Stick skills - a plan of action
To play the game well, we must have players who can throw, catch, cradle and shoot well.
I hear coaches all the time complaining that “my kids can’t catch and throw.”
Its like saying “my car isnt running” and there is no fuel in the tank.
Unfortunately we dont have pratices 6 days a week to do stickwork, at the youth and HS levels.
Spring Practices can be infrequent, fields are muddy, weather can be horrible, etc.
Plus we need to work on that offense, rides and clears, defense, face offs, etc. - you get the message.
Here is a plan of action to make a ton of progress in the most important aspect of the game.
1. Bring as many balls as humanly possible.
I live by the rule of 250. I bring 4 ball bags to every practice. Each has 62 or more in there. I will beg, borrow, fundraise, find a rich parent, or get sponsored by a local lax store to get balls. I refill the balls before every practice from my “vat” of balls, which I contant keep at 500+. I once showed up to a U15 practice and the coach had 14 balls in his team ball bag! The players best skill was hunting balls and chasing missed shots. If you are committed to quick improvement you must have the ammunition to do so. "We dont have money " is a lame excuse. Find a way to buy ammunition, otherwise you will lose the battle.
2. Check all sticks BEFORE the season starts.
Pockets wear out. Younger players string them like crap. They think a ton of “whip” is good. It is if you are a crease guy, the rest of the players need two things. Hold and a smooth release. Appoint a stick doctor, if you are not one yourself. Buy a spool of side wall and hockey lace. Make sure EVERYONE has a perfect throwing stick that has a perfect pocket. Dont be afraid to tell parents that their kid needs a new head. They have great heads out there that are inexpensive. I see kids all the time with rotten hand me downs from a bygone era. Send those to the mantle or land fill.
3. Attend passing drills.
Too many coaches think the passing drill is a time socialize with assistants. Teach, teach, teach. I have one drill I love, a simple partner passing drill. Players face each other 10 yards apart and catch and throw passes. The drill allows coaches to "walk the ranks” by moving up and down the line behind the players. Put a pile of balls at their feet. Make sure they are standing correctly. Teach them that the game is played up and behind the body. Teach kids to catch and throw “in the box”. Teach them to “listen to the ball” catching it as it goes past their helmets. This drill is to be done daily.
Catch and throw right,catch and throw left, catch left throw right, catch right throw left. Split dodge and throw, face dodge and throw, throw one handed, back handed, mix it up and make it fun and challenging. DO NOT CHASE BAD PASSES. Pick one up and continue. Keep this drill flowing, and teach every day. They will get better if the get the reps. NOTE: Teach kids to communicate, call for the ball every time. Show a target. Stay on them.
Break up the “we got skills” club. Assign newer players an experienced player as a partner. Instead of hammering a new or struggling player, make the experienced guy accoutable for the development of the newer guy.
4. Simulate game scenarios in passing drills.
Use drills that make kids catch and throw on the run. Make them catch and throw under pressure, light pressure early in the season, heavier as we move on. Get rid of line drills. Replace them with star drills, 4 corner drills, maze drills, break outs, etc. Get 2 to 3 balls going in passing drills. Plan and count “touches”. Make sure drills are short, up tempo and never have more than 6-8 players in lines. I like to have postions work together so they get used to each other in games. i.e. Mids with Mids, Attack with Attack, Close D with Goalies. LSMs go with mids, thats who they pass to in games. Its ok to mix it up, but also good to break it down by postion as well.
Good luck and Good Lax.
-coach B
I hear coaches all the time complaining that “my kids can’t catch and throw.”
Its like saying “my car isnt running” and there is no fuel in the tank.
Unfortunately we dont have pratices 6 days a week to do stickwork, at the youth and HS levels.
Spring Practices can be infrequent, fields are muddy, weather can be horrible, etc.
Plus we need to work on that offense, rides and clears, defense, face offs, etc. - you get the message.
Here is a plan of action to make a ton of progress in the most important aspect of the game.
1. Bring as many balls as humanly possible.
I live by the rule of 250. I bring 4 ball bags to every practice. Each has 62 or more in there. I will beg, borrow, fundraise, find a rich parent, or get sponsored by a local lax store to get balls. I refill the balls before every practice from my “vat” of balls, which I contant keep at 500+. I once showed up to a U15 practice and the coach had 14 balls in his team ball bag! The players best skill was hunting balls and chasing missed shots. If you are committed to quick improvement you must have the ammunition to do so. "We dont have money " is a lame excuse. Find a way to buy ammunition, otherwise you will lose the battle.
2. Check all sticks BEFORE the season starts.
Pockets wear out. Younger players string them like crap. They think a ton of “whip” is good. It is if you are a crease guy, the rest of the players need two things. Hold and a smooth release. Appoint a stick doctor, if you are not one yourself. Buy a spool of side wall and hockey lace. Make sure EVERYONE has a perfect throwing stick that has a perfect pocket. Dont be afraid to tell parents that their kid needs a new head. They have great heads out there that are inexpensive. I see kids all the time with rotten hand me downs from a bygone era. Send those to the mantle or land fill.
3. Attend passing drills.
Too many coaches think the passing drill is a time socialize with assistants. Teach, teach, teach. I have one drill I love, a simple partner passing drill. Players face each other 10 yards apart and catch and throw passes. The drill allows coaches to "walk the ranks” by moving up and down the line behind the players. Put a pile of balls at their feet. Make sure they are standing correctly. Teach them that the game is played up and behind the body. Teach kids to catch and throw “in the box”. Teach them to “listen to the ball” catching it as it goes past their helmets. This drill is to be done daily.
Catch and throw right,catch and throw left, catch left throw right, catch right throw left. Split dodge and throw, face dodge and throw, throw one handed, back handed, mix it up and make it fun and challenging. DO NOT CHASE BAD PASSES. Pick one up and continue. Keep this drill flowing, and teach every day. They will get better if the get the reps. NOTE: Teach kids to communicate, call for the ball every time. Show a target. Stay on them.
Break up the “we got skills” club. Assign newer players an experienced player as a partner. Instead of hammering a new or struggling player, make the experienced guy accoutable for the development of the newer guy.
4. Simulate game scenarios in passing drills.
Use drills that make kids catch and throw on the run. Make them catch and throw under pressure, light pressure early in the season, heavier as we move on. Get rid of line drills. Replace them with star drills, 4 corner drills, maze drills, break outs, etc. Get 2 to 3 balls going in passing drills. Plan and count “touches”. Make sure drills are short, up tempo and never have more than 6-8 players in lines. I like to have postions work together so they get used to each other in games. i.e. Mids with Mids, Attack with Attack, Close D with Goalies. LSMs go with mids, thats who they pass to in games. Its ok to mix it up, but also good to break it down by postion as well.
Good luck and Good Lax.
-coach B
posted by 313 LACROSSE at
9:04 AM
