This document summarizes 6 lacrosse defense drills: 1. Individual drill working on footwork and body positioning approaching cones. 2. 1v1 drill in lanes to practice forcing attackers to one side. 3. Double teaming drill with a second defender helping once the first defender forces an attacker's direction. 4. 1v1 drill around the arc to apply skills from prior drills in a game situation. 5. 2v1 drill with defenders working together to stop an attacker from scoring. 6. Scrimmage to apply skills learned.

1. True Lacrosse: Defense Clinic 12/21/14
Drill #1
Setup: 3 Cones placed equal distance apart from each other just
outside the 12-meter arc. Have a single file line of athletes in the lower
middle of the 8-meter arc, almost near the crease. Needs one athlete
per rotation.
Direction: Each athlete will approach the outside cones as if they
were a defender approaching an attacker. Starting from the left cone
moving to the right, each athlete will approach the outside cone run
back to the front of the line and then on to the next cone. Once the
athlete reaches the right cone, a new athlete may go through the
rotation. Each player should go through it at least 3 times.
Focus:
-should approach cones at a c-shaped curve/angle.
-close attention to detail of breakdown of the feet
(not too early, not too late)
-Encouraging the idea of breaking down steps and
slowly creeping to the cone
-Body positioning should be as if they were forcing an
attacker to the sidelines without giving up the lane.
Objective: Technical critique on the fundamentals of good defense.
Drill #2
Setup: Depending on the number athletes, a number of lanes would
be needed to be setup with cones with about a 5meter width and a 10-
meter length. Needs 2 athletes per rotation.
Direction: This is a 1v1 Drill. In this drill the defender will
apply/practice the skills learned in the previous drill #1. The defender
will start off lower than the attacker. As the defender engages in the
1v1, they must choose a side of the lane where they want to force the
attacker and continue forcing them or channeling them that way. Once
the rotation is up, they switch places; the defender becomes the
attacker and the attacker becomes the defender.
Note: Coaches can choose to have the defender start off
with/without a stick and adjust the speed level of the attacker
depending on the skill level of the athletes. They can also set
the defender behind the attacker in a way, so the defender can
practice recovering.
Focus: -Same as Drill#1
-Making contact at the attackers hip or forearm.

2. -Light on their toes.
-Are they creeping towards their attacker or are they
backing away?
-Are the defenders keeping their attackers to one side
or are they getting flip-flopped as the attacker changes
direction?
-Defenders must understand that they are going to
get beat. That is OKAY! It is important that they get
beat the right way. **
Objective: Teaches a 1v1 defense that can be used in the midfield
and as well as in a 12-meter arc setting.
Drill #3
Setup: Same Set up as Drill#2. However, this time it is a double-
teaming drill. There will be a 1v1 from top of the lane. There will be a
post to receive the pass at the end of the lane. Somewhere along the
side of the lane, towards the middle section, a second defender will be
waiting to double team. Needs 4 athletes per rotation.
Directions: Start out just like Drill#2 and applying the same concepts
from both previous drills. 1v1 to start. As the first defender is
channeling the attacker to a side, the second defender approaches to
seal off the attacker in the same c-shaped curve as taught in drill#1.
The second defender doesn’t go to help until the first defender
successfully forces the attacker to one side.
Focus: -Approaching the attacker and double team at a c-shaped
curve/angle
-once in a double team, defenders should hold it until they get
the ball back or the attacker successfully passes it off to the
post.
-Lots of Communication coming from defense, especially
the second defender.
Objective: Teaches a double team defense that can be used in the
midfield and as well as in a 12-meter arc setting.
Drill #4
Setup: A total of 5 Cones positioned in a box around the 12-meter arc.
3 cones positioned up top and 2 cones positioned behind goal line
extended. There will be a pair of offense and defense at each cone.

3. Directions: Going one at a time, each defender will engage in a 1v1
from various angles, while applying the skill learned from previous
drills.
Focus: Same focus as in Drill#1 and Drill #2.
Objective: Applying the skills learned in previous drills in a 12-meter
arc setting.
Drill #5
2v1’s to goal. Two defenders working together to stop an attacker
from going to goal.
Drill #6
7v7 or 5v5 depending on the number of athletes.