Today’s Presentation

1. Today’s Presentation Teaching Kids o The ultimate goal of athletics o Positive reinforcement o Vision,Core Values, Expectations The Practice Plan o Considerations o Elements of a Practice Plan o Sample Plan 1) Stick Skills o Partner Passing • Individual Offense o Theory o The Rules o Rule Based Drills 2) Small Groups and Transition Drills O 321 o Short Field Fast Breaks (variations) o Approach o Face Off o Mac Drill 3) Small Group defense • o 5 v 3; The secret to practicing man down

2. TEACHING KIDS “I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. AS A TEACHER, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.” -H. Ginott

3. “Winning is important But… Teaching life lessons is more important” US Lacrosse Coaches’ Education Program www.uslacrosse.org The Positive Coaching Alliance www.positivecoach.com

4. Research From Carol Dweck • A child’s view about his ability will influence his response to challenges, setbacks, and difficulties • If a child sees his ability as malleable, and thus expandable by a combination of effort and effective strategies, then his achievement will be higher than those children who view ability as fixed. • The feedback that adults provide students after they are successful will influence their ideas about ability. • How do you as a coach define success? • It tied to talent • Winning or… • effort and strategies?

5. Mission • Commit to establishing a community that is built upon respect and strengthened by the responsibility we each take for ourselves, others and our environment.

6. Core Values • Respect each student as an individual and their personal welfare is our highest priority. • At all times we must demonstrate respect for ourselves and others • Promote traditional values of honesty, integrity, commitment and hard work as the foundation of Wellesley's reputation and continuing success. • Commitment to providing coaches who regard themselves first and foremost as TEACHERS. • Value health and safety as paramount to a successful program. • Teamwork should prevail in all interactions among players, coaches, and parents.

7. EXPECTATIONS • WORK HARD • PLAY TOGETHER • HAVE FUN • …and get a little bit better each day!

8. THE PRACTICE PLAN

9. The Practice Plan Coaching Considerations: • What part of the season is it? • Fall ball, early March, June • What is the schedule for the week? • What happened in the last game? • are there any elements we can build on? • What is the intensity level you would like to see? • What kind of field space do you have? • parking lot, small field, gym • Consistency • Write out your plan and stick with it!!

10. Elements of a Practice Plan • Pre-Practice • Goalie Warm Up • Face Off Reps • “shoot arounds” • Warm Up and Stick Drills • Individual Drill and Skill • Small Group/Transition • Team • Wrap Up

11. Sample Practice Plan

12. Stick Skills “16 Minute Drill” Partner Passing

13. One Hand Two hand, one craddle Count the reps Quick Sticks Back to back Ground Ball Switch hands Long toss Hitch and Throw Remember you are isolating passing and catching. Keep it simple and then build Pick 4 2 minutes each hand “shoot the passes” Guard against passivity!! Good time to “check in” with players Make a connection other than lacrosse 16 Minute Drill

14. INIVIDUAL PERIODS Offense

15. Offensive Theory • Let athletes be athletes • Teach the kids to play, then let them play! • Avoid having too many plays and “playing through rote memory” • Practice with interchangeable parts • Defensemen must learn offensive skills • Offensive Players must play defense • There is no such thing as a Center Middie!! • You’re an offensive player that happens to be in the center or… • A defensive player that happens to be in the crease! • Repetition, Repetition, Repetition!!!

16. The Rules • Dodge to Score • Dodge to Feed • Dodge and Dump (roll back) • Dodge and Roll Back

17. Over the Net Shooting • Low Impact • Focus on the smaller details of mechanics • Start with stick in off hand • From the start they are changing hands, although this is not the focus of the drill it gives them additional reps • Shoot the ball in to the lower third of the net. • This brings wrists and forearms in to the shot • Be patient • it may take a little time.

18. Small Group Drills Combined & Transition Drills

19. Small Group Drills • In larger groups it is difficult for a coach to pick up individual mistakes. • Mistakes tend to standout when working in smaller groups!! • In the smaller group, athletes often realize that they are not as open as they think they might be!! • Fewer teammates to bail you out • Less people to “blame” • You cannot “hide” in the smaller group

20. 321 X • Everyone plays everywhere • Start drill with: • GB • Outlet • Coach • Goalie • Reinforce: • Spacing • Draw and dump O X X X O X O

21. Short Field FBs O O O O Coaching Points • Net spacing can be adjusted to players ability and to target conditioning. • Draw and dump • 3v2 or 4v3 • A & D must touch the midline after each rep • Can start with a GB on the wing • I do not use an outlet, it decreases reps in this drill. O O X X X X O O O O O O

22. Approach Drill DOP • Vary the position of the 3 lines from in front, to behind the cage as well as the sides of the restraining box. The bucket or cone with have to move as well. • Use stumps for one or both defenders • Vary the pace of the 1:1 with the defender and the initiator. • If you play this both sides full speed: The drill is the same, unless the defender puts the ball on the ground. At that point, the coach will throw a ball to either the goalie or the middle defender for a quick clear. O3 Leaves for 1:1 “approach when D1 Gets to cone O2 D2 Quick transfer Plays 1:1 Then gets to hole On roll back D1 O1

23. Mac Drill O B O • Coach rolls a GB to alternating sides • Play to the side that wins the ball • 2man side should win • If not, far side line must have head up and player closest to net breaks GB B B O Coach B O O B O B O O B B O B

24. Small Group Team Defense A progression of drills to develop and reinforce the principles of team defense.

25. Small Group Team Defense Team defense can be difficult to teach with younger athletes. Just because the field is your classroom, doesn’t mean you have to deliver a lecture.. Have an active classroom Small group drills allow the coach to target smaller details in technique and mechanics. Players cannot hide, it pushes athletes to be more active in practice Practicing man down without have to actually practice man down.

26. 2 v 1 “Feed’n Finish”

27. Coach D3 O4 O1 D2 D1 O2 O3

28. Coach D3 O4 • O1 D2 D1 O2 O3

29. 3 v 2 Approach Drill

30. Coach O4 O1 D1 D2 O2 O3

31. Coach O4 • O1 D1 D2 O2 O3

32. 4 v 3 “Popcorn” Drill”

33. Popcorn • D1: “I GOT BALL” • When the ball is passed the defender drops to the cone opening his hips in the direction the ball was thrown. (touch the bucket) O2 • O1 D1 D3 • D3: “I GOT RIGHT” • drops to backside post, opening his hips in the direction the ball was thrown. D2 O3 O4 • D2: “I GOT LEFT” • Position with his stick to the inside where he can touch the bucket. As ball is thrown he pushes out to approach O4. When defenders push out, they should push to spots rather than “right at” his man.

34. Popcorn 2 O2 • O1 D1 “LEFT” D3 “RIGHT” “BALL” D2 O3 O4

35. Popcorn 3 O2 • O1 “BALL” D1 “LEFT” D2 D3 “RIGHT” • O3 O4

36. Popcorn 4 Coaching Points: Players do not PHYICALLY follow the ball, once the player they are defending passes the ball, they drop to middle to become a helper. COMMUNICATE!!! We use a bucket as the middle cone and kids have to hit the bucket when the drop to the middle. Keep the ball moving and have players change direction. O2 • O1 “BALL” D1 “RIGHT” D2 “LEFT” D3 • O3 O4

37. 5 v 3

38. M1 M3 D1 D3 D2 A1 A3 A2

39. M1 M3 D1 D3 D2 A1 A3 A2

40. M1 M3 D1 D3 D2 • A1 A3 A2

41. If passed from X M1 M3 D1 D3 D2 A1 A3 • A2

42. M1 M3 D1 D3 A1 D2 • A3 A2

43. M1 • M3 D1 D2 D3 A1 A3 A2

44. If “pushed” from X M1 M3 D1 D2 D3 • A1 A3 A2

45. pushed from X (cont.) M1 M3 D1 D2 D3 A1 A3 • A2

46. pushed from X (cont.) M1 M3 D2 D1 A1 A3 D3 • A2

47. pushed from X (cont.) M1 M3 D2 D3 A1 D1 A3 • A2

48. Man Down Defense Rotation vs. 1-3-2

49. When the ball starts up top, and gets passed to “X” • M1 M3 D3 D4 M2 D5 D2 A1 D1 A3 A2

50. …from the top. (cont.) M1 • M3 D4 D3 M2 D5 D2 A1 D1 A3 A2