| After hearing Coach Cerino from Limestone | | | | wrinkles. The offense has an opportunity to |
| describe this lacrosse drill on our recent podcast | | | | maintain the ball for two minutes, actually they |
| (you can hear him describe this drill in his own | | | | must keep possession for two a full two minutes |
| words on the free sample) I just fell in love with | | | | without stalling. But this is not a drill to hold the |
| the concept. As you know our criteria for great | | | | ball, or stall in any way. If the offense scores |
| lacrosse drills is fast paced, involving a lot of | | | | three times in two minutes, they get the ball back |
| players, and they must emulate lacrosse game | | | | each time, if they miss the cage but have the |
| situations. In this drill we hit all the criteria across | | | | shot backed up, they get the ball back. If they |
| the board. But most of us in a half field set seem | | | | lose possession or throw it away or turn it over, |
| to violate the last of these key criteria for drills. | | | | but press on their ride and get the ball back |
| Often when we run our lacrosse drills and we are | | | | before the defense clears over midfield, they |
| working on offense if they lose possession we | | | | keep the ball for a total of two minutes. |
| just simply hand it back over to the offense to | | | | The defense plays much more aggressively than |
| begin to play again. Or if they do not have a shot | | | | usual, pressuring the ball and covering with tight |
| backed up, we still hand the offense the ball. Or | | | | defense all the way out to the restraining line and |
| possibly progressive coaches might even now | | | | the 'box' everywhere. This creates a unique |
| turn this into a clearing and riding scenario, but | | | | pressure situation good for the offense and the |
| regardless most of us then come back and hand | | | | defense. And of course upon a turnover or |
| the ball to the offense. In other words, there | | | | ground ball they recover they immediately are in |
| really is no penalty for the offensive turnover for | | | | a clearing situation. The key to the drill is the |
| the offensive players except to ride. Coach Cottle | | | | accountability factor. Should the offense lose |
| from Maryland also reinforces this unique | | | | possession at any time during the two minutes |
| accountability for the offense to take good care | | | | and the defense clear over the midfield line they |
| of the ball in his drills. | | | | (offensive six players) must leave the field, or go |
| This is a half field drill although it could be run | | | | to the other end and they run sprints for two |
| simultaneously on both halves of the field during | | | | minutes while fresh offensive and defensive units |
| practice if you have the coaches for it, but you | | | | take their place and immediately begin playing |
| then you will need three or four coaches. We put | | | | under the same set of rules for two minutes. |
| the players in lines or groups they will most likely | | | | After they run their sprints now they take the |
| play with, in the next game to help build familiarity. | | | | field for offense again, and so on. |
| So we are going to play 6V6 with a few unique | | | | |