Young players develop step-by-step, moving from basic movement to sport-specific skills. Parents and coaches help most by keeping it fun, positive, and active.  

Ages 4–6: Foundation - Fundamental Movement Skills & Multi-sport Participation

Focus:

• Develop basic movement such as running, hopping, twisting, balancing, etc.
• Encourage lots of ball touches for comfort and confidence

Training Environment:

• Fun, relaxed, inclusive, and positive
• Short, varied activities and simple games
• Constant engagement with praise and encouragement

Player Development:

• Athletic: Running, balance, coordination
• Lacrosse Skills: Stick handling, scooping, cradling, throwing, and catching
• Tactics: Moving in space, stopping, starting, running to open areas
• Social/Emotional: Sharing, saying thank you, playing with friends, being a helper
• Cognitive: Clear, simple instructions with demos and repetition

Training Structure:

• Coach: player ratio - 8:1
• Sessions: 30–45 min, once per week, 8–10 weeks
• Format: small-sided games (3v3 to 6v6, no goalie)
• Encourage daily activity, gymnastics, tag, relay races, jumping games highly recommended

Ages 5–8: Foundation - Fundamental Movement Skills & Multi-sport Participation

Focus:

• Improve agility, balance, coordination, and speed
• Deeper focus on core lacrosse skills: protecting the stick while cradling, catching, passing, and dodging

Training Environment:

• Fun, engaging, and success oriented
• Predictable routines with emphasis on learning new skills and trying new things
• Effort is celebrated using fun games to reinforce skills 

Player Development:

• Athletic: Skipping, hopping, flexibility, strength
• Lacrosse Skills: Changing hands, stick positioning, catching, passing and shooting on the run
• Tactics: Techniques and concepts introduced during 1v1 and 2v2 offense/defense; intro to 2v1 
• Social/Emotional: Teamwork, cooperation, responsibility and helping other players 
• Cognitive: Longer concentration periods, making choices, start to understand rules and solve problems

Training Structure:

• Coach: player ratio - 10:1
• Sessions: 45–60 min, twice a week, 8–12 weeks
• Training mix: 60% skills, 40% competition. Skill work is also always embedded into competition
• Encourage other sports 4–5 times per week, with breaks from organized sport throughout the year

The boys and girls progression playbooks linked below are guides to coaching lacrosse skills in an age-appropriate context. The first stage of the Athlete Development Model is the Foundation stage. The Foundation Playbooks provide resources, language, and drills that coaches can use with athletes that are new to the sport and working on developing their foundational skills.

▪ Boys' Playbook
▪ Girls' Playbook