Passing is a fundamental skill in lacrosse that can make or break a game. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your techniques, practicing passing drills is essential for improving your accuracy, speed, and teamwork. Here are three effective examples of passing drills for lacrosse that you can incorporate into your practice sessions.
This drill is perfect for individual practice and can help players improve their passing accuracy and stick skills.
Begin by finding a sturdy wall and standing about 10-15 feet away. Hold your lacrosse stick with both hands, positioning the head of the stick towards the wall. The objective is to pass the ball against the wall and catch it as it rebounds back to you. Start with a simple overhand pass, focusing on your follow-through and accuracy. As you become more comfortable, try varying your passes by using sidearm and underhand techniques.
To increase the challenge, move further away from the wall or try passing with your non-dominant hand. This drill not only enhances your passing skills but also helps develop quick reflexes as you catch the ball.
This drill is great for working on teamwork and communication between players.
Find a partner and stand about 10-15 feet apart. Start by passing the ball back and forth using a basic overhand pass. Focus on making accurate passes and communicating with your partner by calling out their name before each pass. To add complexity, start moving laterally or take a few steps forward and backward while passing the ball. This simulates game situations where you might need to pass while moving.
After mastering the basic pass, challenge yourselves by trying different types of passes (bounce pass, behind-the-back pass) and varying the distance between each other.
This drill helps players work on precision passing and situational awareness.
Set up a series of cones in a straight line, spaced about 5-10 yards apart. Divide players into pairs, with one player positioned at one end of the cones and the other at the opposite end. The player at the starting end will pass the ball to their partner, who must run towards the next cone, receive the pass, and then pass it back.
As players become comfortable, increase the speed of the drill and encourage them to call out the cone number they are passing to. This will help develop their ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
By incorporating these three examples of passing drills for lacrosse into your practice routine, you’ll improve your skills, enhance your game awareness, and develop better teamwork with your fellow players. Happy practicing!