Lacrosse Stationary Passing

Using a lacrosse stick properly to deliver and receive passes can be easy to learn, but difficult to master. Like juggling, the basic moves that allow players to catch a ball in mid-flight can be taught in just a few sessions. But the unconscious thought that goes into the motion can take months or years to develop properly, and there are several ways to move an athlete from the beginning stages to an advanced level of play. As athletes gain confidence, control, and coordination, they also gain the ability to send passes with greater speed and accuracy. And as throwing skills improve, catching skills also increase. Players eventually reach a stage in which they can lock onto the trajectory of the ball, tune out distractions on the field, and catch a pass delivered at lightning speed.

By far, the best way to improve passing confidence and accuracy is simple: Practice and repetition. Players who spend at least a few minutes every day throwing and catching passes delivered by a friend or partner will see rapid improvements in their catching rates and passing accuracy. Coaches should encourage players to pass and catch on their own and at the beginning and end of each practice session. The more hours of practice an athlete can find during the season, the faster their skills will increase.

But as players partner or team up, they can divide their passing sessions into two basic categories: dynamic and stationary passing drills. Dynamic passing exercises can happen while players are in active motion across the field, which can include sprinting, moving around the goal area, or working against the pressure of a defender. Stationary passing exercises can take place with a small group standing in a circle or a row of partners positioned on either side of a line across the field.

Lacrosse Stationary Passing Drill

The exercise demonstrated in this video is a classic, simple routine called the lacrosse stationary passing drill. This drill requires almost no preparation and no equipment beyond a standard set of lacrosse gear for each participant. Players can execute this drill before beginning an intense training session, or they can work this simple exercise into the end of session as part of a warm up or cool down process.

To complete the drill, players can divide into two groups and the two groups can line up facing each other across a line down the center of the field. Each participant will stand facing a partner about five to ten yards away. Players can work with the same partner throughout the entire drill, or teams can shift partners by having the players on one side of the line move to the left or right occasionally throughout the session.

Each partner pair will be handed a ball and will begin sending the ball back and forth across the line using a simple, low speed overhand passing motion. As they pass the ball back and forth across the line, players can observe and offer each other pointers on technique. To shift the nature and purpose of the drill, advanced players can partner with beginners, or beginner and advanced players can pair with each other in order to create an appropriate level of challenge and/or experienced guidance. Coaches can move down the line to make sure players are paying close attention to skill, technique and teamwork.

Lacrosse Stationary Passing Drill: Correct Passing Technique

At all times during the stationary passing drill, players should be conscious of their stick handling skills. The stick should be held in a light but controlled grip, and the weight of the stick should be in the upper part of the hand, near the pads of the palm instead of close to the wrist. The arms should be held slightly away from the body with relaxed shoulder and a light, agile bend in the elbows.

The stick should be held in a way that allows quick movement and direction changes and a high level of responsiveness. Athletes should be careful not to clutch the stick tightly or become tense in the arms, shoulders and wrists.

The delivery of the pass should happen at a relaxed pace at first, until players feel the rhythm of the drill. Passes can be high or low and they can be sent to the left or right. The speed of the pass can pick up as the drill moves forward. If a pass is missed or a ball is dropped, players should move quickly to retrieve it and should use the opportunity to practice their loose ball recovery skills.

As players work on catching and receiving passes, they should focus on maintaining soft hands and a relaxed stick position that allows them to cradle the ball and return the pass with a high level of rhythm and control.

Players can exchange passes for just a few minutes before and after other exercises, or they can engage in a steady exchange for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. This drill can be incorporated into any daily practice session and should be a regular part of a seasonal training program.

Lacrosse Stationary Passing Drill: Following Up with Dynamic Passing Drills

After this basic drill, players and teams can move on to a few drills that engage slightly more complex passing and receiving actions, like the rhythm passing drill, the zig-zag drill, and any of a series of offensive and defensive passing drills available for both beginners and advanced players.

For a long list of video demonstrations of passing and receiving drills, players and coaches can visit the lacrosse training section of KbandsTraining.com. The site offers detailed video tutorials for a wide range of sports narrated by trainers and experts. Explore the available resources for baseball, basketball, track and field, football, soccer and several others. In the meantime, visit the site or reach out to the Kbands Trainers directly for questions and purchasing information regarding the Kbands resistance bands, the KB Powerbands, and other training aids like speed and agility cones and agility ladders.