Coaching Youth Lacrosse

By James Jurcic
Offensive Strategies For Youth When coaching youth lacrosse, it’s important to come up with a strong series of offensive strategies that can employed in a variety of game time situations. While is similar in its offensive strategies to field hockey and soccer, there are a number of unique situations that players and coaches must prepare for. Here are a few of our team’s offensive strategies that can be practiced as drills or exercises at your next practice. Offensive Strategy #1- Trailer play The first and easiest offensive strategy to consider when coaching youth occurs when an attacker with possession of the ball is running it downfield and being trailed by another attacker from their offensive squad known as the trailer. There are a number of options in this situation. First, if the player with possession of the ball becomes crowded with defense players, they can shovel the ball back to the trailer. To avoid running into the same defensive traffic, the trailer should change pace and pull out from the fan, allowing their teammates an opportunity to set up the play and spread out in an attempt to clear an alley for the trailer. There is also the give and go option,



where the player with the balls dumps it back to the trailer then sprints up to the goal. After receiving the ball, the trailer quickly passes it forwards to the original ball carrier, who should be in perfect positioning to take a shot. If neither of these plays are possible or to your liking, try the quick stick variation, where the player with the ball passes it to the trailer close to the goal. Instead of receiving the pass and cradling the ball, the trailer quickly takes a shot on goal. The trailer should shoot in the opposite direction of the first player’s fade. Offensive Strategy #2- Stack play The next offensive strategy to consider when coaching youth is a variation on the stack play that many basketball coaches find effective for confusing their opponent’s defensive players. The play begins with one player getting ball behind the goal. At the top of the fan the offensive players form a tight line facing the goal. When the player with the ball calls “break”, all the players break off in separate directions, which should mislead the opposing team’s defensive, causing them to bunch up and trip over themselves. In the meantime, the attack wing can make a quick break for the goal and start watching for the pass from the player with the ball. When employing the stack play, be careful that all your players don’t end up bunched up with the other team’s defense, which can result in players being caught in the fan, including the winger who is supposed to make a break away for the goal. For a variation on the stack play, the player with the ball can choose to run it instead of passing it, especially if there are no passing opportunities available. Coaching youth is challenging and your players will appreciate the effort you place in developing strategies that help them win the game.


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