Boys Coaches Instructional Meeting Dec 2017 Teaching Youth Lacrosse with Coach Dom
Are you qualified to coach? You don't need experience, and/or you don t need to be a good player to be a great coach!
PHILOSOPHYS, STANDARDS & COMMANDMENTS
Our Philosophy Introduce athletes to sport that is still new in IL. Create safe & fun environment that is enjoyable to both players & parents. Compete in IBLA/IGLL & represent our community with pride & respect. Become premier youth program in IL through instruction, administration & reputation. Honor roots & history of the lacrosse game.
Coaches & Players Standards Be on time Be ready to go (fully equipped) Wear team colors Have whistle Have a practice plan Players need to pay/give attention (especially at minors and major level) During Spring, our team is priority (not travel or another sport)
Coaching Commandments Engage Parents You can never have enough practice coaches to help get players suited up & help during water breaks. Designate a team coordinator to help solve problems and allow you to coach. Organize Practice Idle kids kill practice, keep in mind that kids have low attention spans. Run fun stuff at beginning of practice so late arrivals miss it while they loosen up. Print out practice plan; have assignments for your assistant coaches and goals for each drill or station. Quick water breaks (1-2 minutes); encourage water bottles with spout so helmets stay on, only gloves come off. Do everything at full speed. If you are bored they are REALLY bored! Keep it FUN!
Coaching Commandments Cont. Stress Fundamentals Teach defense first, young players want to score goals & hit people; instill basics of teamwork & discipline by creating impenetrable defense Teach importance of passing & off ball movement to start kids thinking about how to stop it. Keep offense simple & relevant to next level, don t bog kids down in formations & chalk talks, teach basic slide, fill & adjust defense. Our program will run similar offense at all levels so when players move up they know concept. Be creative in your drills Stay away from line drills, they are ok for brief warm-ups only, players get bored with same drills over & over, mix them up, make them competitions or challenges. Reward players once in awhile by letting them select drill they want to do.
Coaching Commandments Cont. Remember it is about teaching- not winning! Discipline your renegades: One or two kids who refuse to pass in games or who are disruptive in practices diminish experience for all players. Solve these problems EARLY, talk to them, at older levels get captains to talk to them. Or talk to parents if nothing else works. Play everyone!! That is the objective of youth lacrosse, develop your players. If you are obsessed with winning try a higher level or different program! Praise in public, criticize in private. Resist temptation to load up your attack Even out your attack, midfield & defense. If your best players are all at attack your defense becomes very weak. Let players try every position, you never know how good a player can be if you do not give him a chance.
Coaching Commandments Cont. Cultivate Goalies Even if you are lucky to have a player want to play goalie, rotate different players (at lower ages). Reinforce that good goaltending is worth more than a player scoring 6! Run lots of full field drills & scrimmages This helps players get comfortable with length of field & also conditions them. The best drill to run is 3V2 continues drill. Teach face offs Spend time on face offs because it is a very detailed technical skill. It involves lots of practice & time. Emphasize Teamwork!!
LACROSSE 101
Equipment Huntley Youth Lacrosse has partnered with Play it Again Sports of Crystal Lake to provide up to 20% off new & used gear! Custom red/black helmets can be ordered to match team colors. NOTE: The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector & chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece, gloves & protective cup.
Field of Play
The Crosse & Ball Crosse The crosse (lacrosse stick) is made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material with a shaped net pocket at the end. The crosse must be an overall length of 40-42 for attackmen/midfielders or 52-72 for defensemen. The crosse head must be 6.5-10 wide, except goalie s crosse may be 10-12 wide. The crosse pocket shall be deemed illegal if top surface of lacrosse ball, when placed in head of crosse, is below bottom edge of side wall. Ball The ball must be made of solid rubber & can be white, yellow or orange. The ball is 7.75-8 in circumference & 5-5.25 ounces.
Key Terms Terms 10-Second Rule 2-on-1 30-Second Rule Backhand Box Defense Checking Clamping Controlling Corner Man Corner Position Cradling Crease Crease Man Crease Position Defense Defensive Stance Dodge Draw Definition Time allotted to team to move ball into offensive zone when short-handed. Situation where offensive player has beaten his/her check to create man advantage going into offensive zone (3-on-2, 4-on-3, 5-on-4 are similar types of situations). Time allotted to team to get shot on opponents goal. Act of shooting or passing from behind ones back. Defensive strategy commonly used when opponent is on power play (also see Power Play). Occurs when defending player has contact with offensive player; also refers to when defending player has contact with stick of offensive player. Occurs when defending player places head of his/her stick over top of offensive players stick. Keeping player in check in order to minimize offensive threats. Player who plays corner or shooter positions on offense (also see Corner Position). Offensive position on both sides of floor located near side face-off circles. Rocking motion of stick used to gain feel for, and to maintain control of, the ball. Area around goal that opposing players are forbidden to enter. Offensive player who plays crease position (also see Crease Position). Position on goal line that is extended from, and approximately one meter off, goal crease. Act of protecting ones goal area when opponent has ball. Position where players knees are bent, feet are shoulder-width apart, lead foot is slightly ahead, and stick is held to match opponents stick as well as to protect body. One-on-one move where deliberate step is taken in one direction followed by an explosive step in opposite direction. Pulling and turning stick during face-off (also see Face-off).
Key Terms Cont. Terms Face-off Fake Fast Break Give & Go Left-Handed Loose Ball Man Short Definition Method of starting or re-starting play (also see Draw). Performing movement without completion in attempt to fool opponent (e.g. faking a pass or a shot). Rapid attack which occurs during transition from offence to defense. Act of passing and then quickly going for return pass. Player whose dominant hand is left hand; left hand is thus positioned at throat of stick. Occurs when ball is not in control of either team. Situation where one team has fewer players allowed on floor than opponent (also referred to as short-handed or man-down). Man-to-Man Man-up/Odd Man Motion Offense Out of Bounds Overhand Overload Pick Pick & Roll Point Man Team defensive strategy where pressure is placed on ball carrier while remaining players move off their checks towards middle of floor. See Power Play. Offensive formation that involves having five runners in continuous and balanced cycle of player movement. Area of arena or box designated as a non-playing area. Shooting or passing motion created by moving stick down from above and just off shoulder. Strategy of moving one or two extra players into one area of floor. Act of blocking path of defender such that he/she cannot follow his/her check. Act of setting pick and then turning to receive pass (also see Pick). Player who plays point position on offense (also see Point Position).
Key Terms Cont. Terms Point Position Power Play Quick Stick Ready Position Right-Handed Scoop Shooter Side Arm Sliding Stick Side Sub Shot Switch Time Trap & Scoop Definition Location at top and center of floor; this location is taken by player who is furthest from goal. Situation when one team has player advantage as a result of penalty. Act of catching and then passing or shooting in one motion. Method of holding stick with two hands such that head of stick is near shoulder and ready to receive a pass or check. Player whose dominant hand is right hand; right hand is thus positioned at throat of stick. Method of picking up ball by accelerating head of stick under ball. See Corner Man. Act of shooting or passing ball by swinging stick through horizontal plane at waist. Act of leaving ones check to assist team mate. Defensive position taken to defend against offensive player's stick. Shot that is taken with stick moving in plane below waist (also know as an underhand shot). Act of exchanging checks with team mate. Begins when team gains possession of ball. Act of placing head of stick over ball to stop its movement and then scooping ball into stick (also see Scoop). Triple Threat V-Cut Weak Side Zone Position where stick is held with two hands such that body is between stick and opponent; this position allows player to pass, shoot or go around opponent. One- to three-step move by offensive player where defender is first engaged; offensive player then takes quick reverse step and moves into open to receive ball. Side of floor with fewest number of players. Defensive strategy where each player is assigned designated area to defend.
PRACTICE & DRILLS
Recommended Practice Plan Weekly plans should consist of the following types of practices. Mondays- coach s choice. 1 st practice after game is usually to address issues from previous game. Figure out plan on drive home after game while everything is fresh. Wednesdays- pure skills practice. Stick skills, transition drills, shooting drills & dodging drills, conditioning (running/physical fitness). Thursday- game day prep. This includes combination of all drills. Work on team philosophy to finish practice. This would include offense sets (even & man up), defensive formation, rides, clears & face offs.
Teaching Defense Teach stance. Teach positioning- you always stay between your man & goal, feet first/stick second, always protect front of goal. Teach legal stick checking as 3 rd defensive move. Teach boxing out-- not taking out! Man to man first (zone at a later time). No threat D box to box.
Teaching Offense Teach players to REACT instead of REMEMBER Teach player formation to help create scoring opportunities (1-3-2, 1-4-1, 2-2-2; mostly 1-3,2) Teach motion- average player has ball for 1-2 minutes. Teach other 40-46 minutes. Keys to motion- dodge, clear, show, replace, stress curls & fades. Teach dodges Face dodge, split dodge, roll dodge, inside roll, swim, rocker dodge. Teach art of "CHANGE - changing speed & direction. Emphasize stick placement (tight & protected) Use X-man to slow pace, regroup & sub.
Teaching Goalie Clear Clearing the ball is extremely difficult in youth lacrosse, teach live & set clear. Use extra man goalie. Teach importance of space. Demonstrate standard, inverted, 4 across clear. One defender each side of goalie, one defender mid field sideline. Think L shape. Middies get to above mid line with 1 at home.
Teaching Rides MAKE IT FUN! This is attacks only chance to play defense. Have standard & back up ride. Examples "Bird" (or 33) "Blackjack" ( 21 ). Objective is to force turnover on offensive side of field. Goal is to create 2-3 double teams before opponent gets to midline. Stress importance of no threat D once opponent passes midfield (most mistakes occur at this point).
Juniors Practice Example (90 min) Minutes Task 5 Dynamic stretches 10 Partner passing (stationary, string) R+L, one handed catch. 6-8 Line drills scoop, pass, defend. R+L 3 per group 2 cones. Goalie gets motion warmup, then shooting warmup. 5 Water & give feedback to players on stick work. 10 Shooting. Scoop & shoot, 4 corner. Work on mechanics. 5 1V1 ground ball (box out)- scoop & feed, scoop & shoot. Shuffle starting location. 5 2v1 ground ball - same 6-8 Stationary 3v2 10 Dodging Zig Zag with Roll Dodge, Split Dodge. 10 1v1 2v2 to goal. Split field in front of goal crease to force smaller space to work. 10 Relays or fun activity.
Minors/Majors Practice Example (90 min) Minutes Task 5 Dynamic stretches 10 Passing of any kind 10 2v1 scoop & feed, scoop & shoot. Shuffle starting location. 10 3V2 baseline 5 Water and give feedback to players on first 30 minutes. 10 Ride, breakdown different formations and execute in live situation. 10 Clear, same 15 Offense / man up. Defense/ man down. Formations and execute in live situation. 5 Break 10 Scrimmage. Control it and be ready to stop and breakdown plays as they should happen.
DRILLS & RESOURCES
Stick Skill Drills Progressive partner passing- stationary, string, all in one 3 man passing - hamster, triangle, loop Box passing- great build up drill Star passing - great build up drill
Transition Drills 1V1 ground ball -scoop, scoop & feed, scoop & shoot 2V2 ground ball - same 4V3 fast break 3V2 Basketball 3v2, 4v3 stationary Baseline 2V1 3V2 4V3
Shooting Drills 4 cone shooting Bucket shooting Box shooting Tunnel shooting C curl shooting
Dodging Drills Zig Zag with Roll dodge, split. Midfield dodging from up top practice all dodges (no defense) Attack dodging from wing and X Practice all dodges(no defense) 5 point 1v1, 2v2
Resources Coach Dom!!!! www.uslacrosse.org www.kudda.com www.weplay.com www.laxstars.com www.simplylacrosse.com www.hoganlax.com