Important Defensive Basics for youth players
Hello again, its been awhile. I have been overwhelmingly busy in the lax world and have abandoned my blog. Since November, I have played in a Grand Masters Tournament, run practices across the state at Western Michigan University, instructed goalies at weekly secessions across town, attended a National Coaching convention (IMLCA),started up a brand new instructional program,( First Line Lacrosse Academy), traveled to Ithaca,NY with a Fall Ball team (Club 313 Lax) and have begun scouting winter leagues for my Summer Travel program, (GP Select., Enough said!
So lets get to it. Today's topic will help coaches create better Defensive players by adding a few simple drills at every practice and/or before games.
My take on youth Defenders is they lack the basic fundamentals which are mandatory to create good long sticks, middies on the defensive side of the ball and riding attackmen.
Most youth players make common these common mistakes.
1. Checking to strip the ball.
2. Poor technique when approaching the ball.
3. Poor stance and footwork.
4. Allowing offense to dictate where the ball goes.
I believe we need to teach Defensive players daily, through repetition, to create proper footwork and to build a solid core of Defensive skills.
Try these 2 basic drills to correct and improve your kids.
1. Addressing the ball.
From the youngest age, players need to learn how critical approaching the ball carrier is. We need to stress that coming out to defend a player has a precise method that should be repeated EVERY time. Start by identifying which hand the offensive player is carrying in. When we address the ball three thing must happen.
a. Move to the ball under control with our stick OUT AND IN FRONT of the body.
b. Break down in an athletic stance with our knees bent, wide stance, and the top of our helmet under the chin of our opponent.
c. Overplay the strong hand of the offensive player simply by lining up our inside foot on their outside foot. make sure our stance is slightly in a drop step position.
ADDRESS DRILL
Players form a line on the end line. The first player steps out and drops back to the back side of the crease facing the coach who is standing to the right or left.
On the whistle, the player addresses the next player in line according to which hand their stick is in. Approach, break down, under control, with conviction every time.
On the whistle the player heads to the back of the line and the next one hustles out.
Repeat with each player 5- 10 reps each.
2. DEFENDING GLE
Youth players tend to lunge and get beat at X. We need to stress to players that addressing the ball is the first step of defense, the second is the footwork required to beat an offensive player to the spot. As a player drives from behind, we need to teach defenders how to sprint to the crease and close the gate. It is important that we use the advantage of being allowed to step in the crease to our advantage.
GLE SKELETON DRILL
Set up cones on both sides of the crease arcing out to 3 yards, and then back to GLE.
Players start at X, facing the end line. The coach should stand where an offensive player will be at X. On the whistle, we address the ball, and sprint to the spot where the O will attack, (GLE at the crease). Once we get to "the spot", we close the gate by getting in a stance wher our feet are facing the end line cone. Shuffle out to approx 4 yards then repeat the motion on the other side cutting through the crease to the opposite spot. Close the gate and shuffle to the far cone.
Players can be sent one after another in rapid succession.
Note: Teach that the "island" if 5 yards out and 5 yards up. Stress we never want players to get above 3 yards.
I guarantee players will improve rapidly if you run these 2 simple drills daily.
I will add more in the days to come.
coach B
So lets get to it. Today's topic will help coaches create better Defensive players by adding a few simple drills at every practice and/or before games.
My take on youth Defenders is they lack the basic fundamentals which are mandatory to create good long sticks, middies on the defensive side of the ball and riding attackmen.
Most youth players make common these common mistakes.
1. Checking to strip the ball.
2. Poor technique when approaching the ball.
3. Poor stance and footwork.
4. Allowing offense to dictate where the ball goes.
I believe we need to teach Defensive players daily, through repetition, to create proper footwork and to build a solid core of Defensive skills.
Try these 2 basic drills to correct and improve your kids.
1. Addressing the ball.
From the youngest age, players need to learn how critical approaching the ball carrier is. We need to stress that coming out to defend a player has a precise method that should be repeated EVERY time. Start by identifying which hand the offensive player is carrying in. When we address the ball three thing must happen.
a. Move to the ball under control with our stick OUT AND IN FRONT of the body.
b. Break down in an athletic stance with our knees bent, wide stance, and the top of our helmet under the chin of our opponent.
c. Overplay the strong hand of the offensive player simply by lining up our inside foot on their outside foot. make sure our stance is slightly in a drop step position.
ADDRESS DRILL
Players form a line on the end line. The first player steps out and drops back to the back side of the crease facing the coach who is standing to the right or left.
On the whistle, the player addresses the next player in line according to which hand their stick is in. Approach, break down, under control, with conviction every time.
On the whistle the player heads to the back of the line and the next one hustles out.
Repeat with each player 5- 10 reps each.
2. DEFENDING GLE
Youth players tend to lunge and get beat at X. We need to stress to players that addressing the ball is the first step of defense, the second is the footwork required to beat an offensive player to the spot. As a player drives from behind, we need to teach defenders how to sprint to the crease and close the gate. It is important that we use the advantage of being allowed to step in the crease to our advantage.
GLE SKELETON DRILL
Set up cones on both sides of the crease arcing out to 3 yards, and then back to GLE.
Players start at X, facing the end line. The coach should stand where an offensive player will be at X. On the whistle, we address the ball, and sprint to the spot where the O will attack, (GLE at the crease). Once we get to "the spot", we close the gate by getting in a stance wher our feet are facing the end line cone. Shuffle out to approx 4 yards then repeat the motion on the other side cutting through the crease to the opposite spot. Close the gate and shuffle to the far cone.
Players can be sent one after another in rapid succession.
Note: Teach that the "island" if 5 yards out and 5 yards up. Stress we never want players to get above 3 yards.
I guarantee players will improve rapidly if you run these 2 simple drills daily.
I will add more in the days to come.
coach B
posted by 313 LACROSSE at
10:18 AM
