Skills and Strategies for Lacrosse 4-Pack

with Kevin Cassese,
University of Virginia Head Men's Lacrosse Coach;
University of Virginia Associate Head Coach from 2023 to 2026;
2026 ACC Champions;
Lehigh University Head Coach from 2008 to 2023;
2018 Inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame;
3x Patriot League Regular Season & Tournament Champions (2012, 2013, 2021);
Team USA Assistant Coach for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships;
Duke University Assistant Coach from 2005 to 2007;
Duke Interim Head Coach in 2006;
2007 NCAA National Championship Runner-Up;
Stony Brook Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator in 2005;
Professional player for the Philadelphia Barrage;
MVP of the 2006 MLL All Star Game;
3x All-American at Duke University;
2002 MacLaughlin Award (nation's top midfielder);
3x member of the U.S. Men's National team (was Captain in 2010);
2x Gold medalist

Kevin Cassese demonstrates how to create offensive opportunities using the two-man game. Coach Cassese discusses how to establish the two-man game using a series of picks and passes and then shows the entire series from all angles. These various techniques give options on dealing with passive and aggressive defenders and show how to take advantage when a defender switches from a long pole to a short stick. Coach Cassese takes you through game scenario adjustments so you'll know how and when to setup the defense when using the two-man game.

Pick and Pass Series
Beginning with the purpose, mission and objectives, Cassese demonstrates how to gain a step on your man, clear your hands to feed and create a favorable match-up while helping the off-ball player gain an advantage. Coach Cassese uses the Pick, Fake Pick, S Pick and Slip Pick with the two-man game to create opportunities. Detailed explanations and demonstrations of the drills help players and coaches see how, when and where to perform them to be most effective.

Flip and Mirror Series
When the defense begins to adjust to the pick and pass series, Coach Cassese has another way to confound them: He uses a series of deception and confusion called the flip, fake flip and mirror series. He shows when and how to use these techniques, and discusses how to use the mirror to take a pole away from a match-up, how to adjust to defensive switching and how to create favorable match-ups.

Two-Man Game Situations
Coach Cassese shares the intricacies taking advantage of whether the defense comes over the top or from below, switches or plays through the pick, and if the match-up is with a short or long-pole, depends on how specifically the pick is set.

Moving behind the goal to X, several easy picks can be set to ensure the offense can beat the defense to the Goal Line Extended (GLE) thereby increasing the chances of scoring. Similar to setting picks up field, setting picks at X has specific considerations to increase the effectiveness of the two-man game. Some of the effective scenarios covered include the double-pick, fish hook, down pick and razor pick. With practice, all of these tools can be effectively applied to your current offense.

This presentation is great for all levels of play. It uses both practice footage and commentary by Coach Cassese to show more than 24 examples of the two-man game that can be implemented to ensure your players' success.

By applying his years of playing and coaching experience, Coach Cassese presents numerous variations of the pick and pick series that can be applied to any existing offense, improving the performance and scoring opportunities of your team.

70 minutes. 2015.

with Will Scudder, Lehigh University Assistant Coach/Face-Off Coordinator;
as a player at Lehigh he won 54 percent of his face-offs

introduction by Kevin Cassese, Lehigh University Head Coach from 2008 to 2023 (now UVA head coach)

The better you are at face offs, the more possessions your team will control. Concentrating on two classic face-off techniques, Lehigh Assistant Coach Will Scudder presents each exercise efficiently and progressively from its most basic components though the completion of winning the ground ball created by the face-off win.

With a clear, step-by-step explanation of each movement, Coach Scudder presents a mechanically well developed, consistent training plan that will challenge advanced players while instructing and building confidence in less experienced athletes.

The Clamp
Utilizing a low stance and sinking your hips for leverage, Coach Scudder emphasizes the most important rule concerning the positioning of your top rail for winning the clamp. To support this movement, the mechanics are carefully explained while they are performed first slowly then more quickly with each successful repetition. Successful completion of this technique is apparent when superior leverage beginning with first contact is demonstrated. This includes proper body positioning, hand and feet position so as not to create a rule violation.

The Jam and Re-Jam
The initial move over the ball is crucial to be able to win a face off with a jam. Leading to that first move is the discipline necessary to consistently maintain a low and explosive position in an effort to catch your opponent off guard. Remaining vigilant against your opponent may allow you to re-jam your opponent in an effort to keep him guessing at what you will do.

Face Off Drills
Coach Scudder shares several drills to reinforce face-off mechanics and improve wing play, including:

• Whistle Timing Drill - Helps player get comfortable at spending longer time in their ready stance.
• Ball Bucket Pops - Building the skill of popping the ball forward. Perform an individual face-off, pick up ground ball and place ball into bucket.
• Smasher Pad Ground Balls - Perform an individual face-off, pick up ground ball and then coach pressures you with a blocking pad.

This presentation also includes a drill for training wing players to box out and pick up ground balls off the face off.

This is a great video to begin to build any face-off man at any level and preaches the most important parts of the face-off-consistency.

50 minutes. 2015.

with Chad Surman,
Mercer University Associate Head Coach;
former Lehigh University Assistant Coach,
former assistant coach at Salisbury University, played on national championship teams at Salisbury University and Onondaga Community College;

introduction by Kevin Cassese, Lehigh University Head Coach from 2008 to 2023 (now UVA head coach)

Lehigh consistently ranks in the Top 10 nationally in goal against average. In this presentation, Chad Surman shares drills and coaching instructions for developing the long-pole lacrosse player. By progressively combining individual footwork, stick, ground ball and shooting techniques, this presentation helps build the "complete" long-pole player.

Coach Surman shares a series of challenging individual training techniques and competitive drills. Wall ball and ladder drills specifically designed for the long-pole player teaches them how to better handle the ball in transition, making players stronger in offensive and defensive situations.

Stickwork Drills
Beginning with the a series of wall ball reps to build confidence and skills, Coach Surman shares stick-handling drills to help with fielding ground balls, passing and check motions. The ground ball drills teach players how to feel their opponents and move into open space after recovering the ground ball. The check motion drills feature the M, W, Figure 8 and Circle movements to develop control and quickness. Coach Surman also gives a series of approach-and-recover drills that develop quick hands in the passing lanes using the stick-handling skills to help knock down passes. Individual exercises are presented that players can perform on their own as well as advanced checking techniques. Team drills performed at full speed bring all of the techniques together.

Footwork Drills
Coach Surman then takes the viewer through a series of drills using a ladder to build speed and quickness, and then adds drills to develop approach and recovery speed and control while providing game-like scenarios.

Game Situation Drills
Building on the stick-handling and footwork drills used earlier, Coach Surman shares drills tying in approach and recovery, breakouts, transition footwork and double team drills to build the defensive skills necessary for long-stick midfielders and close defenseman.

Regardless of an individual's offense or defensive position, this presentation will help develop the complete long-pole player. Coaches and players alike need only apply hard work to the instruction shown in order to improve their proficiency and become highly skilled long-pole lacrosse players.

52 minutes. 2015.

with Errol Wilson,
Lehigh University Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator and Goalie Coordinator;
Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA) National Team Head Coach (2018); finished 13th of 44 countries in first time ever competing at the 2018 Lacrosse World Championship

introduction by Kevin Cassese, Lehigh University Head Coach from 2008 to 2023 (now head coach at UVA)

Errol Wilson has developed modern indoor drills and stepping/stick techniques to help deal with today's powerful shooters. Beginning with holding the stick while maintaining a strong, purposeful stance, he presents a comprehensive methodology for building and improving goalie techniques. Structured to maximize timing and movement, Coach Wilson's instruction concentrates on the goalie's stance and footwork in order to achieve the greatest possible efficiency of movement.

This instructional video is presented on an indoor racquetball court. However, all of the techniques shown are easily replicated outdoors on the lacrosse field, in a gym or any place that lacrosse players can play wall ball, giving coaches a way to train their goalies despite weather or field availability. In addition, goalies can perform many of these drills solo for extra practice.

Focusing initially on the goalie stance, foot and body position are related to the manner with which the stick is held to maximize the goalie's efficiency of movement. From this stance and stick positioning, the greatest efficiency is achieved to effectively cover the seven major shot placements that the goalie must consistently defend. Each of the seven positions is discussed in detail with an emphasis on efficiency of movement. Coach Wilson covers the pros and cons of each movement and stick position. Adding precision footwork into each movement in the net, Wilson demonstrates how to correctly step into each shot. By stepping into the shot the goalie increases his speed to the ball and is able to effectively place his body between the ball and the net increasing the surface area available to stop each shot.

Drawing from all of the newly learned techniques, the goalie warm up is designed to carefully reinforce these movements to build muscle memory and increased efficiency. Warm ups are done with an emphasis on the shooter's shot placement. This enables the goalie to focus on consistently making the exact movements that have been designed for the greatest efficiency, which, in turn, builds a faster, more confident goalie.

By playing wall ball a goalie can efficiently do a self-warm up or warm up with a coach watching and critiquing. While banging the ball off the walls, the goalie can concentrate on working areas that need improvement, attacking a corner ball, stepping out to meet the ball with a gather step and quarter turn.

Coach Wilson then moves to explosive, strength-building drills that start with the goalie out of his normal stance. For example, he starts the goalie in a low squat then shoots high, forcing the goalie to explode upward to make the save.

Lastly, he drills the goalie's reaction time by having him face away then turn and find the shot. A "top hand only" segment trains the goalie to correctly attack the ball. Coach Wilson finishes with a great drill called "goalie war" that pits the goalies against each other to make saves, building the competitive spirit so essential to the position. Every drill in this presentation is demonstrated and explained in detail so even a beginner can instantly apply the techniques.

Coach Wilson gives a detailed template that defines the key foundational needs upon which to create a proficient and skilled goalie. The drills and techniques shown can be implemented at any level. Even the most experienced goalie could apply Coach Wilson's philosophy to help them improve.

62 minutes. 2015.