This article appears in the July/August edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, a digital-only publication available exclusively to US Lacrosse members. Join or renew today for access to this 96-page edition, which includes immersive and interactive features as well as video tips from professional players. Thank you for your support!
Virtual training is all the rage these days. Whether through Zoom, YouTube or Instagram, the resources to connect players and coaches despite their physical separation have surged. US Lacrosse even established a digital emporium, Lax at Home, loaded with drills, at-home workouts, stick-skill exercises, e-learning and development opportunities to keep members active and connected during the pandemic.
For more than a decade, US Lacrosse Magazine has provided the platform for some of the sport’s top players to share tricks of the trade. We went next level for this digital-only edition. Seven elite professional and U.S. national team players put on a clinic for our cameras at US Lacrosse’s Tierney Field in Sparks, Md. These next several pages are chock full of tips and drills for youth and high school players, including embedded videos.
We are here to help you get ready to get back on the field. For more ways to train on your own, visit uslacrosse.org/lax-at-home. Next up in our digital-edition how-to series is Taylor Cummings.
Taylor Cummings
Maryland '16 / WPLL Fight / 2017 U.S. national team
Draw Placement
1. No Partner Needed
Just place the ball in the back of your stick to practice your follow-through.
2. Self-Draw
Follow through overhead.
3. Circle Draw
Follow through across your body or out to the side.
4. Be Specific and Intentional
“I usually don’t decide where the ball is going and where I’m going to follow through until it’s in my stick,” Cummings says.
5. Find the Ball
Secure the draw.
One-Handed Snags
1. Get a Grip
Hold your stick at the very bottom. Cummings’ pinky finger hangs off the butt end.
2. Reach Straight Up
Don’t bend your arms.
3. Corral the Ball
Attack the ball and cradle it by cocking your wrist.
4. Pull it Down
Bring the ball between your shoulders for protection.
5. Practice the Draw
Self-toss the ball. Focus on getting it across your body, straight up in the air and outside your shoulder.
6. Add a Partner
Make it more game-like.
