The best examples of shooting drills for lacrosse (with real practice setups)

Game-like examples of shooting drills for lacrosse

Let’s start with what most players actually want: examples of shooting drills for lacrosse that feel like real game situations. Static shooting has its place, but defenders, slides, and pressure change everything. So we’ll focus on drills that force players to move, read, and react.

When you look for the best examples of shooting drills for lacrosse, pay attention to three things:

• Is the player moving their feet before the shot?
• Is there at least one decision to make (where to cut, when to shoot, which hand to use)?
• Is there some kind of pressure: time, defender, or consequence for missing?

Keep those in mind as you read each example of a drill below.

Example of a simple warm-up shooting drill that actually translates

Most teams start with line shooting: players in lines, catch, shoot, jog to the back. It’s fine, but it doesn’t look much like a real possession. Here’s a better early-practice option.

1. Two-line pass-and-step shooting

This is one of the easiest examples of shooting drills for lacrosse to set up, but it cleans up footwork, timing, and mechanics.

Setup
Form two lines about 20 yards from the cage, one on each side of the field, slightly above goal line extended. One line is feeders, the other is shooters. A coach or goalie is in the net.

How it runs
Feeders pass across to shooters. The shooter:

• Catches on the move
• Takes one hard step toward the middle
• Shoots with hands away from the body, aiming for a corner

After the shot, the shooter becomes a feeder, and the feeder rotates to the shooter line.

Why this belongs in the best examples of shooting drills
Players get:

• Reps catching on the run
• Reps stepping into space, not drifting away
• Early focus on location over power

To build in pressure, set a time limit or a make-count goal: for example, 15 goals in 2 minutes.

Real examples of alley and on-the-run shooting drills

The modern game is full of dodges down the alley and shots on the run. Any serious list of examples of shooting drills for lacrosse has to include on-the-run reps.

2. Classic alley dodge shooting (with a twist)

Setup
Place cones at the top of the box (center), and two more cones about 10 yards wider on each side to mark the alleys. Start players at the top cone with balls.

How it runs
The player:

• Dodges past an imaginary defender at the top cone
• Drives down the alley at full speed
• Plants the outside foot
• Rolls or splits back to the middle just enough to get hands free
• Shoots on the run before reaching the hash marks

Twist
Call out a corner ("low left,” “high right") as they start their dodge. They must hit that spot. This keeps the brain engaged and mimics making decisions under pressure.

Coaching tip
Focus on body control: chest up, head still, and shooting through the run instead of slowing down.

3. Z-dodge alley shooting

This is another strong example of a shooting drill for lacrosse that trains change of direction and balance.

Setup
Use three cones in a zig-zag: top center, wide right, then back toward the middle near shooting range.

How it runs
Players sprint to cone one, plant and cut to cone two, then plant again and attack cone three toward the middle. At cone three, they shoot on the run.

Why it works
These examples include:

• Multiple change-of-direction moves
• Quick resets of hand position
• Shots taken while the body is recovering from a cut

That’s exactly what happens when a defender bumps you off your line.

Best examples of shooting drills for lacrosse from X and the crease

Not every player is a step-down shooter. Attackers and crease players need tight-angle and quick-stick reps.

4. X-to-crease quick stick series

If you coach youth or high school, this is one of the best examples of shooting drills for lacrosse to build finishing confidence.

Setup
One line at X with balls. One line on the crease (either side of the goalie). Goalie in net if available.

How it runs
The player at X:

• Carries up one side of the goal line
• Feeds to the crease

The crease player:

• Catches and finishes quickly without cradling, or with just one quick cradle for younger players

Rotate: feeder becomes finisher, finisher goes to the back of the X line.

Progressions

• Add a coach or defender with a stick up in the passing lane
• Require weak-hand finishes only
• Add a fake-high, shoot-low rule to build deception

5. Around-the-world crease finishing

This is a fun example of a shooting drill that keeps everyone moving.

Setup
Four cones around the crease at roughly 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. One feeder at X or on the wing. Players rotate around the crease cones.

How it runs
The feeder passes to each cone in order. The finisher at each cone:

• Catches
• Uses a quick fake or change of angle
• Shoots from close range

After shooting, each player sprints to the next cone around the crease. You get lots of reps, different angles, and players learning how to finish from both sides of their body.

Examples of shooting drills for lacrosse that build decision-making

If every rep is pre-scripted (catch here, shoot there), players don’t learn to read pressure. These examples of shooting drills for lacrosse force players to make choices.

6. 2v1 continuous shooting

This is a staple for teams that want smarter, more composed shooters.

Setup
Place a defender at the top of the crease. Two offensive players start up top with one ball. Goalie in net.

How it runs
The two offensive players attack the goal in a 2v1. They must:

• Read where the defender commits
• Either shoot if they’re open
• Or move the ball quickly for a better shot

After the shot, the shooter becomes the defender, the defender rotates out, and a new offensive player steps in. This keeps the drill moving and adds conditioning.

Why it’s one of the best examples
These reps include:

• Live decision-making
• Shooting with a stick in your face
• Learning when not to shoot

7. Color-call shooting

This example of a shooting drill for lacrosse adds mental pressure without needing extra bodies.

Setup
Coach stands behind the net with colored cones or calls out pre-agreed words (like “red,” “blue,” “green"). Shooter starts up top or on the wing with a feeder.

How it runs
As the feeder throws the ball, the coach calls a color. Each color is tied to a different type of shot:

• Red = low-to-high
• Blue = low corner
• Green = off-stick high

The shooter must catch, process the call, and execute the right shot quickly.

What it trains
Processing speed, focus, and accuracy under mild chaos. It’s a great example of how to make a basic shooting rep feel more like a game.

On-the-run and step-down power: more real examples

You’ll often hear coaches talk about “shooting with your feet set” versus “shooting on the run.” Both matter, so the best examples of shooting drills for lacrosse give players time with each.

8. Skip-pass step-down shooting

Setup
Three offensive spots: two wings and one point at the top. One ball starts at a wing. Goalie in net.

How it runs
Ball swings: wing → point → opposite wing. The opposite wing receives a skip or semi-skip pass and rips a step-down shot.

Rotate positions so each player gets:

• Wing shooting reps
• Point passing reps

Key coaching points

• Step into the pass
• Catch with hands away from the body
• Land balanced after the shot, not falling sideways

9. Full-speed wing dodge to re-dodge shooting

Modern defenses slide early and recover quickly. This drill mimics that second chance you sometimes get.

Setup
Start with players on the wing with balls. Place a cone near the island (about 5–7 yards above goal line extended and a few yards outside the hash).

How it runs
The player:

• Dodges hard to the middle from the wing
• Plants at the cone, simulating a slide arriving
• Rolls or splits back to the wing
• Shoots on the run from a tough angle

Why it matters
These examples include awkward-angle shots that actually happen in games—especially when you’re trying to beat the shot clock or a recovering slide.

How to structure these examples of shooting drills for lacrosse in a practice

Having examples is one thing; using them well is another. Here’s a simple way to organize them into a 30–40 minute shooting block.

Warm-up mechanics (5–10 minutes)
Start with the two-line pass-and-step shooting. Focus on:

• Hand position
• Footwork
• Smooth catch-and-release

On-the-run and alley work (10–15 minutes)
Rotate between the alley dodge shooting and Z-dodge alley shooting. Keep reps short and intense, then give players a quick rest.

Finishing and situational shooting (10–15 minutes)
Use X-to-crease quick sticks and around-the-world crease finishing for attack and middies who cut inside. Meanwhile, another group can run skip-pass step-down shooting.

Decision-making (5–10 minutes)
Finish with 2v1 continuous shooting or color-call shooting to train late-practice focus and pressure.

This kind of progression turns a bunch of good ideas into a plan instead of random examples of shooting drills for lacrosse tossed into practice.

Safety, volume, and smart progression

Shooting is high-impact on shoulders, backs, and hips when players go full power for long stretches. Overuse injuries are common in sports with repetitive motions like throwing and shooting. Organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic regularly highlight the value of progressive workloads, good warm-ups, and rest days for joint health.

To keep these examples of shooting drills for lacrosse safe and effective:

• Limit max-power reps for younger players; focus on form and accuracy
• Mix in lower-intensity finishing drills between heavy step-down work
• Encourage dynamic warm-ups and shoulder activation before heavy shooting
• Track volume roughly: for example, 50–75 quality shots in a session is plenty for youth; older players can handle more, but quality should stay high

For general guidance on youth sports safety and conditioning, you can also look at resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and sports medicine pages on Harvard Health.

FAQ: examples of shooting drills for lacrosse

What are some good examples of shooting drills for lacrosse beginners?

For beginners, keep it simple and close to the goal. A great example of a starter drill is two-line pass-and-step shooting: players catch, take one step, and shoot at a target. X-to-crease quick sticks (with slower passes and more time) also work well. The key is building clean catches and balanced footwork before worrying about power.

How many of these examples of shooting drills should I use in one practice?

You don’t need all of them at once. For most youth and high school teams, three or four drills per session is plenty: one warm-up mechanic drill, one on-the-run drill, one finishing drill, and one decision-making drill. Rotate different examples from week to week so players see variety without getting overwhelmed.

What is the best example of a shooting drill to improve accuracy?

Color-call shooting is one of the best examples because it forces players to aim specific spots on command. You can also add small targets in the corners and only count goals that hit or barely miss those targets. Combining targeted shooting with slower, controlled reps is more effective for accuracy than just firing as hard as possible.

Can I run these examples of shooting drills for lacrosse without a goalie?

Absolutely. If you don’t have a goalie, pick small targets inside the net (cones, tape, or just visual corners) and score only “clean” hits. For decision-making drills like 2v1 continuous, you can still emphasize the right shot selection even without a goalie, then add a goalie later when available.

How do I adapt these drills for younger players versus high school or college?

For younger players, shorten distances, slow down the pace, and allow extra cradles. For high school and college, increase speed, add defenders, or use time and score challenges (for example, “down by one, 20 seconds left"). The same basic examples of shooting drills for lacrosse can work across ages; the difference is how much speed, contact, and pressure you layer on.