Individual Skills

 

OFFENSE: 

Passing and catching: Campers are taught to pass and catch with both hands on the run at full speed while under pressure. We teach players to pass and catch with the philosophy "play lacrosse behind you," which means to receive passes behind your ear for a variety of benefits for passing and catching under pressure. Each camper is taught an off-season wall-ball work out to improve stick skills. 

 

Shooting:  We teach the mechanics necessary to increase speed and accuracy on outside shots, on-the-run shots, inside shots and free positions. 

 

Outside Shots- Concentration is on increasing velocity through proper mechanics in hand position, arm extension, shoulder rotation, putting legs into the shot and following through with the wrists. These mechanics are reviewed in multiple stations with different coaches to increase the speed of each campers's shot.  

 

On-the-run Shots- In addition to the mechanics taught with outside shots, the concentration is on footwork during and after the shot. Focus is on the backpeddle steps after the shot which insures proper shoulder rotation during the shot. 

 

Inside Shots- We teach "The 5 P's" of inside shooting.  Position (on the field and of stick head to increase angle), Placement (of shot), Protection (stick protection from defensemen), Patience and Practice. In addition we cover stick fakes and head and shoulder fakes. 

 

Stick protection: At high levels of lacrosse, offensive players are expected to compete against skilled defensmen while maintaining possession. All players are taught how to effectively use stick protection techniques to prepare them for the defensive pressure they will see in games.  We expose less experienced players to correct body and stick positions necessary to maintain possession and handle the ball under pressure, and provide opportunities for experienced players to practice using these skills in game like situations. 

 

Dodging:  Players must be able to beat their defender in order to make "A" teams, club teams and their high school teams. All players must be able to maintain possession to beat their defender, or move past an opponent.  We provide instruction on a variety of dodges, and when and where to most effectively execute the specific dodges on the game field.        

 

Dodges taught from behind the goal: inside roll dodge, rocker dodge and the questionmark dodge

 

Dodges taught from above the goal: face dodge, pump fake dodge and the split dodge                                          

 

Ground balls:  The outcome of most games is directly coorelated with the team who has the skills necessary to capitalize, and come up with possession in 50-50 situations such as ground ball pickups and draw controls.  We emphazise the techniques, body position and stick position necessary to improve players ability to come up with possession in a ground ball situation. 

 

Draws:  Possession of the draw controls and ground ball controls regularly have more of an impact on the outcome of a game than any stat recorded. Beating your opponent even 6 out of 10 times can change the time of possession stat to 60/40 in your team's favor. Teams MUST win draws to gain possession of the ball if they want any chance of winning a game. Teams focus on including the players most likely to obtain a draw control in their lineup because of the impact this ability has on the outcome of the game. All players in camp will learn proper draw control technique. 

 

DEFENSE: 

Defensive position:  Footwork and body position. Teams play defense for as much of the game as they play offense. Players that can shut down an opponent's best players with basketball style position defense become invaluable to a team. Regardless of experience or stick skills, coaches will find a spot on a team for players that can do this well. 

 

Forcing opponents to their weak hand or to their help:  Defensive players are expected to control the offense by forcing weak shots and keeping them out of the middle.  Defenders need to be smart and work together to effectively protect their team's goal. Players will learn the correct body positioning, footwork and communication necessary to play team and midfield defense.

 

Basic stick checks: Slap checks; poke checks and how to maintain body position at all times.

 

Take away stick checks: Variety of crowd pleasing-takeaway checks taught by top college defensive players.

 

GOALIES:

Goalies will spend 3 hours per day, 6 stations per day, in goalie specific stations. All goalie coaches have college goaltending playing or coaching experience.

 

Goalies will work on the following skill sets in camp:
Proper warm up
Stance and positioning
Shot stopping: Close, mid-range, outside
Rebounds
Clearing and outlet passes
Understanding team defense and communication
Being a vocal leader
Mental aspects of the game

 

 

Team Concepts and Lacrosse IQ

All team concepts taught are universal to the sport of lacrosse for any team at any level. No time in camp is spent learning specific offenses, exotic defenses, or plays, as campers come from different leagues, teams and schools. 

 

ALL POSITIONS:

Draws:  Center's options- push, pull, draw to self, placing with a selected teammate/or location.

On the circle players- positioning, box out, outlet options, getting upfield, marking up.
Restraining line players- drop back/cross over, marking up, goal side, safety, options.

 

OFFENSE:

Transition offense: Clears (concepts and techniques).  Fast breaks- Position before ball crosses restraining line and positions for receiving the ball to increase scoring opportunities. Demonstrations and practice how to get open, how to work together to create options, how to make space, when to push the ball into offense, when to slow ball to settle. 

 

Offense- Off ball movement:   Players are shown a variety of cutting options, how to make space, and reminded to move constantly, and with a plan in order to make space and create scoring opportunities.

 

DEFENSE:  

Transition defense: Rides (concepts and techniques). Locking off on a goalie clear.   Defending the fast break.

 

Team defense (man-to-man defense with an adjacent slide):   Players are taught how to mark a player man-to-man while working to help their teammates and work as one unit to protect the goal.

 

 

Skill Competitions for Prizes

Draw control tournament

Fastest shot wtih radar gun

1 vs. 1 tournament