Game version
Shadow-stick game: stay in front of your partner with your stick low and ready, and with no stick or body contact. Swap.
Shadow Defending
Stay in front of a slow dribbler with your stick low, without trying to take the ball.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Your partner dribbles slowly.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of steady shadows.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Stick, ball, partner
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Tackling
The steps
How it works
- Your partner dribbles slowly.
- Move your feet to stay a stick length in front of them.
- Keep your stick low and still; no tackling yet.
- Do 6 turns of 30 seconds each.
Coaching point
Feet move, stick still.
Safety: Wear your mouthguard and shin guards. Wear protective eyewear (ASTM F2713) where your league requires it. Play the ball, never the stick or the body, and go at walking pace first.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of steady shadows.
Story
You are a castle guard holding the bridge.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own run of steady shadows. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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