This article appears in the May/June edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.
Jessica Lowrance is an NCAA women’s lacrosse official, an accomplished youth and high school club coach and the vice president of postal policy at UPS. She’s a planner.
At the virtual US Lacrosse Convention in January, she shared a seven-part, 90-minute practice plan as a template for your season.
Warmups
15 minutes
Disguise running in the form of stickwork. Extra touches can be found anywhere.
Footwork: Ladders or Cones
5 minutes
Key to get players moving properly.
Stick Skills
10 minutes
Give players ownership so they can practice at home. Vary drills to keep it fun. Never do the same thing twice.
Small Groups
20 minutes
Groups of 7-10 players work best. Too big and not everyone gets touches. Too small and players get tired.
Team Concept
15 minutes
Progression is key. Drill names matter for consistency and ease of transition. Always use the same terminology.
6V6 or 7v7 Scrimmage
25 minutes
Create game-like situations. Reps build muscle memory.
Cooldown/Stretching
Close practice with what we learned today and a homework assignment (i.e., watch your favorite team play unit defense). Always end on a positive note. (“Continue to work on X, but I was really happy about Y.”)
Pro Tip
Have players carry their own water bottle with them to maximize practice time.
