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Archives by Tag 'Skill Development'

5 Rapid Fire Shooting Drills for a High-Powered Offense

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, May 1, 2012

This week’s team development feature focuses on improving offensive output through a series of high-intensity shooting drills and team plays. Led by Salisbury University men’s lacrosse coach Jim Berkman, the following drills focus on dodging techniques, shooting on the move, accuracy, and getting a lot of reps in a short period of time. To finish up, we’ll reveal five offensive plays from the Salisbury playbook that have paid dividends for the squad in recent years. Then look for ways to incorporate these effective plays with your own squad as well.

Shooting Drills

Hitch and Shoot – In this drill, one player will throw across for the shooter, who makes a little hitch move, quick sweep, and then shoots on cage. You should be looking to a get a good hitch every time, aiming to freeze the defenders. Try to get from 13 to 11, i.e. shooting the ball inside 11 yards after the hitch move.

Dodge, Hitch, and Shoot – This is similar to our previous drill where the passer dishes to the shooter across. The shooter then catches the ball, hitches, dodges, and fires it on cage.

Roll Back Catch and Go – This particular drills works out of Salisbury’s “22 offense.” Try to implement this drill on both the right and left sides of the field. Here’s how it works. The shooter comes across to the middle of the field, receives a pass, sprints straight for about five yards, makes a quick stutter step, and then shoots it on the run.

Roll Back, Catch, and Step Out – This is a three-man drill that reinforces Salisbury’s offense. The ball moves around the horn until a player makes a little step-out move and then releases a shot on the run.

Wing Dodge and Roll Back – This drill mimics the situation when you are driving down the side and make a dodge to try to get back to the high side. Practicing stepping away from the defender and getting your hands free. It’s key to practice this so it becomes second nature in a game. Run this drill on the right and left sides — even at the same time.

Offensive Playbook

Check out these effective offensive plays from Salisbury’s playbook and see how you can incorporate certain elements with your own squad this season.

23 – It all begins with a hard wing dodge and the ball swings to X. Next, there’s an option for an ISO from the wing. You can then swing it to the backside and get an effective pick for a quick-hitter coming off the backside. The player that picks should open to the ball.

24- The key to this play is picking the picker on the inside. Swing the ball to X, bang it right back, and then look inside for a shot.

25 – The “25″ play involves a double pick for a lefty coming off. Then there’s a re-pick on the inside for a curl. If nothing develops from those looks, you can take those guys to the ball side and swing to the backside for an ISO centering on the middie stepping off the crease.

Bishop – The key here is a wing undercut and backdoor option for a player who’s opening up the backside.

Bluejay – Finally, with “Bluejay”, there’s a double invert behind and you can make it look like you’re setting a pick with an attackman and swinging it to the backside. You then have a pick-the-picker play available on the crease.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “How to Create a Great Shooter and Individual Player” featuring Salisbury coach Jim Berkman. To find more shooting videos, check out our extensive lacrosse catalog.

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Inside the Crease, Jim Berkman, Offensive Drills, Salisbury University Lacrosse, Shooting Drills, Skill Development

Back to Basics: Tips to Win the Ground Ball Battle

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The ground ball game is a critical aspect of lacrosse. By scooping up more ground balls than your opponent, you’ll retain more possessions, which also translates to increased scoring opportunities. Plus, you never know which ground ball can turn a game or create pivotal momentum in your favor.

Follow along as Duke head men’s lacrosse coach John Danowski discusses the importance of ground balls, provides key tips for winning the ground ball battle, and even highlights an effective drill for practice. Look to give your squad an edge this season by implementing these proven strategies.

Ground Balls: A Brief Overview

Besides the goals for and goals against statistic, ground balls are the second most important stat that Duke follows. In 2010, the team played 20 games and produced a 16-4 overall record. But in the GB war, their record was 18-1-1. The squad places a tremendous value on ground balls starting on Day 1, and it shows.

So why exactly are ground balls so important? Well, because the ball is on the ground quite a lot, whether it’s at the X or on the offensive and defensive ends. Therefore, look to create a mindset that you want to chase groundballs. Why? Because we know that we won’t pick up every one. So develop a mental state that you will go after and fight for every ground ball that you can.

The ultimate goal here is to pick up more GB’s than your opponent. Remember, you never know which ground ball can turn a game, create momentum, or defeat another team.

Effort

The first key to winning the ground ball war is effort. At Duke, the coaches never yell at a player for missing a GB. They know the players want to get the ball. However, the coaches will get on them for not giving effort on a ground ball. If you don’t pick it up the first time, then pick it up the second time.

With effort, there’s a certain amount of discipline and structure that we demand in order for us to be successful. A big part of that is picking up ground balls with TWO HANDS. This is playing the percentages. We also don’t want to be undisciplined. When you go after a GB with two hands, determination, and great effort, the majority of the time you will be successful more often than not. At a Duke practice, if a player scoops with one hands, they are immediately on the end line. This is usually quite effective.

Ground Ball Phases

We divide ground balls into three phases.

Phase 1: Face-Off Play — It’s a lot different going after GB’s in this phase than in the offensive or defensive zones. Duke will drill it differently with X guys, wing players, and other looks. We look at this as a team event. There are generally eight ways to win a faceoff and many of them are about chasing groundballs.

Phase 2: Offensive End — As soon as you cross that line, it doesn’t matter your position or which hand you have the stick in, you are now an offensive player. We look at the ball on the ground in the offensive end differently than we do in the defensive end.

Phase 3: Defensive End

Tip: Early in the year, drill everything to give you success. Teach everything skeleton, meaning no contact. Teach the fundamental elements first, and then try to do it live. Hopefully everything carries over.

Drill Work

This clip focuses on action between the lines and where we want to recognize a situation. This drill works on draw play and wing play together. The role of the wings are so vital to enable your draw guys to be successful.

Right here, players are concentrating on boxing out on the wings, coordination between the draw guys and the wing players, the ability to feel the defenders, handling the ball under pressure, and getting as many reps as possible, plus spacing, angles, and a little draw technique.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD ”Aggressive Ground Ball Play” with John Danowski. To check out more skill development videos, head over to our lacrosse library. Got any other ground ball tips to share? What strategies and tactics do you find most effective with your team?

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Duke Men's Lacrosse, Ground Balls, Inside the Crease, John Danowski, Skill Development

New Field Hockey DVDs featuring Matt Soto!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, February 24, 2012

We have recently released two Field Hockey DVDs featuring Matt Soto. He is the Penn Manor (PA) High School Head Coach and has over 500 career victories. The titles of these new Field Hockey DVDs are:

Shooting Drills for Field Hockey

Get a variety of shooting drills to improve techniques in a game-like setting

Learn to shoot from any angle using proper body and foot position

Get coaching tips that can make a big difference in your goal production

Skill Development Drills for Youth Players

Learn to create scoring opportunities for your team

Integrate your goalies into each session and make the most of your practice time

High intensity drills to increase strength and improve technique in a game-like setting

See Coach Soto’s 10-100-1000 reps plan to develop new habits

Purchase these two products together and save $10!

Matt Soto Skill Development 2-Pack

Filed in Field Hockey • Tags: Field Hockey DVDs, Matt Soto, Skill Development, Youth Players

Key Multi-Purpose Practice Drills to Promote Skill Development

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Former Rutgers University men’s lacrosse coach Jim Stagnitta is a big proponent of using multi-purpose drills during his practices. The drills maximize staff and players to produce an efficient, fast-paced, competitive, and effective practice session.

With the current Denver Outlaws head coach as your guide, check out these dynamic multi-purpose drills that particularly promote skill development. The drills — which include moving target passing and over the shoulder full-field exercises — should make a great addition to your practice plan this season.

Fundamentals: Moving Target Drill

In this moving target drill, a group of players start clustered together in the middle of the drill (perhaps 7 or 8 total). There are always four players involved at a time passing the ball around the horn and outside of the cluster. Essentially, once you pass the ball, you move back into the center. The goal is to hit moving targets on the run, simulating game situations.

During a game, players aren’t just standing around and catching and throwing. Since most passing occurs while while on the move, this is a great drill to practice that. The ball moves around the horn and new players are always rotating through.

Tips: Players should always be moving their feet. Step towards your target when throwing the ball. Pick up the pace as you go along and get as many repetitions as you can. Communicate often and call for the ball.

Start the drill going right-handed. Then switch to the left hand. Players should be going out about 10 yards, but make sure that they don’t leave too soon. Timing is key. Also, have the players throw the ball across their body. Always move your feet when you catch it.

Catch Right, Throw Left

Next, players should practice rolling to the outside, evading pressure, and making a nice, crisp pass. The simulation goes as follows: Catch, turn, roll away from pressure, and deliver the pass. This drill helps players improve on their “C” cuts and advancing the pass/play.

Like the previous drill, timing is also key here. Players want to be in sync. Keep the spacing as and pick up the pace as you move along. After a few minutes, switch to catching left and throwing right.

Over the Shoulder Drill

This effective full-field drill focus on handling the ball over the shoulder, getting game-like situations, and taking as many reps as possible.

Players will break out to the right side first. The goalie will throw an outlet. Catch the ball over your shoulder, use proper technique, and then turn to the sideline. That player will then throw to the next guy up the field (around midfield). He will call for the ball over the shoulder, keeping the stick protected to the sideline. The ball moves one more time down and is then thrown to the goalie. Make sure that you go up and down the sidelines on both sides of the field.

Keys: Work on proper fundamentals like making good passes and communicating. Players should catch everything on the run. Also, work on realistic and game-like movements.

Finish the drill by going left-handed over the shoulder on the left side of the field.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Multi-Purpose Practice Drills for Lacrosse” with Jim Stagnitta. To check out more essential practice drills, head over to our extensive lacrosse library.

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Drills, Inside the Crease, Jim Stagnitta, Rutgers Lacrosse, Skill Development

A Pair of Game-Like Ground Ball Drills to Foster Good Habits

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Individual ball handling and ground ball drills are two staples of Notre Dame lacrosse practices. Often used at the beginning of each practice, the drills reinforce good habits and demand attention each day. The following drills — first diagrammed on the whiteboard and then carried out on the field — will allow your players to get a lot of touches on the ball, repetitions, and build a strong aerobic base.

Ball Bag Drill

The goal with the Ball Bag Drill is to give all players as many ground ball repetitions as possible in a short period of time. We can also give them some element of creativity and ownership of how to run the drill.

Typically used by Notre Dame at the start of each practice, the drill essentially consists of one player, one ball, and 10-15 yards of space. We use one half of the field and take our players and spread them out all over and around the goal area (on the sides, behind, out in front, etc.). Each person owns his/her own 10-15 yard area has his/her own ball. Players will roll the ball out in front, scoop it up, and then perform some kind of ground ball maneuver.

As a coach, look to position yourself in a place where you can see all of the players and coach them as they are doing it. On the whistle, they will begin the drill. There are three different increments: 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 45 seconds. We will also test the players conditioning-wise to make sure they are still maintaining technique at the end of drill.

The job of the coach is to make sure the players are going full speed and are doing every type of iteration they can do with a ground ball, such as dropping at their feet, rolling away, kicking, using hockey moves, scooping through, scooping and backpedaling, scooping and changing hands, scooping and walking the dog to cut another player off, and scooping and walking the dog and rolling away to get the hands free to throw a pass to an open man.

Benefits: The key here is to give the players as many ground balls in the time period as possible. They can practice all kinds of ground ball situations this way. It’s also a conditioning drill, too. Notice that the heads of the players are curling, they are shielding their body from potential defenders, using their feet, and using the head of the stick – all things they may find in a ground ball situation.

Yo-Yo Drill

The Yo-Yo Drill has similar goals as before: tons of reps, ability to be creative, and a great conditioner. Plus, the drill replicates scenarios the players will typically find in a game.

At the midline or top of the box, set the players up into pairs. Each group has a defined area (or lanes) so they don’t run into each other. You can set up 15, 30, and 45-second increments in this drill, too.

One player in each pair starts with a ball. Each time they will roll the ball out. They will first roll it out to 10 yards, then 15 yards. The ball will roll out and the defender in each group (D2) will chase the ball down. He will scoop, turn and make a curl, and each time he will turn a different way. He scoops, turns and throws a pass back to D1. After the pass, he breaks toward D1 and now D1 rolls the ball to D2. The partner now scoops and throws a pass or scoops and flips. After he gives the ball up, he circles around his partner and his partner throws another ball out, this time to 15 yards. And the drill continues like before.

Benefits: Heavy repetitions, strong technique, lots of changes, and builds an aerobic base.

The previous clips can be seen in Championship Productions’ DVD “18 Drills to Improve Individual Skills” with Kevin Corrigan. Check out more skill development videos by visiting our DVD Library.