CONFIDENTIAL · STAFF USE ONLY
BTB Girls
Academy
Academy
COACHING MANUAL · 2026
"Built to Win. Designed to Develop."
Be The Best Lacrosse · Long Island, NY · Internal Document
1
Program Philosophy
The BTB Standard
Be The Best Lacrosse is not a recreational program. We are a development-first club that exists to prepare athletes for the next level — whether that is high school varsity, college recruitment, or the highest level of club competition on Long Island. Every decision we make as a staff — every drill, every repetition, every word we say on the sideline — must be measured against one question: Does this make our players better?
The BTB Standard is simple: We outwork everyone. We outprepare everyone. We hold each other to a level of accountability that most programs are unwilling to demand. That is our competitive edge, and it is non-negotiable.
What We Demand from Players
Effort
100% in every rep, every sprint, every drill. There are no spectators at a BTB practice. If you are standing still, you are doing it wrong.
Coachability
Receive corrections with your head up and eyes forward. "Got it, coach" and immediate adjustment. Arguing, eye-rolls, or slow corrections are a direct violation of the BTB standard.
Communication
Talk on the field. Call "ball," "help," "mine," "shot," "clear." Silence on a lacrosse field is losing ground. We are a loud, communicating unit.
Preparation
Arrive 10 minutes early. Stick is taped, cleats are laced, you know today's practice focus. Film assignments completed before practice.
Accountability
Own your mistakes. Identify what happened, fix it. Blame, excuses, and deflection have no place on this team. We solve problems; we do not create them.
Identity
When you wear a BTB jersey, you represent every player and coach who came before you. Compete like it. Behave off the field like it. Be the best version of yourself, every day.
What We Demand from Coaches
- Preparation: Every practice plan is written out in full before you arrive at the field. No improvisation. If a drill is not planned, it does not happen.
- Presence: Put your phone away. You are coaching. Every eye on the field, every correction made in real time.
- Consistency: The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Call everything. Every time. Do not make exceptions for your favorite players.
- Positivity with Edge: Demand excellence — but never humiliate. Correction must come with instruction. Tell them what was wrong, show them the right way, let them do it again.
- Film Homework: Coaches review film before evaluating players. Bring specific observations. "You dropped three balls on your weak side in the second half" beats "you need to work on catching."
- Communication: Coaches talk to each other. If you see something, say something. We are a unified staff — no side conversations, no undermining.
- Development Over Wins: We coach for the long game. A player who improves every week is more important than a score. Development decisions are never compromised for short-term results.
The BTB Competitive Edge
Programs that beat us — when they do — will rarely be more talented. They will be more organized, more disciplined, or they will catch us on an off day. Our job is to eliminate off days through relentless preparation.
Our edge lives in three places:
System Depth
We install an offensive system, a defensive system, a ride, a clear, and a draw control curriculum. Most clubs run plays. We run a program. Every player knows every role in every situation.
Draw Dominance
The team that wins the draw wins possession. We develop at minimum three draw specialists per team and drill draw control situations every single practice. This is not optional.
Situational Mastery
Down 1 with 2 minutes left. Up 1 with 1 minute left. Overtime draw. We practice every game situation repeatedly until the correct response is automatic — not thought about, just done.
2
Offensive Install Progression
The BTB offensive system is installed in six stages. Each stage builds on the previous. Do not advance to the next stage until the current one is executed at game speed with correct spacing and communication. Rushing the install is the most common coaching mistake in club lacrosse.
STAGE 1
Positioning & Spacing — The 3-3 Formation
Core Concepts
- Formation: Three attackers (two wings, one crease), three midfielders (one top, two wings). This is our base for all offensive sets.
- 5-Meter Rule: Every player must maintain at minimum 5 meters of space from their nearest teammate when no ball action is occurring. Crowding kills our offense.
- Lane Discipline: The field is divided into three vertical lanes — left, center, right. Own your lane. Do not cross into an occupied lane without a clear reason (cut, screen, set play).
- No Stacking: Two players may never occupy the same space within 4 meters of each other without a purposeful action (pick and roll, crease exchange). Stacking creates defenders and collapses our spacing.
Coach Cues
- "Spread it!" — spacing has collapsed, everyone find their spot immediately
- "Own your lane!" — player has drifted into a teammate's territory
- "Stack — reset!" — two players are too close without purpose
- "Find your five!" — remind players to check spacing distance
STAGE 2
Motion Offense Principles
Cut-Replace Rule
Every time a player cuts toward the ball or the cage, the nearest teammate replaces into that player's vacated space. This is continuous — the offense is always in motion, always balanced.
Backdoor Cuts
When a defender over-plays the passing lane, the offensive player immediately plants the outside foot and cuts backdoor (toward the crease, away from the ball). The passer must recognize the cut and deliver immediately — not after one pump fake. Timing is everything.
Timing Rules
- A player may hold the ball for no more than 3 seconds before passing, shooting, or driving. On the clock in your head: 1-one-thousand, 2-one-thousand, 3 — move it.
- Cuts must be timed to arrive when the passer can deliver — not early, not late.
- After a cut that does not result in a catch, immediately replace and reset. Do not stand and wait for a second look — you have killed the motion.
Screening
Legal screens are set stationary with feet shoulder-width apart. Set the screen, hold it for one count, release and roll. The cutter must read the screen angle and time their cut to the screener's outside shoulder. Call "screen left" or "screen right" so the cutter knows which way to go.
STAGE 3
Attack Unit Work
Crease Attack
The crease attacker is our highest-value offensive player near the cage. Responsibilities: hold the crease space (3 feet from the crease line), read the goalie position at all times, call for feeds when open, crash rebound position on every shot. The crease attacker must be physical — play through contact, never shy away from the 8-meter arc.
Wing Attack
Wing attackers own the areas behind the cage extended to the 8-meter arc. Primary responsibilities: maintain behind-cage threat, execute the two-woman game on the wing, feed to cutting mids, drive into the 8-meter when the lane opens. Always have a continuation plan — drive or pass, never stall.
Behind-Cage Options
- Drive left or right around the cage (read the crease defender's hip)
- Feed to the crease cutter on a diagonal
- Skip pass to opposite wing for a catch-and-shoot
- Draw a double-team and dump to the mid cutting into space
3v2 Drills
Run three-attack vs. two-defender situations daily. Attack must move the ball in three passes or fewer to a quality shot. Defenders must communicate every slide — no silent defense allowed in this drill.
STAGE 4
Midfield Unit
Shooting Lanes
Top mid owns the center shooting lane — 12-15 meters from the cage, directly in front. This is a prime shooting position. Whenever the top mid catches on the arc, they must read: Is the lane open? If yes — shoot. If not — drive one step to open the angle, then shoot or feed crease.
Transition Positioning
After a defensive stop or a clear, midfielders must sprint to their offensive positions before the ball arrives at midfield. No walking. No jogging. If the ball beats you to the offensive zone, you have failed your team. First sprint = first rule for mids.
Draw Win Responses
- Draw won by left wing: top mid sprints to the ball-side high, right mid holds weak-side, attack holds formation — immediate possession offense.
- Draw won to the middle: nearest mid picks up, top mid occupies top arc, wings spread — read and react.
- Draw won behind circle: nearest player picks up, sprint to the offensive end, no pause — treat it as a clear.
STAGE 5
Full 6v6 Motion Offense
Integration
Stages 1-4 now work simultaneously. All six players read and react. No set sequences — this is true motion. The offense flows based on where the ball goes and what the defense gives you.
Hand Signals
- Closed fist (ball carrier): "Hold — I'm driving"
- Open hand point: "Feed me — I'm open"
- Two fingers up: "Set play call incoming"
- Circular wrist roll: "Reset — everyone get back to base"
Over-Rotation
The most common 6v6 error is over-rotation — too many players chasing the ball on one side, leaving the weak side completely open and unoccupied. When this happens, the skip pass to the weak side is the correct read. Train players to identify when the strong side is overloaded and immediately occupy weak-side space.
STAGE 6
Set Plays
DUKE
Purpose: Top drive, backdoor, crease slip.
Top mid drives hard to the right, defender follows — back-cutter goes hard left baseline. If defender helps, crease slips to the open lane. Pass to the best option. Three reads, one action.
RED
Purpose: Two-woman game on the wing.
Right wing and right mid run a pick-and-roll on the wing defender. Wing drives off the pick, mid rolls to the feed lane. If defense switches, attack the switch immediately. High-percentage feed-and-finish play.
BLUE
Purpose: Free position — 3 variations.
BLUE-1: Shot on the draw (no look, immediate). BLUE-2: Pump fake, step right, shoot. BLUE-3: Dump to crease cutter who crashes from left. Call at the line, execute on the whistle.
CLEAR
Purpose: Midfield restart after possession gained.
Goalie initiates. Two defenders outlet wide. Mids flood the middle. Attack holds the top of the arc. Ball travels short-short-long. Everyone sprints, no hesitation.
3
Defensive Install Progression
Defense is our identity. Offense is talent-dependent. Defense is discipline-dependent. We can control our discipline every single day. Our defensive system demands communication, trust, and the willingness to be uncomfortable in the service of the team.
STAGE 1
Individual Defense — The Foundation
Defensive Stance
- Athletic base: feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight forward on the balls of your feet
- Stick held with two hands, head at hip height, horizontal and active — not drooping, not held high
- Eyes on the ball carrier's hip — not the ball, not the stick. The hip tells you where the body is going.
- One arm's length away from the ball carrier when on-ball. Close enough to check — far enough to react to a dodge.
Footwork
- Lateral slide: Push off the back foot, slide the front foot, keep your base. Never cross your feet on lateral movement.
- Drop step: Player drives past you — drop the back foot 45 degrees, recover your angle. Do not reach or lunge.
- Close-out: Approach the ball carrier at an angle, not straight on. Break down from full speed to defensive stance in two steps. A straight-line close-out is an invitation to be dodged.
Legal Checks
- Poke check: Short jabbing motion targeting the lower shaft of the stick. Quick, controlled, immediately withdrawn. Do not lunge or leave your feet.
- Lift check: Hook under the ball carrier's bottom hand to lift the stick from underneath. Must be controlled and from a legal angle.
- Slap check: Used sparingly. Downward motion on the stick shaft. Risk of a foul if contact is made on the arm or body. Only use when the ball carrier is stationary or mid-cradle.
Force Direction
Every on-ball defender has a force responsibility. We force right (toward our strong-side slide) unless scouting tells us otherwise. Defender positions their body to make the left drive the more difficult option. Force assignment is set at the top of every defensive possession by the goalie's call.
STAGE 2
Ball-Side / Help-Side Responsibilities
On-Ball Defender
Your job: contest every shot, force direction, prevent penetration to the 8-meter arc. You are not trying to take the ball — you are making the ball carrier uncomfortable and forcing them into our defensive plan.
Off-Ball Defenders
One pass away: Deny the passing lane. Body positioned half-man toward the ball, stick in the passing lane, vision split between your player and the ball. Do not ball-watch.
Two passes away: Move to the help-side. Position yourself to see both your player and the ball. You are protecting the crease and ready to be the secondary slide.
Required Calls
- "Ball!" — I am on the ball carrier. Loud enough for the whole defense to hear.
- "Help!" — I am one pass away, I am denying the pass, and I am in deny position.
- "Shot!" — Yelled the instant a shot is released. Every defender crashes for the rebound. Every time. Non-negotiable.
- "Slide!" — The on-ball defender is beaten. Nearest slide comes now. Ball defender drops off and recovers.
- "Clear!" — Goalie has possession after a save. Everyone sprints to clearing positions. No hesitation.
STAGE 3
Man Defense with Zone Principles — The BTB Hybrid
Pure man-to-man defense has vulnerabilities at the youth and club level: screens, off-ball movement, and athletic mismatches. Pure zone is slow to react to fast offenses. The BTB Hybrid takes the best of both.
The Hybrid Principles
- All six defenders play man defense — they have an assigned player to guard
- BUT: defenders two passes away collapse toward the crease and occupy help-side zone positions
- When the ball moves to the perimeter, help-side defenders push back out to deny positions
- This creates the illusion of a zone while maintaining man responsibility and accountability
Slide Rules
- Crease first: The first slide always comes from the crease defender (if their player is two or more passes away). This protects the highest-value scoring area.
- Weakside second: The second slide (recovery after crease slide) comes from the weakside defender who has the most distance from the ball and their player.
- When to slide: ball carrier beats their defender and crosses the 8-meter arc line with their body, or catches a feed inside the arc — that is the slide trigger.
STAGE 4
Slide Packages
Crease Slide
The crease defender reads the on-ball situation. The moment the ball carrier crosses the 8-meter line or beats their defender on the drive, the crease defender calls "SLIDE!" and attacks the ball carrier at an angle. The original on-ball defender recovers to find the crease player (now open). The weakside mid drops to cover the crease.
Adjacent Slide
Used when the ball is on the wing and the crease player is actively held by an attacker. The adjacent slide comes from the nearest off-ball defender on the same side as the ball. This player must read the situation early — waiting until contact is made is too late. Pre-slide position is essential.
Double Team Triggers
- Ball carrier is behind the cage with a weak angle to pass
- Ball carrier has received two pump fakes and still has not shot or passed (they are nervous)
- End-of-game situation — we need the ball back and a double-team is worth the risk
- Scouted weakness: the ball carrier cannot go left — double from the left, force them that way
Recovery Rotations
After every slide, every defender must rotate to find an open player. The rotation is always ball-side first. Call out the player you are recovering to: "I've got 14!" so your teammates know coverage is established. Dead silence after a slide is how we give up easy transition goals.
STAGE 5
Zone Defense — 2-3 Zone
Formation
Two defenders at the top (arc line, from left hash to right hash). Three defenders across the bottom (crease, left post, right post). This zone is called "ZONE!" by the goalie or bench before the offense sets up. Do not call zone after the ball is in motion.
Top Two — Contain Responsibilities
- Play the ball aggressively at the top of the arc — do not let the offense walk into shooting position unopposed
- Shift in unison: ball goes right, right top defender is on the ball, left top defender shifts to center
- Communicate "Ball-side!" and "Weak-side!" as the ball moves
- Never both chase — one contains, one covers center
Bottom Three — Deny Responsibilities
- Crease defender never leaves the crease area — you are the last line before the goalie
- Post defenders deny feeds into the crease — stick in the passing lane at all times
- When a skip pass goes to the weak side, the near post defender rotates up to contain, crease holds, far post rotates to crease
Draw Situations
Zone defense is most effective immediately after a draw win when the opposing offense has not yet set. Call "ZONE!" immediately after drawing possession, sprint to zone positions, and force the offense to take a rushed shot from the perimeter rather than executing their set offense.
4
Ride Install
BTB Press Ride (Primary)
The BTB Press Ride is our identity on defense after a save or dead ball. We do not sit back and let the opponent organize. We attack their clearing attempt immediately and force turnovers in the offensive half.
Press Ride Philosophy: Every time the opposing goalie has the ball, we have 8 seconds before they can exit the crease. Those 8 seconds are ours. We use them to eliminate every clean outlet pass.
Personnel Assignments
- Attack (top 3 — our attack unit): Press the clearing defenders. Each attacker has a defender to press. Take away the short outlet. Force the goalie to look long.
- Midfielders (contain): Three mids hold the midfield line, cutting off any long clearing pass. Stay wide enough to deny the wing outlets. If the clearing player beats the press, the mid stops them at midfield.
- Defenders (protect arc): Our three defenders stay goal-side and protect the 8-meter arc. They do not ride — their job is to prevent a fast-break goal if a long pass gets through.
- Kill the Goalie Outlet: Attack player positioned at the direct outlet angle from the goalie. When the goalie steps out to pass, this player moves immediately to cut off the easiest release.
Ride Execution Steps
- Save is made — attack unit immediately turns and sprints toward the clearing defenders
- Each attacker identifies their assigned defender and applies stick pressure
- Mids hold the midfield line — no crossing until the ball crosses
- If the clearing team goes wide, the nearest mid rotates to contain
- Goalie is forced to hold the ball or make a risky long throw
- Any turnover: immediate transition offense — sprint to the cage
BTB Zone Ride (Secondary)
Used as a change-of-pace when the Press Ride is not creating turnovers, or when we want to disguise our alignment. Called "ZONE RIDE!" from the bench.
3-3-1 Formation
- Top 3 (attack): Zone the top third of the field, force every pass wide — no middle passes allowed
- Middle 3 (mids): Zone the middle third, cut off the midfield passing lanes, shift in the direction of the ball
- Bottom 1 (lone defender): Press the first player who enters the offensive zone with the ball
Zone Ride Rules
- Force wide at all costs — the middle is the death lane for this ride. One pass through the middle breaks the whole zone.
- No middle passes: if a middle pass gets through, nearest player attacks, everyone else rotates
- Dead ball press: on any dead ball in the offensive half, immediately set zone ride before the opponent can organize
- If a player is beaten, nearest zone player helps — do not chase behind
5
Clear Install
Clearing the ball is as important as scoring. A failed clear hands the opponent a scoring opportunity. We practice our clear every practice. We have three clear options and the goalie must know all three.
Zone 1 Clear (Behind Goal)
Used when possession is gained behind the cage — after a save or a loose ball behind the endline.
Short-Short-Long Sequence
- Goalie calls "Clear! Left!" or "Clear! Right!" to indicate the first outlet direction
- Near defender (short outlet) receives the first pass on the endline extended, facing upfield
- Near mid (second short) receives the pass at the restraining line, already in motion
- Long pass to the attack player at the top of the offensive arc — sprint in behind the ball
Keys
- The goalie must make the first pass within 3 seconds of gaining possession — any longer and the ride sets
- Every clearing player sprints their lane — no jogging on a clear
- If the primary outlet is covered, goalie calls "Switch!" and goes to the secondary outlet side
Zone 2 Clear (Midfield)
Used when possession is gained at midfield — after a draw win, an interception at midfield, or a reset after a failed Zone 1 clear.
- Spread wide: Two players wide at the sidelines, one at the top of the restraining area
- Attack at top: Our attack occupies the offensive arc — they must be open for the long continuation pass
- Maintain possession: No hero passes. If the outlet is covered, recycle the ball and try again. Turnovers in the midfield zone are the most dangerous.
Fast Break Clear
Used when possession is gained with numerical advantage — 2v1, 3v2, or open field.
- First open defender: The first player with space and a forward lane takes the ball upfield without hesitation
- 2v1 reads: Ball carrier drives, forces commitment from the lone defender, passes to the open player for the shot
- 3v2 reads: Ball carrier attacks the outside defender — if they commit, pass to the middle. If they hold, finish to the inside.
- Attack sprints ahead: The moment possession is gained, our attack turns and sprints toward the opposing cage — they must be ahead of the ball for the fast break to work
Goalie Options
- Outlet left: Pass to the left defender on the endline extended
- Outlet right: Pass to the right defender on the endline extended
- Bomb to center mid: Long throw to the center midfielder who has sprinted to the offensive zone. High-risk, high-reward. Only use when both short outlets are fully covered.
- Roll to lane: Goalie exits the crease and carries the ball into the clearing lane before passing. Used when all immediate outlets are covered. Goalie must stay inside the restraining area to avoid a penalty.
Clear Rule of Thumb: If you are not sure where to pass, pass backward. A backward pass to a player with space is always better than a risky forward pass under pressure.
6
Draw Control Curriculum
Philosophy: Possession wins games. The draw is the most decisive possession event in girls lacrosse — it occurs at the start of every quarter and after every goal. The team that controls the draw controls the game. We do not leave this to chance. We develop specialists, we install wing assignments, and we practice draws every single session.
Draw Specialist Development
Every BTB Girls team carries a minimum of three draw specialists. These players are identified early in the season and receive dedicated development time at every practice. Draw ability is a distinct skill set — it requires hand strength, quick-twitch reaction, court sense, and competitive nerve. Not every player has it naturally, but every player can improve with the right training.
Five Core Draw Techniques
1. Push Draw
At the whistle, both hands push upward through the ball. Creates a high arcing draw that goes straight up or slightly forward. Most reliable technique for clean possession in low-pressure situations.
2. Pull Draw
At the whistle, pull the stick backward and down through the ball. Sends the ball behind the circle to a waiting wing. Effective against opponents who crash the circle aggressively.
3. Clamp Draw
Clamp the ball to the side of the opponent's stick at the whistle and drive it down and to the side. Requires anticipation and timing. Highly effective against push-draw specialists.
4. Fake Clamp / Push Combo
Fake the clamp motion to cause the opponent to react, then transition to a push draw at contact. Advanced technique — requires practice but is nearly impossible to defend when timed correctly.
5. High Push
Push draw aimed high and to the strong side — sends the ball directly to the wing player at 45 degrees. Best used when the left wing is in position and the right wing is a primary read.
Wing Positions and Responsibilities
Left Wing
Positioned at the left hash of the draw circle. Read cues: watch the specialist's bottom hand — it tells you the technique being used. Crash on a clamp (ball likely goes left). Stay on a pull (ball goes right or behind). Sprint on a push (ball goes forward).
Right Wing
Positioned at the right hash of the draw circle. Mirror the left wing's responsibility on the opposite side. If both wings crash the same direction, the opposite side is wide open for the opponent. Communicate before every draw: "I've got right" — "I've got left."
Read Cues (For Wings)
- Specialist's top hand grip tight and high → Push draw coming → Crash straight up the center
- Specialist's bottom hand rotating backward → Pull draw → Sprint to the behind-circle position
- Specialist's elbow dropping → Clamp → Read the side and crash that direction
- Opponent's specialist moving laterally → React to the ball flight, not the technique
Five Draw Control Drills
- Dry Draw Reps (no opponent): Specialist practices all five techniques 10x each. Coach watches hand position and technique. Wings practice crash reads off a coach's verbal call.
- Mirror Draw (2 specialists): Two specialists face each other and take draw reps. No wings. Focus: technique and reaction time. First player to call "mine!" clearly wins the rep.
- Draw + Sprint (specialist + 2 wings): Live draw, wings sprint to the ball. Whoever gets possession first sprints to the offensive end. Simulates the draw-to-fast-break sequence.
- Controlled Draw (3v3 draw unit): Three BTB players vs. three opponents in and around the circle. Simulate game draws — possession goes to offense, 5-second possession count, then reset.
- Live Game Draws (10 reps): Full game scenario. Coach calls the situation: "You're down 1, 2 minutes left." Draw unit executes. Defenders apply pressure. Score the result: possession = 1 point, shot within 5 seconds = 2 points.
Game Situation Draws
Tied Game
Default draw package. Specialist uses most reliable technique. Wings in normal positions. Possession → immediate set offense. No hero plays.
Down by 1
High-risk draw acceptable. Wings crash aggressively. Specialist goes for a clamp — any chaos is okay, we need the ball. Defenders stay back in case of a turnover.
Up by 1
Conservative draw. Specialist uses push draw — highest-percentage possession. Wings hold back. Get the ball to a safe player, kill clock, force the opponent to foul. Do not gamble.
Overtime
Everything on the line. Specialist uses the technique they have executed best all day. Wings must call who is crashing before the whistle. One possession, make it count — get the draw, run your best play.
7
Field Diagrams
All diagrams are top-down views. Red = offense/attack. Blue = defense. Arrows indicate primary movement. Dashed arrows = pass. Solid arrows = player movement.
1 — 6v6 Motion Offense Alignment
2 — 2-3 Zone Defense
3 — Press Ride Formation
4 — Zone 1 Clear (Behind Goal)
5 — Draw Control Unit
6 — Crease Slide Package
7 — 3v2 Fast Break
8 — 8-Meter Free Position Setup
8
25 Practice Plans
Each plan runs 90 minutes unless noted. All plans include a full minute-by-minute breakdown, equipment list, key coaching points, and common mistakes. Click any plan to expand it.
HGR Coach's Vault Playlist: A comprehensive collection of girls lacrosse coaching videos, drills, and technique breakdowns. Bookmark this playlist for reference throughout the season.
Watch Full Playlist on YouTube →
Watch Full Playlist on YouTube →
Phase 1 — Foundation (Plans 1–5)
01
▼
Focus
Set the BTB standard on day one. Establish culture, expectations, and baseline skill assessment. Every player should leave knowing exactly what this program demands.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x30Cones x20Pinnies (2 colors)Whiteboard
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Team jog two laps. Dynamic stretching: high knees, butt kicks, lateral shuffle, hip openers, arm circles. End with 5 sprints at 75% from endline to midfield. Coach observes effort and attitude — no exceptions given on Day 1.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Culture Install (15 min): Bring team in. Deliver Opening Day Script (Section 9, Script 1). Post the BTB Standard on the whiteboard. Each player writes down one personal goal on an index card. Coach collects them. Then: individual stick work — each player cradling and passing against a wall or partner. Coach circulates and introduces herself to every player by name.
25:00–40:00
Team Block 1 — Passing Circuit (15 min): Three stations (5 min each, rotate): Station 1: Partner passing 10 yards — focus on soft hands, receiver steps to the ball. Station 2: Ground ball competition — pairs race to pick up ground balls off a wall bounce. Station 3: Strong/weak hand cradle circuit — cones in a line, weave at game speed. Coach grades each player silently on a 1-5 scale per skill.
40:00–65:00
Team Block 2 — Passing & Catching Progression (25 min): Line drill: 3 lines, pass and follow. Progress: stationary → jogging → full speed. Add: behind-the-back feed every 5th pass. Add: off-hand only (5 minutes). Ground ball circuit: split into groups of 4 — coach rolls ball between two defenders, attackers compete for possession. "First to call it loud gets it." No whisper calls accepted.
65:00–80:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 No-Pressure Assessment (15 min): 6v6 full field. No defensive pressure — offense runs freely. Coach watches: spacing, motion, communication, shot selection. No coaching during this block. Observe only. Note which players understand the game and which need foundational work. This data drives your next four practices.
80:00–90:00
Cool-Down + Standards Review (10 min): Stretch as a team. Coach reviews: "Here is what I saw today. Here is what we will demand all season. Here is what we will become." Assign Film Study Week 1 (Section 11). Team hands in their goal cards. End with team handshake/chant — team decides this together, today, right now.
Key Coaching Points
- Call every player by name from the first minute
- Correct stick grip immediately — fix the foundation before anything else
- Note every player who speaks up during the 6v6 — those are your leaders
- Do not run anyone into the ground on Day 1 — build buy-in, not resentment
Common Mistakes
- Spending too much time talking — get them moving within 15 minutes
- Overlooking quiet players — the game-changer might be the shy one in the back
- Setting rules you will not enforce — only state what you will hold every day
02
▼
Focus
Build the fundamental skill base that every BTB offensive concept depends on. Players who cannot pass and catch reliably cannot run our motion offense. Fix these first.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x30Cones x20Goals x2Pinnies
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Dynamic run circuit: forward jog, backpedal, carioca, sprint, change of direction on cone. Partner passing while moving — do not stand still during warm-up. End: 3 competitive sprints, first one to the line wins.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Passing & Catching (15 min): Partner drill, 10 yards apart. Sequence: 10 right-hand passes, 10 left-hand passes, 10 on-the-run passes (both move toward each other and cross), 10 lead passes (passer throws to where the catcher is going, not where they are). Coach corrects: elbow up on the pass, step toward target, reach and give on the catch.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Dodging Circuit (25 min): Set up a 4-cone circuit. Station A: Split dodge at a cone defender (passive), 5x each hand. Station B: Roll dodge — drive to a cone, plant outside foot, roll 180, explode upfield. Station C: Face dodge — drive into the defender's stick, bring stick across face, continue strong side. Station D: Swim move — fake high, bring under the defender's stick arm, accelerate. Full speed on every rep. Rep counts: 6 per station before rotating. Each round takes 6 minutes. Run two full rounds.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 2v1 Feed and Shoot (20 min): Two attackers vs. one defender. Ball starts at the wing. Attacker on ball drives — if the defender commits, feed to the crease cutter. If the defender holds, shoot. Rotate defender every 3 reps. Everyone gets 3 reps as the driver, 3 reps as the cutter, 2 reps as the defender. Count made goals — leaderboard on the whiteboard.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 4v4 (15 min): 4v4 on a half field. Offense must complete 3 passes before shooting. No exception. Coach counts the passes aloud. If they shoot on 2, ball turns over automatically. Midsized game that keeps everyone engaged and moving.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Static stretch. Coach picks two players who demonstrated the best technical improvement today and names them publicly. Sets the expectation that daily improvement is noticed and valued.
Key Coaching Points
- Every pass has a target — chest, shoulder, stick pocket. Name it before the throw.
- The dodge is not complete until you accelerate out the back side
- The feed in the 2v1 must be delivered before the cutter stops moving — if they stop, the play is dead
Common Mistakes
- Players dodging into a stopped position — the dodge ends with acceleration
- Passing without a target — leading the catcher too far left/right
- Weak-hand avoidance during partner passing — enforce equal reps both hands
03
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Focus
Install the individual defensive foundations that everything else is built on. Every player on this team — attackers, mids, defenders — must be able to play one-on-one defense. This is non-negotiable.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Cones x30PinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Defensive footwork circuit: lateral slides on two cone lines (10 meters each), 4 sets. Drop step drill: start forward, coach calls "drop left" or "drop right" — plant and open hips. 3 sets of 8. End with defensive stance holds: 30 seconds in stance, hold it, then shuffle 5 meters and hold again.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Stance & Footwork (15 min): Pair up. Offensive player walks at defensive pace, defender mirrors. Start slow, increase speed. Coach calls: "Drive right!" — defender cuts off the lane and forces left. "Drive left!" — opposite. Defender may not reach — feet only. 5-minute check drill: defender calls their force direction out loud before every rep.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 1v1 Shell Drill, Force Direction (25 min): Single-cone course. Ball carrier at top of the 8-meter arc, one on one. Defender forces the ball carrier right (toward the cone). Three outcomes: forced right = defensive win, scored on left = defensive loss, shot on net from outside = neutral. Rotate every 3 reps. Leaderboard. Run 4 rounds of all players. Coach corrects: stick position, stance width, weight forward. Do not allow reaching or over-committing to one direction.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 2v2 Help-Side Positioning (20 min): 2 offense, 2 defense. On-ball defender calls "Ball!" Off-ball defender calls "Help!" Ball moves: defenders shift in unison. Key rule: when the ball passes from one side to the other, the off-ball defender must call "Switch help!" before the pass is caught. Run 3 different ball movement patterns: straight across, cross-skip, diagonal. Make defenders call every single shift out loud or the rep starts over.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 4v4 D-Emphasis (15 min): 4v4, offense attempts to score. Defense earns 1 point for each possession without giving up a shot inside the 8m. Offense earns 1 point for each goal. Coach tracks points. Losing team runs a short sprint at the end. Winning team gets a 30-second head start at tomorrow's warm-up.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Coach identifies the best communication moment of the day and replays it verbally: "Number 12 called 'Ball!' and 'Help!' every single time. That's the standard."
Key Coaching Points
- Hands on your own stick — no touching the ball carrier until the legal check opportunity
- Eyes on the hip, not the ball — the hip never fakes
- Force direction is decided before the rep — not mid-dodge
Common Mistakes
- Defenders standing straight up — must stay in an athletic bent-knee stance
- Ball-watching: off-ball defender forgets their player while watching the on-ball action
- Silent defense — if a player is not talking on defense, they are not defending correctly
04
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Focus
Teach the three primary cuts and the cut-replace rule that powers our entire motion offense. By the end of this practice, every player must be able to cut at game speed and replace correctly.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x25Cones x24PinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Cutting footwork: V-cut on cones — plant hard on outside foot, explode to the ball. 3 sets x10 each side. L-cut: run straight at a cone, plant and cut laterally at a 90-degree angle. Back-cut: fake toward the ball, plant, cut backdoor. All cuts done without a ball first — technique only.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — V/L/Back-Cut Progression (15 min): Add the ball. Partner with a feeder at a cone. Cutter runs V-cut pattern, calls for the ball with an open hand, catches on the move. 10 reps V-cut, 10 reps L-cut, 10 reps back-cut. Coach focuses on: outside foot plant depth and acceleration angle — too shallow a cut = easy for a defender to stay with you.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v0 Cut-Replace Motion (25 min): Three offensive players run the cut-replace drill without defense. Rules: one player cuts to the ball, nearest teammate replaces into the cutter's old spot, third player holds their position. The ball is passed on every cut. No shooting yet — this is pure motion. Start at walking pace. Add jogging. Full speed by minute 40. Coach calls "FREEZE!" at random to check spacing — every player should be within 5 meters of their lane assignment.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 4v3 Advantage (20 min): 4 offensive players vs. 3 defenders. Offense has a built-in advantage — find it. The open player is always someone. First pass rule: within 3 seconds. Shot rule: within 5 passes. Defensive team earns a point for every possession they hold without a shot inside the 8m. Offensive team earns a point per goal. Rotate defenders every 4 possessions.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v5 Advantage (15 min): Full 6-on-5 possession offense. Offense must use the cut-replace motion — no standing and waiting for a turn. Defense is active but one player short. Any static offense (player not moving for 4+ seconds without a ball) results in a turnover called by the coach. Offense is not allowed to win by talent alone — they must win by motion.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Coach names the two best cuts of the day — specific moment, specific player, what made it great. Assign Film Week 2: identify cut-replace in the film clip provided.
Key Coaching Points
- The cut starts with a fake — two steps toward the defender, then explode away
- Hands up and target visible for the passer before the cut is complete
- Replace immediately — do not watch the cut, fill the space
Common Mistakes
- Lazy cuts — jogging to a spot instead of exploding at full speed
- Cutting without looking back — if you cut and cannot see the ball, the timing is broken
- Standing after a non-completed cut — reset to motion immediately
05
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Focus
Identify draw specialists, introduce all five techniques, install wing assignments, and run live draws for the first time this season. Every player on the team participates — draw is everyone's responsibility to understand.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Cones x10Draw circle (paint or cones)Pinnies
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): General dynamic warm-up with emphasis on hand and wrist mobility. Rapid-fire hand drills: open/close fist, wrist rotation, two-handed grip squeeze on stick. Sprints from endline: reaction start — coach drops a ball, first player to pick it up wins. This develops the quick-start needed for draw situations.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Technique Reps (15 min): Deliver Draw Control Install Speech (Script 4). Demonstrate all five draw techniques with a partner (or two players demonstrate while team watches). Then: every player lines up and takes 5 reps of each technique — push, pull, clamp, fake/combo, high push. Coach circulates. Identify the top 4-5 natural candidates for specialist development.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Wing Read Drill (25 min): Set up draw circle with coach. 1 specialist at the circle, 2 wings at the hashes. Coach calls the technique out loud (simulating a read). Wings react: crash on clamp call, hold on pull call, sprint center on push call. 10 reps with verbal cues. Then: specialist executes the technique without calling it — wings must read. 10 more reps. Rotate wings every 5 reps. Focus: foot position at the hash, first-step explosion direction.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 3v3 Draw Unit (20 min): Three BTB players vs. three opponents. Specialist vs. specialist in the circle. Wings vs. wings outside. All positions communicate before the whistle: "I've got left." "I've got right." Live draw. Team that gains possession runs to the opposite endline for a point. Reset and repeat. 10 possessions — track the score. Rotate specialists every 3 draws.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 10 Live Draws (15 min): Full draw competition. After every draw, possession team has 5 seconds to shoot or advance the ball past midfield. If they fail: turnover. Defensive team can score off a turnover — keeps both teams honest and competitive. Count total draws won per team. Losing team runs one sprint.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Announce the draw specialist candidates for development. These players will receive dedicated individual time every practice. Assign Film Week 4 (optional early preview): watch draw control film, identify technique on each draw.
Key Coaching Points
- Grip pressure matters — loose hands at the draw will cost you every single time
- Wings must communicate their assignment before every draw, not after the whistle
- The draw is not won or lost at the whistle — it is won in the crash and recovery
Common Mistakes
- Specialists not adjusting to the opponent's technique — if they are clamp-heavy, go to fake-clamp/push
- Wings crashing before reading — waiting for the ball flight is always faster than guessing
- Players not sprinting to the ball after a draw — possession is not secured until someone has the ball in their stick
Phase 2 — System Install (Plans 6–12)
06
▼
Focus
Install the 3-3 motion offense at walk speed, jog speed, and then full speed. Players must understand every position's role before we add defensive pressure.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x25Cones x30PinniesGoals x2Whiteboard
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Jog + dynamic movement. Then 3-person passing triangle while jogging — cannot stop moving. Transition: each player calls the next pass before releasing.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Position Assignments (15 min): Deliver Offensive Install Speech (Script 2). Draw the 3-3 formation on the whiteboard with player positions labeled. Walk through every position's lane, spacing rule, and cut-replace responsibility. Q&A allowed — this is the one time in the season we walk through a concept instead of running it.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 6v0 Motion Offense x15 Reps (25 min): Six offensive players, no defense. Walk pace: run the motion 5 times, coach stops and corrects every spacing error. Jog pace: 5 reps, coach only stops for major errors. Full speed: 5 reps, no stops. Count aloud every successful completion of one full motion cycle (cut-replace-pass-cut-replace). Goal: 15 clean reps in 25 minutes.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 6v3 Shell Defense (20 min): Add three defenders — ball-side only. Offense runs the motion against passive defense that can only deny, not check. Offense must complete 4 passes before shooting. If defense forces a turnover: 5 pushups for the offense unit (quick, not punishing — just a consequence). Run 8 possessions per group, rotate defenders.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Motion Only (15 min): Full 6v6. Offense is only allowed to use motion offense — no set plays yet. Defense plays live. Any time an offensive player stands still for 4+ seconds without the ball, a coach calls "STATIC!" and the ball turns over. Three competitions of 5 possessions each, track scores.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. One-word review: each player says one word to describe how today's offense felt. Coach takes notes — this reveals understanding and confidence levels.
Key Coaching Points
- Lane discipline is more important than ball movement in this first install
- A cut that does not receive the ball still must replace — motion does not pause for unsuccessful cuts
- The goalie must call "Clear!" immediately after saves — that reinforces defensive transition habits
Common Mistakes
- Players drifting out of their lane to "help" — stay in your assignment
- Ball moving faster than the legs — passes made before the cutter is in position
- Spacing collapsing under defensive pressure — drill the 5-meter rule relentlessly
07
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Focus
Install DUKE and RED set plays. Players must know the full play — all six positions' roles — not just their own.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Cones x20PinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Partner passing warm-up, increasing distance from 5 to 20 yards. Add: game-speed catching practice — partner throws at game speed from 15 yards, receiver must catch and cradle in one motion.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — DUKE Walkthrough (15 min): Walk through DUKE play on the whiteboard (3 reads: top drive, backdoor cut, crease slip). Walk it on the field at 50% speed. All six players know all three read options. Each player physically walks through every position role once. 5 walkthrough reps of DUKE total.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — DUKE + RED 6v0 (25 min): Run DUKE at full speed x5. Then walk through RED on the board — two-woman game on the wing (pick and roll). Walk RED on the field x2. Then run RED at full speed x5. Alternate: DUKE, RED, DUKE, RED, DUKE. Total: 10 full-speed reps (5 DUKE, 5 RED). No defense — this is execution only. Coach grades each rep: Clean / Hesitation / Breakdown.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 6v5 with Play Calls (20 min): Five defenders. Coach calls "DUKE!" or "RED!" from the sideline. Offense executes the called play. Defense plays live but is one player short. If the play breaks down: offense switches to motion (they must recognize the transition). Run 10 called possessions total. Defensive team that holds the most: wins the next water break first.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Live (15 min): Fully live. Coach calls plays from sideline (DUKE or RED). Offense can also call plays themselves. Defense plays full pressure. Score kept. Any set play that results in a goal: entire offense celebrates loudly — reinforce the system working.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Quiz players verbally — call a name, ask "What is your role in DUKE from the wing attack position?" Quick-fire, no hesitation. Make it competitive — fastest correct answer wins.
Key Coaching Points
- DUKE reads happen in order: drive first, read the defense, then look backdoor, then look crease — do not skip steps
- The pick in RED must be set stationary — a moving pick is a foul every time
- If the called play is not open, go to motion — never force a dead play
Common Mistakes
- Top driver in DUKE not committing hard enough — a lazy drive does not pull the defender
- Crease slip in DUKE hesitating to move — the slip must happen as the drive happens, not after
- RED pick set at the wrong angle — it must be set to force the defender to fight through or switch
08
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Focus
Install the BTB man defense system. Every player knows their on-ball and off-ball responsibilities. Communication is evaluated on every single rep.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Cones x20PinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Close-out drill: defender starts at the crease, offensive player receives the ball at the arc, defender closes out at full speed and breaks down. 3 sets x6 reps each. Emphasis on closing at an angle — never straight on.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Deliver Defensive Install Speech (Script 3) (15 min): Walk through the BTB Hybrid on the whiteboard. Assign on-ball, one-pass-away, and two-passes-away positions. Physical walkthroughs: 6 players on the field, no ball. Coach moves a cone (representing the ball), all 6 shift. Stop and check every player's position. 10 walk-pace shifts.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v3 Shell, Communicate (25 min): Three defenders, three attackers (half field). Offense passes the ball around the arc — no driving. Defense calls "Ball!" "Help!" "Shot!" on every shift. Any defender who does not call their assignment: the play stops, they call it twice, then the play resumes. Run 8 possession rounds. The defense with the most stops earns a water break lead.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 4v4 Deny Positioning (20 min): Add a fourth player to each side. Offense is now making cuts and driving. Defense must deny the first pass from the goalie. Force the goalie to hold the ball for 4 seconds — anything over 3 seconds of possession by the goalie in live play is a defensive point. Run 10 possessions, rotate defenders.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Evaluation (15 min): Full 6v6. Coach grades defense on: communication (0-3 per possession), positioning (0-3), stops (1 per stop). Total score revealed after. Accountability is built here — individual player scores are kept privately and reviewed at week's end.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Recognize the loudest defender today by name. "That is what BTB defense sounds like."
Key Coaching Points
- On-ball and help-side calls must happen before the ball moves, not after
- One-pass-away deny: stick in the lane, body angled toward the ball, head on a swivel
- Two-passes-away help: you are the safety — protect the crease before your player
Common Mistakes
- Defenders playing the same distance regardless of ball position — off-ball distance must change as the ball moves
- Over-denying: one-pass-away defender gets caught reaching and gets beaten backdoor
- Help-side defender creeping too close to the crease, leaving their player open for the skip pass
09
▼
Focus
Install crease slide and adjacent slide. Teach recovery rotations. Every defender must know when to slide, how to slide, and who covers after the slide.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Cones x20PinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Slide footwork drill: start at the crease (5 yard line), sprint laterally to the wing at the 8m arc. 6 reps each direction. Then: from crease position, sprint toward the ball carrier's position, break down at arm's length — simulate the slide angle. 6 reps each side.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Slide Trigger Walkthrough (15 min): Walk through slide triggers on the whiteboard: ball carrier crosses 8m line with body, or beats defender on the drive. Walk through on the field: offense walks at the cage, defense walks through the slide. Call "SLIDE!" every time. Walk through recovery: original on-ball defender covers the vacated crease. Walk-speed only — focus is on recognition, not athleticism.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v2 with Slide (25 min): Three attackers, two defenders + one designated crease slider. Ball on the wing drives hard. On-ball defender contains, crease slider reads the trigger and slides. If the slide is too late or too early, stop and walk through. Run 12 reps (switch sides every 4 reps). Track: slides on-time = 1 point for defense, goal scored after late slide = 1 point for offense.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 4v3 with Recovery (20 min): Add a fourth offensive player. After the slide, the defense must execute a full recovery rotation — all three defenders call out their player. "I've got 22! I've got 10!" Any uncovered player who receives the ball in the 8m: offense gets a free position shot. Run 8 possession rounds. Recovery rotation is graded louder than the slide itself.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Live Slides (15 min): Full 6v6. Defense uses slide package. Offense is told to attack the cage aggressively — force the slide every possession. Coach counts: how many slides were executed correctly, how many goals came from recovery failures. This number is your benchmark for next week's evaluation.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Review the number of correct slides vs. total drives. Percentage matters: we want above 80% correct slides by the end of Phase 2. If below 60% today, this practice repeats next week.
Key Coaching Points
- The slide must come from the crease — not the weakside, not the top — unless specifically running adjacent package
- The trigger is the hip crossing the arc, not a shot or a pass — do not wait for the drive to finish
- Recovery calls must be loud enough for the goalkeeper to hear
Common Mistakes
- Sliding too early — ball carrier reads the early slide and passes to the crease player who is now uncovered
- Two defenders both sliding — leaves two players uncovered. One slides; one recovers. Always.
- Silent recovery — defenders rotating without calling their player creates coverage confusion and gives up the quick goal
10
▼
Focus
Install the BTB Press Ride. Every player knows their assignment. The ride must be set up within 3 seconds of the opposing team gaining possession.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x15Cones x15PinniesFull field
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Stick pressure drill: two players face each other, 1 yard apart. Defensive player puts stick on the ball in the offensive player's stick and applies pressure (not illegal — contact on the stick is legal). Offensive player tries to maintain possession and pass. 2-minute drill, rotate pairs.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Ride Assignments (15 min): Walk through BTB Press Ride on the whiteboard. Assign each player (by position) their ride role: A1, A2, A3 (press), M1, M2, M3 (contain midfield), D1, D2, D3 (protect arc). Walk through on the field — coach positions each player manually. 3 slow-walk reps with coach repositioning any player who drifts.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 7v6 Ride (25 min): BTB rides a 6-player clearing team. BTB has 7 (one extra attacker to simulate pressure). Clearing team tries to advance the ball past midfield. BTB ride must force a turnover or prevent a clean exit. Three outcomes: clean clear (clearing wins), turnover in the offensive half (BTB wins), ball exits midfield but under pressure (neutral). Run 8 ride reps, rotate clearing team.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — Live Ride vs. Clear x5 (20 min): Full 6v6 ride vs. clear scenario. Goalie has the ball behind the cage. On the whistle: clearing team executes Zone 1 Clear, BTB executes Press Ride. If BTB gets the ball: immediate transition offense. If clearing team exits: they get a 5-second possession before the next rep. Run 10 reps total (5 each as ride/clear).
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 5 Live Situations (15 min): Game situation: BTB is up 1 goal with 3 minutes left. They must ride and get the ball back. Clearing team must clear to win. Tension is real, coach keeps time. Run 5 live situations — both teams give full effort. This is the most important 15 minutes of the ride install.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Ask every attacker: "What is your ride assignment?" Make them answer. No exceptions.
Key Coaching Points
- The ride is set before the save — anticipate, not react
- Attack must apply stick pressure, not body pressure — a foul on the ride gives the clearing team an easy outlet
- Midfielders hold the line — do not chase upfield or the ride collapses
Common Mistakes
- Attack chasing the goalie into the crease — illegal and tactically wrong
- Mids crossing midfield before the ball does — offsides penalty kills the ride
- Defenders leaving the arc to ride — this is what gives up the fast break goal
11
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Focus
Install all three clear packages. The goalie leads every clear. By the end of this practice, the goalie knows all four outlet options and every field player knows their clear assignment.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x15Cones x15PinniesFull fieldGoalie gear
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Goalie: footwork and outlet throwing reps — 10 left outlets, 10 right outlets, 5 long bombs. Field players: catch-and-run drill — ball delivered, player must catch and sprint 10 yards before stopping. Simulates the clearing lane sprint expected in-game.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Goalie Outlets (15 min): Goalie drills all four outlet options at game speed: left outlet (5 reps), right outlet (5 reps), bomb to center mid (5 reps — mid must be in position), roll to lane (3 reps with timing). Simultaneously: field players walk through Zone 1 Clear positions with cones — no movement, just placement. Coach confirms everyone knows their spot.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 6v0 Clear (25 min): No defensive pressure. Zone 1 Clear x5 (left side), x5 (right side). Zone 2 Clear x5. Fast Break Clear x3. Goalie initiates every rep. Coach stops after every failed clear attempt — walks through what went wrong, who was in the wrong lane, who missed the pass. Clock every rep: Zone 1 Clear should reach midfield in under 6 seconds from the goalie's first pass.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 6v6 Clear vs. Ride (20 min): Full pressure. The clearing team (BTB) vs. the ride (BTB opponent group). Run Zone 1 Clear vs. BTB Press Ride. Goalie calls the clear direction. Clearing team must execute; ride must stop them. 8 reps — rotate who is clearing and who is riding every 4 reps.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 5 Live Clear Situations (15 min): Game pressure: "Down 1, 2 minutes left. You need to clear this ball and score." Five live situations. Pressure is acknowledged out loud by the coach before each rep. Clearing team must clear successfully to earn a point. Score tracked.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Coach reviews clear success rate from the live situations. If below 60%: clearing is drilled again next practice. If above 80%: celebrate the execution and move on.
Key Coaching Points
- The goalie's first pass must be a confident, full-speed outlet — hesitation kills the clear
- Clearing players must already be in their lane BEFORE the goalie has the ball
- A backward pass in the clearing zone is always the right call under pressure
Common Mistakes
- Goalie holding the ball too long — the ride is set in 3 seconds; the outlet must come before that
- Field players jogging their clearing lanes — sprint the lane or the timing breaks
- Clearing players drifting to the same side — spread wide, own your lane
12
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Focus
Evaluate retention of everything installed in Phase 2. Identify gaps before moving to integration. Draw unit gets dedicated time. Finish with a full 12v12 evaluation.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x25Full fieldPinniesGoals x2Scoreboard
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Free choice: each player does their own individual warm-up for the first 5 minutes (communicates ownership). Then team dynamic warm-up together for 5 minutes. This contrast is deliberate — show them they have agency, then bring them back as a unit.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Free Choice Reps (15 min): Players choose their own skill focus for the first 10 minutes: passing, shooting, dodging, draw technique. Coach circulates and gives individual corrections — no group instruction. Last 5 minutes: 10 live draws with full draw unit. Specialist competition: who wins more draws today?
25:00–45:00
Team Block 1 — Scout Team Run (20 min): Half the team runs the BTB offense. Other half plays BTB defense. Full system: motion offense, set plays, slides, ride, clear. Coach observes only — no stopping. This is the evaluation. Everything seen here goes into individual player notes.
45:00–65:00
Team Block 2 — 12v12 Full Evaluation (20 min): Full 12-player scrimmage with clock: two 10-minute periods. Coach keeps score. Halftime 2-minute adjustment: identify one offensive and one defensive fix and communicate it. Second period runs with the adjustment. Coach grades: system retention on a 1-5 scale per position group (attack, mid, defense).
65:00–80:00
Competition / Live — 10 More Draws (15 min): Draw specialists rotate through 10 live draw reps each. Wings assigned and locked in for the last 5 reps. Score: best draw unit wins a rest day from conditioning next practice.
80:00–90:00
Cool-Down + Phase 2 Review (10 min): Stretch. Coach delivers brief Phase 2 recap: what we installed, what is working, what needs more reps. Preview Phase 3: "Next week we stop installing and start integrating. The system works when you stop thinking about it and just play."
Key Coaching Points
- Identify the two or three system elements that are still rough — those are practice priority for Phase 3
- The 12v12 must be competitive — allow goals, allow turnovers. Real pressure reveals real gaps.
- Draw specialist development is a season-long commitment — note today's results in the Draw Specialist Log
Common Mistakes
- Advancing to Phase 3 when the slides are not clicking — integration of a broken system creates worse habits
- Over-coaching during the 12v12 — let it play out, observe, adjust at halftime only
- Forgetting to track draw win/loss data — this is needed for the Draw Specialist Log
Phase 3 — Integration (Plans 13–18)
13
▼
Focus
Win the transition. The team that converts transition opportunities at the highest rate wins close games. Attack must sprint ahead. Mids must make the right read. Defense must recover before the offense arrives.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesGoals x2Cones x10
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Sprint + catch + shoot circuit: player sprints 30 yards, receives a pass mid-sprint, and shoots on goal without stopping. 5 reps each player. Force full-speed catch-and-shoot — no slowing down to catch.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Transition Sprint Mechanics (15 min): Midfielders: first-step drill. Coach drops the ball, mid must sprint to pick it up and immediately make an outlet pass to a waiting attacker who is sprinting. Emphasis: the mid's first look is upfield, always. Attackers: sprint-and-receive drill — receive the outlet while sprinting, do not stop or slow.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v2 Fast Break x5 Rounds (25 min): Three attackers vs. two defenders, starting at midfield. Ball starts with a mid who passes to an attacker on the sprint. Attackers have a 3v2 numerical advantage. Drive the middle, force a commitment from the near defender, pass to the open player. If the defense recovers to 3v3 before a shot: possession offense takes over. Run 5 rounds of 3 reps each = 15 total 3v2 reps.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 4v3 Transition (20 min): Progress to 4v3. Now a mid joins the attack in transition. The fourth player (mid) trails behind the three primary attackers. If the defense stops the initial 3v2 read: the trailing mid is the secondary option at the top of the arc. 8 reps total. Coach grades: correct initial drive, correct read, correct trail position.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — Full Field Transition Emphasis (15 min): Full 6v6. Every possession starts with a defensive clear — goalie makes the outlet, the clearing team attacks in transition. Offense must attempt a shot within 8 seconds of crossing midfield. Any shot after 8 seconds: turnover. Urgency is forced. Count goals scored in transition (within the 8-second window).
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Ask the attack: "What is your first job when the defense clears the ball?" Answer must be: "Sprint ahead of the ball to the offensive end." Every single time.
Key Coaching Points
- The fast break is not a sprint drill — decision-making at speed is the skill being trained
- The middle driver forces the commitment — if they drive without commitment they have made the wrong choice
- Trail mid must stay behind the play until the defense collapses, then step into the open lane
Common Mistakes
- Attack stops running when they do not receive the first outlet pass — never stop, you are creating the spacing
- 3v2 driver holding too long — if the defender does not commit in two steps, pass and cut
- Mids admiring the fast break from midfield instead of sprinting behind it
14
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Focus
Eliminate transition goals against. The most common way to lose a game is in the transition — a turnover becomes a fast break becomes a goal before the defense can recover. We prevent this through aggressive recovery positioning and disciplined decision-making.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesGoals x2
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Recovery sprint circuit: from the offensive arc, sprint full speed to the defensive crease (the full field). 5 reps, timed. The defender who turns the ball over must be the first one back — always. Reinforce this expectation before the first drill.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — 2v1 Force Shot Not Pass (15 min): Two attackers vs. one defender in a 2v1 situation. The lone defender's job: force a shot from the outside, do not allow the easy inside pass. Defender positions between the two attackers, shading toward the ball carrier. If the pass is made: drop to the second attacker immediately. 8 reps, rotate defender every 2 reps.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v2 Defense, Forced Slide (25 min): Three attackers vs. two defenders. One designated slide: the off-ball defender must slide to the driving attacker, forcing the ball back outside. Their partner recovers to cover the newly open attacker. The rule: you always slide away from the goal, not toward it. 12 reps — alternate which defender slides first.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — Full Field Both Ways (20 min): Full field, both teams transition on every change of possession. When BTB turns the ball over: all six players sprint back immediately. Goalie calls "BACK!" as the signal. Defenders must get to the crease before the ball gets to the offensive zone or it is a scored goal regardless of what happens next. Run continuous both-ways for 20 minutes.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 (15 min): Full 6v6, transition defense emphasized. Any transition goal allowed by the defense: that defender runs one sprint before returning. Not punishment — accountability. The consequence must be immediate and visible so the lesson sticks.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. "The best transition defense is turning the ball over less. The second-best is sprinting back before the ball does. We practice both."
Key Coaching Points
- The first defender back must get to the cage — do not chase the ball, protect the goal
- In a 2v1: do not guess; force the outside shot and let the goalie make the save
- The goalie is the quarterback of transition defense — their "BACK!" call is a command, not a suggestion
Common Mistakes
- Single defender committing to the ball carrier and getting beaten — play the space between both attackers
- Recovery defenders sprinting past the crease and into the field — overrun leaves the cage exposed
- Ball-watching after a turnover — the moment possession changes, everyone must be moving toward the cage
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Focus
Free positions are the highest-percentage scoring opportunities in girls lacrosse. We must convert at a minimum 55% rate. Every player on the team must know how to take a free position and understand the BLUE play system.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Goals x2Cones x15Pinnies
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Shot technique circuit: three shooting stations at different angles on the 8-meter arc. 5 shots per station, rotate. Focus: plant foot, hip rotation, follow-through to the target. Track makes and misses from each position.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — 8m Shot Technique, 3 Angles (15 min): Free position shot from three positions: top center (direct shot), left arc (step right to open angle), right arc (step left to open angle). Each player takes 3 free positions from each angle. Coach grades: pre-shot routine, pump fake decision, step direction, shot execution. Require a consistent pre-shot routine from every player before the season's first game.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — BLUE Play x3 Variations (25 min): Walk through BLUE-1, BLUE-2, BLUE-3 on the whiteboard. BLUE-1: immediate shot on whistle (no hesitation). BLUE-2: pump fake right, step right, shoot. BLUE-3: look at the crease cutter who crashes from the left, feed if open. Run each variation 5 times at full speed. Coach calls the variation before the whistle: "BLUE-2!" Player executes exactly that variation. No improvising — the goal of set plays is eliminating improvisation under pressure.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — Defending Free Position (20 min): Six defenders set up on the 8-meter arc behind the shooter. Coach walks through defensive positioning: all defenders 4 meters behind the shooter, no crowding, ready to crash rebound. Run the defense vs. BLUE plays: can they read the play and react to a skip pass to the crease? 10 defensive reps — they must call out the play as it develops.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — Free Position Game First to 5 (15 min): Team A takes free positions vs. Team B defense. First team to score 5 free position goals wins. If defense stops 5 in a row: defense wins. High-pressure, competitive, direct. Winner gets a recognition from the coach in tomorrow's practice.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Announce the top free position shooter today. Track their conversion rate — this is a season-long metric. Post it on the team board if one exists.
Key Coaching Points
- Every player must have a pre-shot routine — step up, breathe, set hands, whistle, execute. Same every time.
- BLUE-3 only works if the crease cutter is moving before the whistle — they read the call, start the movement
- Defenders must not encroach before the whistle — a false start penalty gives the shooter a better angle
Common Mistakes
- Shooter hesitating too long — the defender closes fast; the decision must be made before the whistle
- BLUE-2 pump fake that fools no one — sell the pump fake with full body mechanics, not just arms
- Crease cutter in BLUE-3 hesitating to see if the shot is taken — commit to the crash immediately
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Focus
The goalie is the defensive coordinator. Every slide, every rotation, every clear call starts with her. This practice integrates the goalie's voice into the defensive system and rewards defensive units who communicate with and through the goalie.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Goals x2PinniesGoalie gear
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Goalie: footwork and reaction drill — coach shoots from 3 angles, goalie footwork only (no stick). Then add stick. 15 save attempts. Field defense: 2v1 close-out drill, 3 sets. Focus: angle and breaking down at arm's length.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Goalie Footwork + Outlets (15 min): Goalie runs through all outlet options (left, right, bomb, roll) with live defenders. Defenders sprint to their outlet positions on the goalie's call — goalie grades whether they are in position before she delivers the pass. If the outlet is not in position within 3 seconds of the call: reset and repeat.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Goalie + 3D vs. 3 Attack (25 min): Goalie plus three defenders vs. three attackers. Goalie directs every defensive action out loud: "Force right!" "Slide now!" "Shot — crash!" Defenders respond to the goalie's commands. Coach evaluates the goalie's decision-making, not just the field defenders'. 10 possessions, attack tries to score. Defense earns points for shutouts.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 6v6, Goalie Calling Slides (20 min): Full 6v6. The goalie must call every slide out loud before the ball carrier beats the defender. Early, loud, clear: "SLIDE LEFT! SLIDE LEFT!" Field defenders do not slide until they hear the call from the goalie. This forces the goalie to read the play earlier than she thinks. Run 8 possession rounds. Goalie is graded on early calls vs. late calls.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — Possession Point System (15 min): Every possession the defense holds without a goal = 1 defensive point. Every goal = 1 offensive point. Goalie earns 1 bonus point for every save she makes AND correctly calls the subsequent clear to a successful midfield cross. Highest point total wins. This incentivizes the goalie to stay engaged after saves.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Ask the goalie: "What was the hardest call you had to make today?" Her answer reveals what to focus on next week.
Key Coaching Points
- Goalie's job does not end at the save — the clear is equally important
- Defenders must be conditioned to respond to the goalie's voice, not look for the coach
- The goalie sees the whole field — trust her reads, even when the field defender is unsure
Common Mistakes
- Goalie calling slides after the beat has happened — the call must come while the ball carrier is still being contested
- Defenders not listening: the goalie calls "slide" and the defender hesitates waiting for the coach
- Goalie focusing solely on the ball carrier and losing track of backdoor cuts behind her
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Focus
Win inside the 8-meter arc. The red zone is where games are decided. Players must be able to catch, shoot, and feed from inside the 8-meter with a defender in their face.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Goals x2Cones x10Pinnies
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Catch and shoot from the crease area — feeder is behind the cage, crease attacker catches and turns to shoot in one motion. 8 reps each side (catch from left, catch from right). Full speed. Goalie in net — this is competitive from the first whistle.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Red Zone Shooting (15 min): Three shooting drills: Drill A — catch and shoot off the crease with a passive defender (5 reps per player). Drill B — catch behind the cage, drive left or right, finish inside the 8m (5 reps). Drill C — receive a feed mid-cut across the 8m, one-step catch-and-shoot without stopping the feet (5 reps). All three must be done at game speed.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — 3v2 in the 8m Zone (25 min): Confined to the 8-meter arc. Three attackers vs. two defenders. Ball starts at the top of the arc. Offense must score from inside the 8m — no outside shots allowed. Defense must keep the ball outside using positioning and legal checks. Offense earns 2 points for an inside shot goal, 1 point for any goal. Defense earns 1 point per stop. 10 possessions per group.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 6v6 Start at Midfield, Score from 8m Only (20 min): Standard 6v6 starting from midfield. The rule: the only valid goal is a shot from inside the 8-meter arc. Outside shots are waved off. This forces the offense to work the ball inside and forces the defense to protect the most dangerous scoring area. 8 possessions per team.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — Red Zone Tournament (15 min): Two groups of three attackers compete for 15 minutes. Each group gets alternating possessions inside the 8m. Track goals scored. Group with the most red zone goals at the end of 15 minutes wins. Losers run one endline sprint. Winners choose the music for tomorrow's warm-up (or equivalent non-physical reward).
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. "You will win this season's biggest moments not by the prettiest play — but by the player who catches the hard feed, turns through contact, and buries the shot. That player is in this circle right now."
Key Coaching Points
- The catch inside the 8m must be made with two hands and immediate protection — single-handed catches get checked away
- The shot from the crease area does not need to be hard — placement beats power at close range
- After a missed shot: crash the rebound immediately. Do not stand and watch — the second-chance goal is free.
Common Mistakes
- Players hesitating inside the 8m — catch and shoot in one motion; hesitation allows the defender to recover
- Crease attacker standing still without the ball — constant movement creates separation even in tight spaces
- Shooting from too sharp an angle — a no-angle shot scores less often than a pass to a better angle
18
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Focus
Evaluate full system integration under game conditions. This scrimmage is filmed. The film preview at the end is the coaching moment — players must see themselves to believe the coaching points.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesGoals x2Camera/phone tripodScoreboard
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Team-led. Captain runs warm-up. Coach observes who leads and how. Accountability starts before the whistle.
10:00–20:00
Pre-Scrimmage Individual (10 min): Each unit (attack, mid, defense) has 10 minutes to walk through one element they are prioritizing today. Attack: red zone entries. Defense: slide packages. Mids: transition positioning. Coach circulates, no instruction — players self-direct.
20:00–65:00
12v12 Full Scrimmage — Filmed (45 min): Two 20-minute periods with a 5-minute halftime. Clock runs continuously. Referee or coach calls fouls. Score kept and visible. Camera set up on a tripod at midfield, elevated if possible. Halftime: coach delivers one offensive adjustment and one defensive adjustment. No more. Two points, not ten. Second period runs immediately — no extended talk.
65:00–80:00
Competition / Live — Extra Possessions (15 min): After the scrimmage, run 5 situational possessions: last 2 minutes, down 1. Both teams know the situation — play accordingly. These five possessions often reveal more than the entire scrimmage.
80:00–85:00
Film Preview (5 min): Pull up the film on a phone or tablet. Show three clips: one great play (celebrate it), one broken defensive slide (this is what we fix), one missed transition opportunity (show the alternative read). Keep it to 5 minutes. The goal is to show players the film exists and they will be accountable to it.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Assign Film Week 9 (full game analysis). Each player watches the full scrimmage film on their own and completes the Film Study worksheet.
Key Coaching Points
- The scrimmage is not an opportunity to coach every rep — observe, and make your two points at halftime
- Film must be reviewed by coaches within 24 hours and specific corrections assigned to specific players
- The situation possessions after the scrimmage are often more indicative of game-readiness than the scrimmage itself
Common Mistakes
- Over-stopping the scrimmage — let it flow; that is the only way to see real system execution
- Showing too much film at the preview — 3 clips max; more than that loses the room
- Not following through on film assignments — if you assign it, check it. Otherwise players will not do it.
Phase 4 — Competition Prep (Plans 19–22)
19
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Focus
Prepare for a specific opponent. Adjust our system to exploit their defensive tendencies and defend their offensive strengths. Preparation is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesScouting notesWhiteboard
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Dynamic warm-up led by captain. Coaches review scouting notes during the warm-up and finalize the adjustment emphasis for today's practice.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Opponent Tendencies (15 min): Deliver scouting report to the full team. Cover: their draw specialist's tendencies (technique preference), their top ball carrier's dominant side, whether their slide comes from the crease or adjacent, whether they play zone on free positions. Keep it to 4-5 specific points — any more and it is noise.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Slide/Ride Adjustments (25 min): Based on scouting: if the opponent has a dominant left-handed attacker who attacks the right side — adjust force direction today (force her right instead of left). If their goalie is weak on left-side passes — run Zone 1 Clear left every time. Walk through two specific adjustments on the board, then execute them at full speed in a 6v6 shell.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — Scout Team Run (20 min): Two coaches or players simulate the opponent's offensive alignment. Scout team runs the opponent's top 3 plays as reported from film. BTB defense adjusts and defends. Run 10 opponent possessions. BTB offense then runs 10 possessions against the scout team's defensive tendencies (e.g., if opponent is zone-heavy: attack the gaps). Coach evaluates adjustments in real time.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Simulate Opponent Offense (15 min): Scout team runs at game speed. BTB defense must stop plays they practiced against in the earlier block. Now it is live — no walking through. This is as close to game conditions as possible without the actual game. Track stops vs. goals.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. Quick player-by-player check: "Tell me one thing you know about our next opponent that changes how you play." Every player must answer.
Key Coaching Points
- Scouting information must be specific and actionable — not just "they are fast" but "number 7 drives right every time from behind the cage"
- Do not change your whole system for one opponent — adjust one or two elements maximum
- Simulate the opponent's best play until your defense stops it reliably
Common Mistakes
- Information overload in the scouting report — 4 points, not 15
- Over-preparing for a player who may not play (injury, lineup changes) — prepare for concepts, not individuals
- Neglecting your own system in favor of opponent prep — you still run your plays, you just adjust one piece
20
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Focus
Win every game situation. Down 1 late. Up 1 late. Overtime draw. These are not emergencies — they are trained skills. We practice them until the correct response is automatic.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesScoreboardClock/timer visible
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Urgent warm-up — players must be mentally engaged from the first second. Coach announces the theme: "Every rep today is a game situation. There are no practice reps."
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Situation Orientation (15 min): Walk through all four game situations on the board: down 1 (2 min left), up 1 (1 min left), tied (OT draw), trailing by 2 (3 min left). For each: what is the correct offensive strategy? Correct defensive strategy? Correct draw strategy? Players must answer — not coaches. Socratic method only in this block.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Down 1, Last 2 Min (25 min): Set the scoreboard: BTB is losing 4-3. Clock: 2:00 remaining. WHISTLE — go. Full possession, no stopping. Both teams play for the score. If BTB scores: tied game, run the 1-minute up scenario immediately. If they fail to score: coach resets and runs again. Run this block 4 full times. Losing team from the third and fourth run sprints one endline.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — Up 1, Last 1 Min / Tied OT Draw (20 min): Scenario A: BTB is up 1 with 1 minute left. Possession offense: eat clock, force fouls, do not gamble with the ball. Run 4 possessions — offense wins if they hold the ball for 45 seconds without turning it over. Scenario B: Tied game, OT draw. Draw unit goes live. Coach calls the situation: "This is the championship draw." One possession, both teams give full effort. Run 3 OT draws.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Situational Only (15 min): Coach calls the situation before every possession. Players execute the correct strategy — no free play. If a team executes the wrong strategy for the situation (e.g., they are up 1 and they push tempo instead of controlling), that possession is reset and replayed. Correct execution of the situation = 1 point, regardless of whether a goal is scored.
85:00–90:00
Cool-Down (5 min): Stretch. "Every team we play this season knows how to run plays. Not every team knows how to manage a game. We do."
Key Coaching Points
- Down 1: tempo is your friend — fast, direct, no hesitation. You need a goal, not a perfect play.
- Up 1: possession is the only currency that matters — every pass must be safe
- OT draw: play your best technique, not your most complicated one
Common Mistakes
- When up by 1, players taking unnecessary risks — one bad pass can end a season
- When down by 1, playing too conservatively — you need a goal; possess with purpose, not fear
- Treating OT differently than regular time — same routine, same technique, same breathing
21
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Focus
Peak athletic confidence before competition. High energy, high fun, no fear. This practice is about joy, excellence, and team identity — not system installation. The players leave feeling unbeatable.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesMusic speaker
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Music on. Team-led warm-up. Coach does not speak for the first 10 minutes. Players run the warm-up. If they are good: compliment them at the 10-minute mark. If they are sloppy: that is also useful information.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Best Skill Highlight Reps (15 min): Each player demonstrates their strongest individual skill for 3 minutes in a station. Other players watch and cheer. Coach calls out what they see: "Did you see that catch? Watch her feet when she drives." This is positive performance reinforcement — the brain needs to associate practice with excellence, not only correction.
25:00–50:00
Team Block 1 — Relay Races (25 min): Four relay competitions: ground ball relay, stick-skills relay (weave cones), passing relay (team must complete 10 consecutive passes without a drop), shooting relay (first team to score 5 goals from the arc wins). Competitive, loud, fast. Coach is the announcer and scorekeeper — full energy.
50:00–70:00
Team Block 2 — 4v4 Tournament (20 min): Three-minute games, rotating opponents. Best record wins. Losers challenge each other. No coaching — players handle themselves. Coach watches for leadership, communication, and competitive spirit. Make note of who elevates in competitive moments without being told.
70:00–85:00
Competition / Live — 6v6 Celebrate Every Goal (15 min): Standard 6v6. Rule: every goal scored by either team is celebrated by everyone — both teams. This is counterintuitive and intentional. It builds a culture where excellence is celebrated regardless of who produced it. It also takes the pressure off scoring because "no one is afraid to fail in front of the team."
85:00–90:00
Team Ritual — (5 min): The team performs their team ritual (chant, handshake, circle, etc.) and then the coach leads a statement round: each player says the first word that comes to mind when they hear "BTB Girls." Write the words down. Read them at the end. This is your team identity.
Key Coaching Points
- Your job today is to be the most energetic person on the field — your energy dictates theirs
- Correct nothing today — observe and let them play
- If anyone is visibly nervous or low-energy: individual conversation, not group correction
Common Mistakes
- Turning Confidence Day into another correction session — resist the urge
- Moving too slowly between activities — keep the energy up with fast transitions
- Letting the 4v4 tournament get tense or personal — intervene immediately if the tone shifts negative
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Focus
Make this practice indistinguishable from game day. Clock. Score. Referee calls. Halftime adjustments. Postgame breakdown. The goal is for the actual game to feel familiar.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinnies (away and home)ScoreboardClock (visible)Referee whistle
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Pre-game warm-up routine (same as actual game day): team stretch, passing warm-up, shooting warm-up, draw specialist reps. Run it exactly as it will run on game day so the routine is automatic.
10:00–15:00
Pre-Game Script (5 min): Deliver Pre-Game Speech (Script 5) at midfield, full team huddled. Same tone, same words, same delivery as you will use on game day. This is not an "extra" — this is preparation.
15:00–45:00
12v12 First Half — 25 min period (30 min including clock): Official game format. Clock runs. Referee calls fouls (or designated coach). Score is kept and displayed. Draws happen at the center circle. Bench coaching only — players handle the game. Coach does not stop play for instruction. All corrections go on a notepad.
45:00–50:00
Halftime — Coach Script (5 min): Deliver Halftime coaching script (Script 6 or 7 depending on the score). Two adjustments: one offensive, one defensive. Specific players named. Specific corrections. Then: "30 seconds — team talk only. No coaches." Captains speak. Coach listens.
50:00–75:00
12v12 Second Half — 25 min period (25 min): Second half runs with the halftime adjustments implemented. Clock runs. Both teams aware of the score. Final 5 minutes: coach calls out the situational context — "You're up by 2 with 5 minutes left. How do you play?" Let them figure it out in live play.
75:00–85:00
Cool-Down + Post-Game Breakdown (10 min): Deliver Post-Game script (Script 8 or 9). Identify three positives and two areas for growth. No individual calling out — team-level feedback only. Captains speak last.
85:00–90:00
Team Ritual (5 min): Team chant/ritual as if it were the real game. Close the simulation with the same energy you will close the actual game.
Key Coaching Points
- Do not break the simulation for coaching — every interruption makes the game feel different from practice
- Halftime adjustments must be specific: "Number 4, when you are one pass away from the ball, you need to be denying, not standing." Not: "we need to play better defense."
- The tone of the post-game breakdown sets the emotional standard for game day
Common Mistakes
- Letting the clock run without anyone watching it — the clock teaches urgency; make it visible
- Not calling fouls — if they are not called in practice, players are shocked when they are called in a game
- Skipping the halftime script — the routine matters as much as the information
Phase 5 — Championship Prep (Plans 23–25)
23
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Focus
Walk the entire system at mental-rep pace. Nothing new. No corrections that require relearning. Confidence reinforcement through mastery review. Show them the film of their best execution.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x20Full fieldPinniesFilm clip (best execution)
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Full game-day warm-up routine. No variation.
10:00–25:00
Individual Skills — Mental Reps (15 min): Players pair up. One player talks the other through their position's responsibilities in the full system — offense, defense, ride, clear, draw. No sticks. Just knowledge. Coach circulates and listens. This reveals what is retained and what is not. Any knowledge gap identified here gets a 2-minute walkthrough.
25:00–40:00
Team Block 1 — Walk Entire System (15 min): 50% speed. Run: motion offense → set plays → draw response → slide package → clear. All connected. One rep of each, in sequence, at a pace slow enough to feel correct but fast enough to feel competitive.
40:00–55:00
Team Block 2 — Best Execution Film Clip (15 min): Show the film of the team's best practice or game execution this season. Let players watch without commentary for the first 5 minutes. Then: coach highlights 3 moments of excellence. "This is what we are. This is what we do." Confidence is built on evidence. Give them the evidence.
55:00–75:00
Competition / Live — Refine Installs (20 min): Identify the 2 system elements that are still not clean. Run those at full speed, 5 reps each. No new concepts. No new drills. Only what is already installed, brought to its sharpest form.
75:00–85:00
Draw Unit + Set Plays (10 min): 5 live draws. Then 5 reps of DUKE and 5 reps of BLUE — the two plays most likely to be called in championship situations.
85:00–90:00
Championship Speech (5 min): Deliver Championship Speech (Script 10). This is the most important 5 minutes of practice all season. Deliver it with everything you have.
Key Coaching Points
- Do not introduce anything new this close to competition — it will only create doubt
- The goal of this practice is emotional, not technical — you are filling the tank, not repairing the engine
- Your own confidence and certainty are the most important elements of this practice
Common Mistakes
- Finding new things to fix two days before the championship — this destroys confidence
- Under-delivering the championship speech — this is a moment that players remember for years
- Overworking legs this close to competition — keep intensity moderate, energy high
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Focus
60-minute light, sharp, confident practice. Legs are fresh. Minds are sharp. Touch the ball, feel good, stay loose. This is not the time for conditioning. This is the time for confidence.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x15Goals x2Cones x10
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Warm-Up (10 min): Light jog and dynamic stretch. Gentle. No sprinting until minute 8. Players talk to each other — conversation is allowed, encouraged. Loose and relaxed is the goal.
10:00–25:00
Passing & Catching — Game Speed (15 min): Partner passing at 10, 15, and 20 yards. Throw hard. Catch clean. 5 minutes each distance. This is feel-good work — no corrections unless a technique error is truly egregious.
25:00–35:00
Shooting (10 min): Two shooting lines, 5 shots per player from the arc. Goalie in net. Celebrate every great shot — goalie's save and shooter's make alike. High energy, no pressure.
35:00–45:00
4v4 Fun (10 min): Two 4v4 games running simultaneously on opposite halves. No coaching. No pressure. Players call their own fouls. Coach watches and smiles.
45:00–55:00
10 Draw Reps (10 min): Full draw unit. 10 live draws. No extensive coaching — just reps. End the draw session on a win for the BTB draw specialist.
55:00–60:00
Tournament Format Talk + Close (5 min): Coach walks through the tournament format: game times, opponent order, pool play format (if applicable), what happens in a tie. Logistics only — no system discussion. End with a team moment. Hands in.
Key Coaching Points
- Protect the legs — no sprinting for volume, no conditioning sets
- Keep it sharp and short — the best pre-tournament practice leaves players wanting more, not exhausted
- Your demeanor today communicates everything — calm, confident, excited
Common Mistakes
- Running a full 90-minute practice the day before a tournament — your players will be tired when it matters
- Introducing system reminders that create doubt — they know the system; do not remind them of everything they could do wrong
- Coaching too much during the 4v4 — let them play
25
▼
Focus
30-45 minute walk-through only. No live play. No contact. Mental preparation is the priority. Visualization exercise. Pre-game script delivered. This is not a practice — this is a ritual.
Equipment
Sticks (all)Balls x10Goals (optional)
Minute-by-Minute Schedule
0:00–10:00
Team Stretch + Visualization (10 min): Seated team stretch. Coach leads a visualization exercise: "Close your eyes. You are on the field. The draw whistle blows. Walk through your first possession in your mind — every pass, every cut, every shot. See it perfectly." 2 minutes of silence. Then: "Open your eyes. That is exactly how today goes."
10:00–25:00
Walk-Through Only (15 min): Walk through three things at 25% speed: draw alignment and wing positions, one offensive set play (DUKE), one defensive slide package. All six players in their positions. No ball movement that is not controlled. No live contact. This is a mental checklist, not a physical drill. Coach narrates every action: "You catch here, you look crease, you deliver to the backdoor cutter."
25:00–35:00
Individual Pre-Game Routines (10 min): Each player has 10 minutes to do their individual pre-game routine — whatever works for them. Some players pass, some shoot, some stretch, some visualize alone. Respect the individual ritual. Do not interrupt. This teaches ownership of preparation.
35:00–40:00
Pre-Game Script (5 min): Deliver Pre-Game Speech (Script 5). Full energy. This is the last thing players hear before the game. Make it unforgettable. Make it true. Make it personal.
40:00–45:00
Team Ritual + Take the Field (5 min): Team ritual. Hands in. One word, all together. Take the field.
Key Coaching Points
- The energy in this 45 minutes is more important than anything technical
- Players who look nervous: pull them aside individually, one sentence of affirmation, one reminder of something specific they do well
- The visualization exercise is not optional — mental preparation is a physical skill
Common Mistakes
- Turning the walk-through into a practice — resist every urge to add live competition
- Rushing the pre-game script — take your time, make eye contact with every player
- Letting nervous energy turn into over-coaching — the team knows what to do; your job now is to help them believe it
9
Coach Scripts
These are full word-for-word scripts. They are written as a starting point — your voice and your specific team will make them better. Deliver them with conviction. Pauses are as important as the words. Make eye contact. Mean every word.
1
Opening Day Speech
▼
[Gather the full team. Stand at the center of the field. Speak slowly.]
"Look around you. Look at every person in this circle. These are your teammates. These are the people you are going to sweat with, struggle with, and win with this season. You chose to be here. Nobody made you come. That decision — right there — is the most important thing you've done today. And I respect it.
But I need you to understand something from the very first minute: Be The Best Lacrosse is not a name. It is a promise. A promise that every single day you step onto this field, you will give us everything you have. Not most of it. Not some of it. Everything.
[Pause. Scan the group slowly.]
We are going to work harder than you think you can. We are going to practice things until they become automatic, then practice them some more. We are going to demand excellence — from each other, and from ourselves. We will not settle for almost. We will not accept comfortable. Comfortable does not win.
Here is my promise to you: I will be the most prepared person on this field, every single day. I will know your name. I will know your strengths. I will know what you need to get better, and I will help you get there. I will not give up on you. I ask you to not give up on each other.
[Lean in slightly.]
This season starts right now. Not at the first game. Not at the first tournament. Right now, in this circle. What we build today is what we will become. So let's build something worth remembering.
Hands in. BTB on three."
2
Offensive Install Speech
▼
[Team gathered at the whiteboard. Draw the 3-3 formation as you speak.]
"Today we install our offense. And I want you to understand what that means. This is not a play. This is not a set. This is a system — a way of thinking about the game that, once it clicks, makes every decision simpler and every moment on the field more automatic.
Here is the core of it: the ball moves, the players move. Every time. No standing. No watching. If you are standing still without the ball, you are making our offense worse. You are giving the defense a free defender. We do not carry free defenders.
[Point to the formation on the board.]
Three attackers. Three midfielders. Every player has a lane. Every player has a responsibility. When you cut — and you will cut every possession — the player closest to you fills your space. Not eventually. Immediately. That is the heartbeat of our offense: cut, replace, cut, replace.
Why does this work? Because it forces the defense to make decisions. And every time a defender makes a decision, they are wrong about something. Our job is to find that wrong decision and punish it.
[Pause.]
We are not going to be perfect at this today. But we are going to be perfect at understanding it. Know the system, trust the system, and the system will give you goals.
Let's go. This is what we came here to build."
3
Defensive Install Speech
▼
[Team standing in a half-circle facing the cage. No whiteboard yet — start with the feeling.]
"Defense is not a talent. Defense is a decision. Every day. Every possession. Every single rep in every single drill.
I have coached teams that had more talent than their opponents and lost because they could not defend. And I have coached teams that were less talented and won because they refused to let anyone score. Defense is a refusal. It is you saying, loud and clear, every time: not today. Not on me. Not in this game.
[Move to the whiteboard. Draw the defensive setup.]
Our defense starts with one principle: we protect the crease first, always. Everything in our defensive system — where you stand, when you slide, how you communicate — all of it points back to protecting that 8-meter arc. Nothing easy gets scored inside it. Every shot from inside comes through a BTB defender.
On this team, the loudest player on defense is the best player on defense. I do not care how athletic you are — if you do not call your assignment, call the slide, call the shot — you are not doing your job. Defense is a conversation. Every second. We call "Ball." We call "Help." We call "Shot." We call "Slide." We call "Clear." Every time. Every game. No exceptions.
[Make eye contact with each player in turn.]
The day you get comfortable on defense is the day someone scores on you. We are never comfortable. We are always sharp. That is the BTB defensive standard.
Let's defend."
4
Draw Control Install Speech
▼
[Stand at the center circle. Speak from the middle of it.]
"Everything in girls lacrosse comes back to this circle. Do you understand that? Every quarter starts here. Every goal resets here. The team that wins this circle more than the other team wins the game. It is that simple. And most teams leave it to chance.
We do not leave it to chance.
[Pause. Look down at the circle.]
I want you to see this circle differently than you did before you joined BTB. This is not a coin flip. This is a skill — one that we train, develop, and execute with the same precision we put into every other part of our game. We have draw specialists. We have wing assignments. We have read cues. We have situation-specific strategies.
Every practice, we take draws. Not five. Not ten. We take draws until they feel as automatic as breathing. Because in a tied game with two minutes left, your draw specialist should not be thinking about her technique. She should just be doing it. And your wings should not be wondering where to go. They should already be in motion before the whistle blows.
[Look at the draw specialist candidates.]
If you are a draw specialist — and you know who you are — this is your moment. This is the place on the field where you make a difference that no one else can make. That is a gift. Use it.
And for the wings — every one of you — your job is to be so dialed in to what the specialist is doing that the moment the ball is released, you are already crashing it.
Own this circle. It is ours."
5
Pre-Game Speech
▼
[Team huddled tight. Coach voice is steady — not loud, not frantic. Controlled intensity.]
"Right now, the other team is getting their pre-game talk. They are probably being told to work hard. Probably being told to give 100%. Probably being told to play as a team. All the things every team hears before every game.
[Pause.]
That is not what I am telling you.
I am telling you this: you have prepared for this. We have run these situations. We have taken these draws. We have run this offense. We have stopped this type of offense. There is nothing that will happen on this field today that we have not prepared for. Nothing.
So when the whistle blows — and it is going to blow very soon — you do not need to think. You just need to play. Every rep in every practice has been building to this moment. Trust it. Trust each other. Trust the system.
[Voice drops slightly, more personal.]
And when it gets hard — and it will get hard — I need you to look at the player next to you and remember: that is why we work. For each other. Not for the score. Not for the trophy. For the player next to you who put in the same work you did.
Play with joy. Play with intensity. Play like BTB.
[Build to the close.]
Hands in. On three — Be The Best. One. Two. Three."
6
Halftime — Winning
▼
[Players gathered, catching breath. Coach is calm — not celebrating.]
"Good. You're winning. Now forget about it.
[Pause. Let that land.]
I'm serious. Right now, in the back of your head, some of you are thinking about the score. Some of you are thinking about how nice it is going to feel to win. Stop. That thinking has cost more teams more halftime leads than you can imagine.
Here is what I know: we are playing well. And I know what happens when teams start playing to protect a lead instead of playing to extend it — they invite the other team back in. We are not inviting anyone. We are going to keep doing what got us here.
[Two specific adjustments.]
Two things for the second half: Offensively, we have been too slow to get into set plays after the draw. Win the draw, sprint to positions, call the play — DUKE or RED — within five seconds. We are leaving goals behind. Defensively, number 7 for them has beaten us twice going left. Force her right. Every time. Crease, adjust your position before she gets the ball.
[To the captains.]
Captains — 30 seconds. Team only. Tell them what you need from each other in the second half.
[Step back. Listen.]"
7
Halftime — Losing
▼
[Players gathered. Coach voice is steady — no panic, no frustration visible. Measured and direct.]
"Here is the situation: we're behind. And I need you to hear me right now, because what I'm about to say is true and you need to believe it — this game is not over.
[Pause.]
You have been in this situation. You prepared for it. Down one with two minutes left — we practiced that. What do you do? You know what to do. You just have to do it for forty minutes instead of two.
So I am going to tell you two things, and then we are going back out there with one mission.
[Firmly, specifically.]
First: we are giving up transition goals because we are not sprinting back. When we turn the ball over — and yes, we will turn it over — every single person on this team sprints back to the defensive zone before the ball does. Every. Single. One. No exceptions.
Second: we are not running our offense. We are wandering. We are passing sideways and hoping something opens up. Enough of that. We run the motion. We call DUKE. We get to the crease. We take shots from quality positions. No more hoping.
[Lean in. Voice personal.]
The second half starts now. The score starts now. Everything before this moment is done. What we do in the next forty minutes is what matters. Are we ready?
Hands in. On three — Be The Best."
8
Post-Game Win
▼
[Team gathered after the game. Let them have 30 seconds of celebration first. Then bring them in.]
"Enjoy this. You earned it. Every sprint in practice, every rep on the draw circle, every slide drill — that is why this happened today.
[Pause. Let the emotion be present.]
I am proud of you. Not just for winning — I am proud of how you won. You played our system. You communicated on defense. When things got tight in that second half, you did not panic. You did not start playing individuals. You played BTB. That is the standard, and today you met it.
[Two genuine positives. Make them specific.]
Two things I want to name publicly: the draw unit today was outstanding. We won seven draws in a row at one point. Seven. That does not happen by accident — that is preparation paying off. And I want to name the defensive unit for holding them scoreless for 15 straight minutes when we were trying to protect the lead. That is discipline. That is us.
[Transition to accountability.]
We will watch film this week. There are still things to fix. But right now? Enjoy tonight. You deserve it.
Hands in. On three — Be The Best."
9
Post-Game Loss
▼
[Team gathered after the final whistle. Give them one minute before speaking. Let the silence sit.]
"I am not going to tell you that was okay. It was not. We did not play our best lacrosse today. And that is hard to sit with. I know it. You know it. We all feel it.
[Pause.]
But here is what I will not do: I will not tell you that you did not try. Because I was watching, and I saw the effort. I saw the fight. I saw this team refuse to quit even when things were going wrong. That matters.
What did not happen today was execution. We knew what we needed to do. We have practiced it. We have walked through it, run through it, drilled it until our arms were tired. Today, in this game, we did not do it. That is on all of us — me included. If you are not executing a system, that is a coaching failure as much as a player failure.
[Lean in, directly.]
So here is what we do: we watch the film. We identify exactly where we broke down. We fix it. Then we come back next week sharper than we were this week. A loss only means something if we learn from it and get better. If we wallow in it, it was just a loss. If we grow from it, it was a lesson.
[Build the close.]
We are BTB. We do not define ourselves by one game. We define ourselves by how we respond. And we will respond.
Heads up. Together. Hands in."
10
Championship Speech
▼
[Team in a tight circle. Coach stands in the middle. This is the moment. Take a breath before you begin.]
"This is it. This is the moment that everything we have done this season has been pointing toward. Every early morning, every extra rep, every ground ball in the rain, every time someone was sore and came back anyway — it all led here.
[Pause. Make eye contact with as many players as possible.]
Look at where you are right now. You are in a championship game because you earned the right to be here. Nobody gave you this. You fought for it, in every single practice, every single game, every single moment when it would have been easier to let up. You did not let up.
[Voice becomes personal and direct.]
I need to tell you something that I believe completely: the team standing across that field is good. They would not be here if they were not. But they have not prepared the way you have. They have not drilled the situations you have drilled. They have not taken the draws you have taken. They do not know our system. You do.
When the pressure is the highest today — and it will be — that is the moment you go back to what you know. Not what you hope will work. What you know works. The motion. The slide. The draw. All of it is in your hands right now.
[Voice builds toward the close.]
One last thing. Whatever happens today: I am proud of this team. I am proud of who you are. I am proud of who you have become. No matter what that scoreboard says in two hours, this team — this group right here — is something I will remember for the rest of my coaching career.
Now let's go make the scoreboard say what we want it to say.
[Lead the chant with everything you have.]
HANDS IN. Be The Best — ONE, TWO, THREE — BE THE BEST!"
10
Player Development Tracking Sheets
These sheets are designed to print cleanly on standard 8.5x11 paper. Use them weekly to track player progress, attendance, film completion, and goal development.
Sheet 1 — Individual Skills Checklist
Player Name: _________________________ Position: _____________ Season: 2026
| Skill | Date | Rating (1–5) | Date | Rating (1–5) | Date | Rating (1–5) | Coach Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASSING & CATCHING | |||||||
| Passing — Right Hand | |||||||
| Passing — Left Hand | |||||||
| Catching — Right Hand | |||||||
| Catching — Left Hand | |||||||
| On-the-Run Catch | |||||||
| Lead Pass Accuracy | |||||||
| GROUND BALLS & DODGING | |||||||
| Ground Ball — Contested | |||||||
| Ground Ball — Uncontested | |||||||
| Split Dodge | |||||||
| Roll Dodge | |||||||
| Face Dodge | |||||||
| SHOOTING & FINISHING | |||||||
| 8m Shot — Right | |||||||
| 8m Shot — Left | |||||||
| Free Position — Conversion | |||||||
| Crease Finish | |||||||
| DRAW & DEFENSE | |||||||
| Draw Technique | |||||||
| Defensive Stance | |||||||
| Poke Check | |||||||
| Force Direction Execution | |||||||
| GAME IQ & COMMUNICATION | |||||||
| On-Ball Communication | |||||||
| Help-Side Awareness | |||||||
| Cut-Replace Execution | |||||||
| Slide Recognition | |||||||
Rating Scale: 1 = Needs significant work | 2 = Developing | 3 = Meets standard | 4 = Above standard | 5 = Exceptional
Sheet 2 — Practice Attendance Log
Season 2026 · P = Present · A = Absent · T = Tardy · X = Excused
| Player Name | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Total P | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sheet 3 — Film Study Completion Tracker
Season 2026 · Assigned by Coach · Due before following practice
| Week | Assignment Title | Assigned Date | Due Date | Completed (Y/N) | Quiz Score (/10) | Coach Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals — Footwork on Catches | |||||
| 2 | Offensive Motion — Cut-Replace | |||||
| 3 | Defensive Positioning | |||||
| 4 | Draw Control Techniques | |||||
| 5 | Set Plays — Diagram a Play | |||||
| 6 | Defensive Slides — 2nd Slide | |||||
| 7 | Transition — 3v2 Reads | |||||
| 8 | 8m Arc — Free Position Setup | |||||
| 9 | Full Game Analysis | |||||
| 10 | Self Film Review |
Player Name:
Sheet 4 — Season Goal Sheet
Player Name: _________________________ Date Completed: ____________
| Category | My Goal | Mid-Season Check-In | End-of-Season Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDIVIDUAL GOALS | |||
| Technical Skill Goal | |||
| Fitness / Athletic Goal | |||
| Leadership Goal | |||
| Academic/Off-Field Goal | |||
| TEAM GOALS | |||
| Team Win Target | |||
| Draw Win Percentage Target | |||
| Free Position Conversion Target | |||
| Championship Goal | |||
| REFLECTION | |||
| What I am most proud of this season | |||
| What I would do differently | |||
| What I will work on in the off-season | |||
Sheet 5 — Draw Control Specialist Log
Specialist Name: _________________________ Season: 2026
| Date | Practice Draws W | Practice Draws L | Game Draws W | Game Draws L | Primary Technique Used | Development Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Totals | Win %: ___________ | ||||||
Sheet 6 — Coach Self-Evaluation Form
Coach Name: _________________________ Practice #: _____ Date: ____________
| Category | Rating (1–5) | Notes / What I Would Do Differently |
|---|---|---|
| PRACTICE EXECUTION | ||
| Practice Plan Prepared and Followed | ||
| Time Management — Transitions Between Drills | ||
| Teaching Clarity — Were Corrections Specific? | ||
| Drill Design — Did the Drill Match the Goal? | ||
| COACHING QUALITY | ||
| Energy and Presence on the Field | ||
| Player Engagement — Were All Players Active? | ||
| Positive-to-Correction Ratio | ||
| Consistency of Standards Applied | ||
| DEVELOPMENT | ||
| Individual Player Improvement Observed | ||
| System Element Advancement | ||
| Draw Specialist Development Time | ||
| REFLECTION | ||
| Best moment of today's practice: | ||
| One thing I would change: | ||
| Focus for next practice: | ||
Rating Scale: 1 = Poor | 2 = Below Standard | 3 = Meets Standard | 4 = Above Standard | 5 = Excellent
11
Film Study Assignments
Film study is non-negotiable. Players who watch film improve faster. Players who watch film with a specific observation task improve the fastest. Each assignment is completed before the following practice. Coaches collect the written responses and keep them on file.
Week 1
Fundamentals — Footwork on Catches
Watch: Any game or practice clip featuring catching and receiving. Start with: Catching (Girls) and Wall Ball Workout (Girls)
Observe: Watch the feet of the receiver on every catch. Note specifically: Do they step toward the ball? Do they catch flat-footed? Do their feet position them to immediately make the next move?
Bring to practice: One written observation — describe a specific player's footwork on a specific catch and evaluate whether it was correct. Be specific: "At 2:15, the right wing receiver caught the pass with her weight on her back foot, which meant she had to reset before she could drive."
Week 2
Offensive Motion — Identify Cut-Replace
Watch: Girls lacrosse motion offense game film (provided or assigned by coach).
Observe: Identify three instances of correct cut-replace motion. For each: who cut? Who replaced? Did the replacement happen fast enough? Then — identify one instance where a player cut and did NOT replace. What happened to the spacing after that failed replacement?
Bring to practice: Written answers to: (1) Describe one correct cut-replace sequence. (2) Describe one failure. (3) What would you do differently if you were the player who failed to replace?
Week 3
Defensive Positioning — Stick Position Two Passes Away
Watch: Defensive film — either game or practice footage. Reference: Defensive Stance & Positioning (Girls) and Off-Ball Defense
Observe: Find a defender who is two passes away from the ball. Watch their stick position. Is it in the passing lane? Are they ball-watching? Can they see both their player and the ball simultaneously? Find one example of excellent help-side positioning and one example of poor positioning.
Bring to practice: Describe the body angle and stick position of a help-side defender in one clip. Explain how their positioning would change if the ball moved one pass closer to their player.
Week 4
Draw Control — Identify Technique Per Scenario
Watch: Five or more draws from game film. Study technique breakdowns: Push Draw and Pull Draw
Observe: For each draw, identify: (1) What technique did the specialist use? (2) What did the wings do after the whistle — crash or hold? (3) Who won possession and why? Then — watch yourself take a draw (if available) or simulate a draw in a mirror with a stick and analyze your own grip and positioning.
Bring to practice: Written self-analysis: What is your strongest draw technique? What is your weakest? What specific element of your technique do you want to improve this week?
Week 5
Set Plays — Diagram a Play You See
Watch: Game film featuring a team running a recognizable set play from a free position, draw win, or called offensive play.
Observe: Identify one set play being run. Watch it three times. Then draw it on paper: where each player starts, what movement happens, who receives the ball, who provides the second option, and what created the open look.
Bring to practice: Your hand-drawn diagram of the play you identified. Write three sentences: (1) What the play was designed to do. (2) What the defense did in response. (3) How the BTB system compares or differs.
Week 6
Defensive Slides — When Does the Second Slide Come?
Watch: Defensive game film featuring multiple slide situations. Reference: Defense Drill and Double Team Defense
Observe: When the primary slide comes, identify: (1) Where does the secondary (recovery) slide come from? (2) How much time passes between the first and second slide? (3) Is anyone left uncovered after the two slides? Identify the most common mistake you see on the second slide.
Bring to practice: Written description of the most common second-slide mistake you observed. Include a possible reason the mistake is happening (late recognition, wrong rotation direction, etc.) and how you would fix it.
Week 7
Transition — 3v2 Decision Reads
Watch: Film featuring transition and fast break situations.
Observe: Find three 3v2 fast break situations. For each: (1) What did the ball carrier do? (2) Was it the right read based on where the defenders committed? (3) If a goal was not scored — why not? Was the read wrong, was the pass late, or was the catch missed? Focus on the decision, not just the result.
Bring to practice: For one 3v2 situation where a goal was NOT scored: walk through the correct sequence of decisions from start to finish as you would have run it.
Week 8
8m Arc — Free Position Setup and Pre-Shot Routine
Watch: Film featuring multiple free position attempts. Reference: Shooting & Shot Fakes
Observe: Watch the shooter before the whistle: (1) Where do they set up — angle, distance? (2) What is their pre-shot routine — do they have one? (3) What technique do they use — direct shot, pump fake, feed to crease? Identify one free position you think was set up excellently and one that was set up poorly.
Bring to practice: Write your own pre-shot routine, step by step, that you will use consistently every free position for the rest of the season. Walk the coach through it verbally.
Week 9
Full Game Analysis — Possession Tally
Watch: Full game film (BTB game or opponent game provided by coach).
Observe: Count total possessions for both teams. For each BTB possession, note the outcome: Goal / Turnover (self-inflicted) / Turnover (forced) / Shot missed / Save. Identify the two most common ways BTB lost possession. Then: note two specific offensive plays where BTB created an open look — what made that look happen?
Bring to practice: Your tally sheet with the two offensive observations written in full sentences. Be ready to present one observation to the group.
Week 10
Self Film Review — Four-Category Self-Rating
Watch: Film of yourself (game or practice footage).
Observe: Rate yourself 1-5 in four categories: (1) Effort — were you working hard every second you were on camera? (2) Communication — how often did you call your assignment out loud? (3) Technical execution — how often did you execute the BTB system correctly? (4) Coachability — when corrections happened in the film, how quickly did you adjust?
Bring to practice: Your self-ratings and one specific change you are committing to make in your next game based on what you saw. Write it as a commitment statement: "In the next game, I will ____________ every time ____________ happens."