2-Man is the Way: Drills to Implement 2-Man Offensive Concepts

with Richard Carrington,
Haverford College Head's Men's Lacrosse Coach;
Amherst College Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator from 2021 to 2023;
Tusculum University Head Men's Coach from 2012 to 2021;
8.93 assists per game in 2007 (NCAA Division II leader);
Virginia Military Institute Assistant Coach in 2011-2012;
at VMI, Carrington's defense allowed the fewest goals in conference play since 2009

What's old is new in lacrosse, as the venerable two-man game has made a resurgence across all levels of the game. Whether it's through mirrors, on-ball picks, the big/little game or double inverts, the two-man game leads to higher percentage shots and more goals.

In this video, Tusculum University head coach Richard Carrington (2012 through 2021) takes you through a series of drills that are designed to help your players understand the importance of spacing and how a properly executed two-man game can lead to open looks. Coach Carrington presents four main drills, each with its own set of variations and modifications to suit your team's needs and goals. Through progressive series of 11 drills, Carrington demonstrates the various ways, in the two-man game, that players can create the necessary space, even when constrained to certain parts of the field, to create a 2-on-1 for an easy look at the goal.

Phone Booth 2v2s

Before a two-man offense can be implemented in the half field, your players need to understand the importance of spacing and how to create it. With Phone Booth 2v2s, Coach Carrington demonstrates how, even in limited space, two offensive players can work together to make room for a pass, beat their defenders and go to the cage.

Push Pull

Next, Carrington introduces the Push Pull drill, which is actually a series of drills that build on the original concept. Again operating in limited space, this time only half of the offensive box, two players initiate with one of several two-man moves while the off-ball player or players find open space. Coach Carrington puts his players through four variations of this drill - 3v2 (same side), 3v2 (from X), 4v3 (off ball) and 4v3 (hedge and snap) - all designed to ultimately create a 2v1 for that high percentage look at the net.

Shake and Bake

In what is Coach Carrington's favorite drill of this series, the Shake and Bake and its various iterations take you one step closer to a complete two-man offense. A two-ball drill, each variation continues to build on the principles of the earlier drills, requiring off-ball players to find space in a limited area through two-man techniques. In the 32, three players work at least five yards above the goal, and after their reps concludes, the drill immediately toggles to the two offensive players behind the goal. Coach Carrington also introduces the 42 and the 44 variations, adding players to congest the space and create more game-like scenarios.

Coach Carrington presents easy to run drills that can be modified to suit your needs. This video will definitely help you build and successfully implement a two-man offense!

99 minutes. 2022.