Game version
Shadow game: stay between your partner and the goal with your stick in a good spot, with no checking. Swap often.
Approach and Recover
Close out on a ball carrier under control, then recover when they pass.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Sprint out to your partner and break down 2 yards away.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of steady shadows.
- Ages
- 11 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Lacrosse stick, 4 cones, partner
- Level · skill
- Developing · Defense
The steps
How it works
- Sprint out to your partner and break down 2 yards away.
- They pass or fake; drop back to help position.
- Repeat from the other side.
- Do 12 reps.
Coaching point
Close fast, arrive slow.
Safety: Wear the gear your rules require for any partner drill. Boys: NOCSAE helmet, mouthguard, gloves, arm pads and ND200 shoulder pads. Girls: SEI-certified F3077 eyewear and a mouthguard.
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
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free lacrosse week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.