Game version
Shadow game: stay between your partner and the goal with your stick in a good spot, with no checking. Swap often.
Defensive Talk Around the Crease
Call ball, help and slide so your team defends together.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Play 4 against 4 around the crease.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of steady shadows.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- 8 players
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Lacrosse sticks, ball, goal, 8 players
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Defense
The steps
How it works
- Play 4 against 4 around the crease.
- The defender on the ball calls "ball"; help defenders call "help left" or "help right".
- Slide on the call and recover.
- Play 6 rounds of 1 minute.
Coaching point
Loud, early, every time.
Safety: Only with a coach. Check the stick, down and away, never near the head. Boys: no body checking before 14U. Girls: no body checking at any age, and stick checks follow your age group rules.
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
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