right.

Figure Eight on One Foot – Now do figure eights on just one foot.

Formal Warm-Up

Check out this formal goalie warm-up done every day at Haverford. A coach will start by shooting against the goalie in net from about 15 yards out. He will start with high shots on both sides of the net — stick-side high and off stick-side high. By doing this, the goalie doesn’t know where the next shot is going. Also, the coach will always walk around the field and shoot from different spots to mix up the angle.

Overall, the coach won’t make too many adjustments when it comes to positioning or corrections. Meanwhile, it’s key to make sure the last three shots are on cage. From here, the coach will then shoot around the hips and go around the horn once again. It’s critical that the goalie can’t anticipate the shot on net before it’s even released.

The previous clips can all be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “High School Coaching Academy: Training the Lacrosse Goalie.” To check out more goaltender-oriented videos, simply visit our lacrosse library.

Filed in Lacrosse Newsletter • Tags: Drills, Goalie Drills, Goalie Positioning, Haverford School Lacrosse, Inside the Crease, Issue #55, John Nostrant, Travis Loving

All-Access DeMatha Basketball: In-Season Warm-Ups and Strength & Conditioning

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2013

In the latest edition of All-Access, we return to Hyattsville, Maryland for a behind-the-scenes look at a DeMatha Catholic High School boys’ basketball practice. Follow along as team strength and conditioning coach Alan Stein leads the players through a number of vital warm-up drills before heading into the gym for a weight training circuit.

On-Court Warm-Up

Before getting into the bulk of their basketball practice, Coach Stein starts the players with a warm-up designed to loosen up muscles and get the body ready for physical activity.

The first warm-up is called Full Court X, which involves two separate lines of players starting on the baseline (in opposite corners) and then jogging to half court on a diagonal (thus making an X). Later, a defensive slide is implemented as players slide across the baseline and then run the length of the court at 50 percent. On the way back, players will backpedal with their hands held high in the air.

Next, the team moves into lunges. Players spread out across the court and do five reps with each leg. After forward lunges, players switch to lateral lunges before finishing off with diagonal lunges, which is a great stretch to loosen up the groin.

Tips: Take big steps. Keep your foot flat. Keep your torso upright.

Weight Room Circuit

On one end of the gym, players immediately get into their elevator routine, which consists of a flat bench press, incline, and then steep incline. “On every set you do, make it challenging to get to 10 reps,” Coach Stein says.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the gym, players put sandbags on their shoulders and do one set of 10 lateral lunges on one side, 10 step-ups on each side, and then use smaller sandbags for a stiff leg dead lift.

By the end, everyone will do six sets of upper body workouts and six sets of lower body workouts. In terms of timing, players look to hit 12 minutes on each end.

Tips: Split in pairs and get a spotter for your bench press. Work at your own pace. Make sure you have plenty of room. Do everything to 10 reps and make it challenging each time.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access DeMatha High School Basketball Practice.” To check out more videos in our exclusive All-Access collection, simply visit our basketball library.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: Alan Stein, All Access Basketball Practice, DeMatha Basketball, DeMatha Catholic High School All Access Basketball, Issue #55, Strength & Conditioning for Basketball

Fundamental Defense: A Pair of Highly Effective 3-on-3 Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Pick up a pair of proven defensive basketball drills from Northern Iowa head men’s basketball coach Ben Jacobson. These “fundamental” drills are considered crucial pieces of Jacobson’s practice plans throughout the basketball season (Yes, even in March) and are considered to be very effective tools for improving team defensive play.

Numbers Rebounding Drill

Overview/Set-up: Start in a 3-on-3 format and get the ball up top. There will be three defensive players in the middle of the lane facing away from the basket, almost stacked but spaced apart by a foot. Meanwhile, there are three offensive players around the horn, two in opposite corners, and one up top.

The Action: The first defensive player is 1, the second is 2, and the third is 3. Those are their assigned numbers. The coach will pass the ball to one of the three offensive players around the horn. The coach will also call out a number. That assigned player will then go out and contest the basketball. For example, if the coaches passes it to the top and calls out 1, the first player will come out with high hands and contest the shot. The remaining players will communicate and then split and block out to get the rebound. As for the offensive players, all they do is catch the ball and shoot.

Coaching Points and Tips: When blocking out, whichever way the offensive guy goes, it’s important to get our contact and ride with him. If he goes to the middle of the floor, we must front pivot, put a forearm in his chest, ride with him, open up, put your tailbone into his legs, and block out from there. Then go get the rebound. If the offensive player goes baseline, we need to pivot, get inside the man, ride with him, and then go get the ball. Fight until you come up with it.

Defensive Drill

Set-up: In this 3-on-3 defensive drill, three offensive players will set up around the horn with three defenders as well. The ball starts up top midway between the top of the key and half court.

The Action: The drill starts with an advantage for the ball handler. He will drive it hard to the hoop until he gets stopped. The defender’s job is to catch up and get things leveled off. The help defenders must stay and help.

After a pass to either wing, the new ball handler will sweep and drive baseline as hard as they can. Our job defensively is to cut this off. We can do this in two ways: Work on taking a charge OR cut them off and hold your ground. Next, the ball handler will pass it baseline to his opposite teammate. From here, the help defender will look to bat that pass down. After the deflection, a coach will take a second ball and pass it to the opposite wing player. Finally, players will scramble, recover, and the action is now live from this spot.

Goal: Get a stop out of this, whether through a knockdown, steal, rebound, charge, etc.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD ”Ben Jacobson: Fundamental Drills for Basketball Practice.” To check out more basketball DVDs featuring drills for both offense and defense, head over to our basketball library.