Parent Drills Book
Table of Contents Warm Up Games/Running Coach Says Red Light Green Light Sharks and Minnows Freeze Tag Relay Race Chase Ground Balls Ground Ball Game Competitive Ground Balls Under the Arm Ground Balls Through the stick Ground Balls (advanced) Up and Down the Field Ground Ball Relay Race Passing/Catching Basics (just throwing or just catching) lndivid ual Stickwork (Beginner) Underhand Throwing (Beginner) Partner Passing Shuttles One sided Shuttles 4 Corner Passing Cradling Cradling Game One handed cradling (advanced) Stationary cradling Cradling on the move Cradling down to the ground and back up Throw the Cones Relay Race Shooting Ground ball to goal Pass & shoot Bucket shooting Dodge & Shoot (Advanced) 4 corner shooing Defense/Offense Lane Drill Dodging (Face/Split/Roll) lvls 2v2s 3v2s (Advanced) Gladiator Steal the Bacon KEY X- PLAYER C-COACH e- CONE A- ATTACKER D- DEFENDER +- -BALLS D -GOAL
Warm Up Games/Running Coach Says Like Simon Says but incorporate plyometrics o High knees o Butt kicks o Frankenstein's o Shuffle o Karaoke o Accelerators o Running Backwards o Lunges o Skips Height/Distance Red Light Green Light Same game but to make it more advanced coaches can incorporate a whistle to get the players to learn how to stop and go when the whistle is blown and/or colored paper to get the players to keep their heads up Sharks and Minnows 2-3 players are designated as sharks try to tag all the other players (called minnows) before they cross to the other side of the field. Coaches can add sticks and balls to make it more difficult for minnows. If a player gets tagged or drop the ball they become sharks Freeze Tag Just like regular tag but when a player gets tagged they must freeze until a teammate comes to "un-freeze" them by tagging them back into the game Relay Race Break up into even teams and have players race relay style using different skills o Running o Skipping o Running backwards Elbow Tag Players pair up and link arms at the elbow. One player is "it" and another player is trying not be tagged. The player being chased must link elbows with a pair and the player on the end has to break off of the link and is now the one who is being chased. Friendship Tag Players pair up and hold hands and skip around the field to avoid being tagged. If a pair gets tagged they must split from their partner and then look to tag other pairs Chase Coaches form a box and break up players into two teams that set up at opposite corners of the box. Each team must run around the box as fast as they can while they try to tag the last person from the other team. The team that catches up first wins.
Ground Balls Ground Ball Game Break up into two teams while coaches spread the balls out over the field. After the whistle, players must collect as many balls as they can (only one at a time) and shoot them into the goal. The team that collects the most balls wins. Competitive Ground Balls Players form 2 lines on either side of the coach. Coach rolls a ball out and the first two players in line run out and fight for the groundball. The drill ends once the ball is returned to coach. Encourage the player who didn't pick up the ball to play defense and try to get it back. Or go to goal and shoot. Vary where you start from around the goal. XXX XX c XXX XX Under the Arm Ground Balls The coach holds their arm out next to them and holds the stick upright on the ground. A ball is placed under the arm of the coach and players must run under the coach's arm to pick up the ball. The focus of this drill is to teach the players to get low for ground balls and bend at the waist. Coaches can stand on either side of the ball to encourage players to use both hands. Players should use their bodies to protect the ball from the coach. If the coach is on the right, it is a right handed groundball. If the coach is on the left, it is left handed. Through the stick Ground Balls (Advanced) The coach holds their arm out next to them and holds the stick upright on the ground. The ball is placed in front of the head of the coach's stick. The players must run hard at the ball and run through the coach's stick in order to pick it up. The focus of this drill is to have the players run at ground balls full speed. Coaches can stand on either side of the ball to practice using both hands Up and Down the Field Players start at one end of the field and roll the balls out to themselves. Players run through the groundball, take a few steps and repeat all the way up and down the field. Ground Ball Relay Race Players race in teams to pick up a ground ball and run back to their side.
Passing/Catching Basics (just throwing or just catching) Start simple with just practicing good form. Throwing- arms away from the body, stick almost flat behind, follow through all the way to your opposite hip Catching- ask for the ball out in front of you, watch the ball into your stick, and give with your arms and legs Individual Stickwork/ Stick Tricks o One handed tosses to self (R&L)**Beginner o Back of the stick (R&L)**Beginner o Bounce off the ground (R&L)**Intermediate o Through the legs (R&L)**Advanced Underhand Throwing (Beginner) Players partner up and throw underhand back and forth to their partner Partner Passing Players stand 5-7 yards apart and pass back and forth to each other. Each player should still work on good form and fundamentals. Coaches should emphasize that good form does not mean players have to "whip" the ball at each other. Shuttles In groups of roughly 6, players set up across from each other and pass and catch on the move rotating in line. Coaches yell out directions (pass and catch right, pass right catch left etc... ) and make sure the players are passing and catching while keeping their feet moving. Players follow where they pass the ball XXX XXX One sided Shuttles Players all line up on the same side. The first player runs out to a cone and turns to receive a pass from the next player in line. Depending on skill level, the player will then either roll the ball to the second person in line or pass is back to her. Players rotate through the line and practice both hands. xxxx X I 4 Corner Passing Players stand at 4 cones and practice passing and catching with their outside hand. Players will either be passing right and catching left or passing left and catching right depending on the direction the ball is moving. Coaches should emphasize turning to the outside and keeping the ball as far from the cone as possible
Cradling Cradling Game Every player cradles within a set area while coach yells out a series of directions i.e. cradle right, cradle left, low, high, out to the side, or groundball. When the coach yells "ground ball" all the players must drop their balls and pick up a new one. Can turn this into sharks and minnows. Sharks pick up ground balls. One Handed Cradling (Advanced) Players are all running around within a set area and are cradling one handed. With their free hand they are trying to check the ball out of the other players' sticks. Once a player drops the ball she is out. As more players get eliminated, coaches should reduce the boundaries. Stationary Cradling Players practice cradling while standing still. Just practice good form and cradling at different spots o Right o Left o Low o High o Mid Cradling on the move Players practice cradling while walking, jogging, running and sprinting. Cradling down to the ground and back up Players are stationary but have to cradle from a standing position to laying down on the ground and then back up to standing. Through the Cones- Zig Zag Players practice cradling while moving through the cones, switching hands and keeping the ball as far from the cones as possible. Relay Race Break up into teams and have the players race each other while cradling. Protection Drill Similar to basketball pivot drill. The attacker has to keep one foot on the ground while defender tries to knock the ball away from the attacker. Initially start with no sticks for defense and then add sticks to make it more challenging. Attackers should focus on keeping their defender as far away from ball as possible and keeping the ball in between their shoulders and using their body and arms to protect. Defense should run around the attacker and really make them work for possession.
Shooting Ground balls to goal Coach rolls out a ground ball and the player has to run, pick it up, and shoot. Pass & shoot Coaches stand across from the players (either A) behind the goal or B) on the opposite side of the 8) and passes the ball to the player who receives the ball, catches and shoots. If they drop the pass they can just pick it up like a ground ball and finish with a shot. To increase the difficulty, the players can form 2 lines and pass to each other. A) B) Bucket shooting Set up balls on either side of the goal and have two lines of players line up next to the balls (for safety players should set up to the side of the goal, not behind). Place a cone about 8 yards in front of the net. Alternating sides, have the players roll a ground ball out to themselves, run up to the cone and then turn their hips and shoot. Players should use their outside hands to shoot and should not "fade" away from the goal after they turn. Dodge & Shoot (Advanced) Players should set up at the top of the 12 with the coach on the 8. Players have to run at the coach and try to dodge around the coach. After they beat the coach they can shoot. 4 Corner Shooting Players set up at four cones around the goal. Balls start at a top corner and the ball works its way around the cage to the final player who cuts in for a feed from behind the goal and shoots.
Defense/Offense Lane Drill Set up a lane of cones about 15 yards long and 5 yards wide. Defense stands inside the lane and attack starts just outside. Attackers are trying to beat their defender to the end of the lane while defense is trying to force the attack outside the cones. Start with no sticks, and then give attack a stick and a ball. Only give defense sticks for the oldest age groups. Dodging (Face/Split/Roll) Face Dodge: Players run at the cone/defender and use a stutter step and a quick cradle across the face to get the defender to jump and then run around them Split Dodge: Similar to face dodge except the players switch hands and beat the defender to the opposite side Roll Dodge: Players approach the cone/defender and plant theirs inside foot (righty roll dodge uses left foot and lefty dodge uses right foot) on the cone/defender with their back to them protecting the ball. Players then take two steps to get around the cone/defender and face forward again. Players must remember to "seal off" cone/defender and try to get directly behind them and not fade sideways so defense cannot recover lvls Attack sets up with the ball and tries to beat defense to goal. (Very similar to lane drill but no lane and attack can shoot at the end) Defense is trying to force down the wings to give attack a lower angle shot. 2v2s Attackers work together to score (no pass is necessary to start but incorporate it if it's too easy for attack). Defense has to make a decision to double the ball to prevent an easy lvl or playing man to man. 3v2s (Advanced) 3 attackers form a triangle shape with the ball in the middle and work together to score while 2 defenders play man down. Defense has to be sure to have someone on the ball at ALL times while the off ball defender covers the other 2 open players. Gladiator Players break up into 2 teams. Coach rolls a ball out and the first player from each team battles for the ground ball. Whichever team gets the ball gets an additional player to form a 2vl to goal. Every time there is a goal or a change of possession another player is added to the team with possession.
Chase the Bacon Break up into 2 teams and set up opposite each other. Each player is assigned a number. The coach then rolls out a ground ball and calls out a number. The player that was assigned that number from both teams runs out and tries to get groundball. Encourage the player who did not pick up the ball to play defense to get the ball back. To get more advanced the coach can call out more than one number.