YOUTH DRILLS
YOUTH DRILLS
This drill is a GREAT one to have some laughs and practice cradling under pressure. Cementing the ability to move our sticks across our midline and back comfortably and quickly is a big step in skill development and comfort level under pressure. Youngers players should consider wearing their gear for this one.
1) Five players start on a cone with in a dice formation. Each player has a pool noodle. Players cannot move off cones and are stationary “haunted trees".
2) Other players line up at or above the 12 with balls.
3) Players in the middle use their pool noodles to apply repeated pressure to the player attempting to run through. No face hits.
4) Players take turns getting through the forest or pool noodle wielding trees, moving their cradle away from pressure, keeping their feet moving, and finding space through the spooky trees and their terrifying branches. Remind players not to turn their backs to pressure (back into it) and to keep their cradles moving and protected. End with a shot on cage.
5) After a few rounds, switch the players in the middle and repeat. Try with both hands!
Have fun and keep playing!
** For a great drill to start building these skills without pressure, see the drill below!**
This is a fundamental drill to use by itself or add in when practicing other dodges and stack the skills together.
1) Have cones in a zig zag pattern, adjust the space between depending on the size of your players as you want them to be a step away from each other. If this drill is done alone, have at least 4-6 cones.
2) Players line up at or above the 12 with balls.
3) Players take turns moving between the cones, matching their footfalls with the cone in front of them (left cone, left foot; then stepping up to the right cone with her right foot) As she’s moving through, her hands are following her footfalls, jabbing in and out as she makes it through the pattern. Remind players to really attack the turf with their steps and jab in and out with force. They should feel the ball pushing into their stick with every motion.
4) End with a shot
5) Switch hands and repeat!
** If players are having trouble keeping the ball in their sticks, make sure they are using both hands to jab in and out and that the stick is off their body and top elbow is pushing in and out with the stick. Only using the top hand is the biggest habit in youth cradling that leads to instability and the cradling looking like a “V” across her body** Feel free to send a video if you want more specific tips on your player’s or team’s cradle!