18U lacrosse practice plans (ages 17 and 18)

Lacrosse Warm-Up, Ages 14 and Up 5 min

1. Jog easy for 1 minute, then skip, side shuffle and backpedal for 1 minute.
2. Moving warm-up over 15 to 20 yards: high knees, heel flicks, carioca each way, walking knee hugs and walking quad pulls (one step in each, no long holds).
3. Leg swings, 10 each way each leg; walking lunges with a twist, 6 each leg; then 5 inchworms (walk your hands out to a plank and back).
4. Strength: plank 30 seconds, side plank 20 seconds each side, 8 slow squats, and 6 single-leg reaches each side (hinge forward on one leg with a flat back).
5. Single-leg hops: 3 small hops forward on one leg, holding the last landing for 2 seconds; each leg twice.
6. Cuts: run 5 yards, plant and cut at about 45 degrees off the outside foot, 4 each way at three-quarter speed, knee over the toes.
7. Build-up runs: three runs of about 20 yards at 60, 80 and 90 percent; walk back each time.
8. Sport moves: cradle while jogging, switching hands; then 20 easy throws and catches with a partner or against a wall.

Coaching point: Quality over speed: quiet feet, knees over toes, hips level.

Safety: A flat, clear space with room to run. Stop if anything hurts: a warm-up should leave you ready, not tired. Growth spurts: many girls have theirs between about 10 and 14 and boys about two years later. While you grow fast, muscles can feel tight and landings clumsy for a while; that is normal and it passes. Keep the work light (your own body weight), stretch gently and never push into pain. Sore just below the kneecap or at the back of the heel after sport? Tell a parent or coach and rest it. If the pain keeps coming back, makes you limp, or is there even when resting, see a doctor.

One-Hand Catch and Throw 12 min

1. Hold the stick with only your top hand, halfway up the shaft.
2. Throw and catch against a wall from 4 yards.
3. Do 25 reps each hand.
4. Rest and repeat one more round.

Coaching point: Give with the catch, snap with the throw.

Extra-Player Catch and Shoot 12 min

1. Set six attackers around the goal against five defenders.
2. Move the ball with quick sticks until a shooter is open.
3. Shoot within one step of the catch.
4. Play 6 rounds of 1 minute.

Coaching point: The ball moves faster than the defense.

Safety: Shoot only at an empty goal or a goalie in full gear (ND200 chest protector). Keep everyone out of the shooting lane.

Call It and Box Out 12 min

1. A coach rolls the ball into a box of cones.
2. Call "ball!" loudly as you go.
3. Step your body between the ball and the nearest cone, then scoop.
4. Do 12 reps; the partner only calls "release" and never touches you.

Coaching point: Talk, position, scoop.

Safety: No body contact: go for the ball, never the player. Helmet and gloves on when a partner rolls the ball.

Five-Ten-Five Technique Rehearsal 15 min

1. Set three cones in a line, 5 yards apart; start at the middle one.
2. Run 5 yards right, touch the line with your outside hand, turn low.
3. Run 10 yards to the far cone, touch, turn, run 5 back through the middle.
4. Do 3 walk-throughs, 3 at three-quarter speed, then 2 timed with full rest.

Coaching point: Low turn, push off the outside foot.

Safety: Use a clear, non-slip space and change direction only as fast as you can control. Stop if a knee or ankle hurts.

Lacrosse Cool-Down Stretches, Ages 14 and Up 4 min

1. Walk easy for 1 minute and let your breathing slow down.
2. Front of the thigh: hold a fence, wall or partner and bring one heel toward your bottom, knees side by side. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
3. Back of the leg: sit with one leg straight and the other bent, and reach toward the straight leg’s ankle until you feel a gentle pull. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
4. Calf: hands on a wall, one foot back with the heel down and the back knee straight; then bend the back knee a little to move the stretch toward the heel. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
5. Front of the hip: kneel on one knee, tuck your hips under and shift forward gently until the front of the hip feels a stretch. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
6. Seat: lie on your back, cross one ankle over the other knee and pull the bottom leg gently toward you. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
7. Shoulder: bring one arm across your chest and hold it gently above the elbow with the other hand. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
8. Wrists and forearms: one arm straight in front, palm up, and gently draw the fingers back with the other hand; then palm down. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
9. Lie on your back with one hand on your belly: 5 slow breaths, breathing out longer than in.

Coaching point: A gentle pull, never pain, and no bouncing.

Safety: Stretch only to a gentle pull and stop if anything hurts. An injured muscle or joint is not stretched until a doctor or athletic trainer says it is OK. Growth spurts: many girls have theirs between about 10 and 14 and boys about two years later. While you grow fast, muscles can feel tight and landings clumsy for a while; that is normal and it passes. Keep the work light (your own body weight), stretch gently and never push into pain. Sore just below the kneecap or at the back of the heel after sport? Tell a parent or coach and rest it. If the pain keeps coming back, makes you limp, or is there even when resting, see a doctor.

Lacrosse Warm-Up, Ages 14 and Up 7 min

1. Jog easy for 1 minute, then skip, side shuffle and backpedal for 1 minute.
2. Moving warm-up over 15 to 20 yards: high knees, heel flicks, carioca each way, walking knee hugs and walking quad pulls (one step in each, no long holds).
3. Leg swings, 10 each way each leg; walking lunges with a twist, 6 each leg; then 5 inchworms (walk your hands out to a plank and back).
4. Strength: plank 30 seconds, side plank 20 seconds each side, 8 slow squats, and 6 single-leg reaches each side (hinge forward on one leg with a flat back).
5. Single-leg hops: 3 small hops forward on one leg, holding the last landing for 2 seconds; each leg twice.
6. Cuts: run 5 yards, plant and cut at about 45 degrees off the outside foot, 4 each way at three-quarter speed, knee over the toes.
7. Build-up runs: three runs of about 20 yards at 60, 80 and 90 percent; walk back each time.
8. Sport moves: cradle while jogging, switching hands; then 20 easy throws and catches with a partner or against a wall.

Coaching point: Quality over speed: quiet feet, knees over toes, hips level.

Safety: A flat, clear space with room to run. Stop if anything hurts: a warm-up should leave you ready, not tired. Growth spurts: many girls have theirs between about 10 and 14 and boys about two years later. While you grow fast, muscles can feel tight and landings clumsy for a while; that is normal and it passes. Keep the work light (your own body weight), stretch gently and never push into pain. Sore just below the kneecap or at the back of the heel after sport? Tell a parent or coach and rest it. If the pain keeps coming back, makes you limp, or is there even when resting, see a doctor.

Chase-Down Angles 16 min

1. Your partner starts 5 yards ahead and to the side, running to a far cone.
2. Take an angle to reach the cone first.
3. Rest fully between reps.
4. Do 8, swapping roles.

Coaching point: Run to where they will be.

Safety: Warm up first. Stop if a muscle feels tight.

Body Position on a Dodge 16 min

1. Defend a live dodger in a channel 10 yards wide.
2. Keep your chest in front of them and your hands together on the stick.
3. Use legal stick checks on the stick only.
4. Do 8 reps each.

Coaching point: Body in front, stick on stick.

Safety: Body contact in this drill is for boys 14U and older only; younger players and all girls use feet and body position with no contact. 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.

Clearing Reads 16 min

1. A goalie starts with the ball and four defenders spread wide.
2. Three riders try to close the passing lanes, with no checks.
3. Find the open teammate and get the ball over midfield in 20 seconds.
4. Play 8 clears.

Coaching point: Wide and deep, eyes up.

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.

Lacrosse Cool-Down Stretches, Ages 14 and Up 5 min

1. Walk easy for 1 minute and let your breathing slow down.
2. Front of the thigh: hold a fence, wall or partner and bring one heel toward your bottom, knees side by side. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
3. Back of the leg: sit with one leg straight and the other bent, and reach toward the straight leg’s ankle until you feel a gentle pull. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
4. Calf: hands on a wall, one foot back with the heel down and the back knee straight; then bend the back knee a little to move the stretch toward the heel. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
5. Front of the hip: kneel on one knee, tuck your hips under and shift forward gently until the front of the hip feels a stretch. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
6. Seat: lie on your back, cross one ankle over the other knee and pull the bottom leg gently toward you. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
7. Shoulder: bring one arm across your chest and hold it gently above the elbow with the other hand. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
8. Wrists and forearms: one arm straight in front, palm up, and gently draw the fingers back with the other hand; then palm down. Hold 20 to 30 seconds, each side.
9. Lie on your back with one hand on your belly: 5 slow breaths, breathing out longer than in.

Coaching point: A gentle pull, never pain, and no bouncing.

Safety: Stretch only to a gentle pull and stop if anything hurts. An injured muscle or joint is not stretched until a doctor or athletic trainer says it is OK. Growth spurts: many girls have theirs between about 10 and 14 and boys about two years later. While you grow fast, muscles can feel tight and landings clumsy for a while; that is normal and it passes. Keep the work light (your own body weight), stretch gently and never push into pain. Sore just below the kneecap or at the back of the heel after sport? Tell a parent or coach and rest it. If the pain keeps coming back, makes you limp, or is there even when resting, see a doctor.