Attackmen, lacrosse’s offensive specialists, receive most of the glory as they pile up assists and goals. But to earn this coveted spot on the field, it requires practicing lacrosse attack drills that develop the crucial skills of dodging, shooting and passing. Attackmen who pose this triple threat rarely hurt for playing time.
Groundballs
In any given game, the team with more groundballs is more likely have the most points on the scoreboard. As a result, players who practice the art of scooping properly do their team a big favor.
Since many players typically vie for the same groundball during games, it’s recommended to gain possession by scooping on the run rather than while standing still.
Drill to Practice:
- Get a running start
- Shield the defender with body position
- Keep low to the ground
- Tuck the stick close to the body
- Scoop through in one motion
- Bring the stick upwards towards the face
- Explode forward with the ball
Stick Protection
In lacrosse, gaining possession of the ball is only half the battle. Players must fight to retain it as well. Stick protection skills are essential for holding onto the ball even when long-stick defenders lay check after check.
Plant and Pivot Drill:
- Pair up players in twos
- Give each pair a ball
- Space the pair out around the field
- One player is offense, the other defense
On the whistle, the offensive player shields his stick from his opponent and sets a pivot foot. The defender then tries to check the ball loose from the other player’s stick. The offensive player rotates on his pivot foot while protecting his stick as the defender moves about him. The players can switch sides after the second whistle.
Dodging
Once they have the ball, attackmen are often seen bobbing and weaving as they dodge past defenders. From the roll dodge to the bull dodge, attackmen have a number of options for getting to the cage. Attackmen who learn to be effective dodgers are likely to see more playing time and more scoring opportunities.
With a series of cones, attackmen can practice their form and technique. Then, if they buddy-up, lacrosse players can practice important aspects of dodging like change of direction and ball protection.
Passing
Attackmen, who tend to be the assist leaders on a lacrosse team, benefit from having great passing skills. They must have the accuracy to feed the ball through defenders sticks to their teammates.
Top attackmen are the type of players who are rarely seen without a stick in their hands. They frequently throw the ball against the wall or anywhere they can.
Team practices, as well, center on passing drills.
Lacrosse Attack Drill:
- Position two attackmen behind the cage on either side of the goal posts
- Position two midfielders 10 yards in front of the cage on either side of the goal
- Position two midfielders on each sideline
- The sideline middie passes to the far attackmen behind the cage
- The attackmen feeds the ball to the midfielder in front of the cage
- The middie shoots
- Repeat the drill for the opposite side
Shooting
Every player, especially attackmen, loves shooting practice. All that’s really need is a stick, a ball and a cage, but there are other ways to make it more fun.
Target Practice:
- Place targets in the two bottom corners
- Start running full-speed 20 yards from the cage
- After running 5 yards do a split dodge
- Around 10 yards from the cage, shoot on the run
- Aim for either lower corner
- Repeat the drill, but split dodge in the opposite direction
From groundballs to shooting, practicing all five of our lacrosse attack drills contributes to the creation a more complete offensive player.
