Lacrosse can be a great sport to introduce to six to eight year olds. Although the stick can seem awkward at first, the other aspects of the game are almost second nature.

One thing is for certain - introduced properly,
your child WILL NOT BE BORED with lacrosse!
 

Lacrosse Skills to be learned:

Throwing

As far as "stick skills" go, a player (with a properly adjusted stick) will likely get the hang of throwing the ball in some form or manner right away. This immediate feedback is important in the development of lacrosse players, and therefore it will be emphasized right from the start.

Cradling

The next skill we like to concentrate on is cradling. If one cannot cradle properly, it won't matter if you can pick up ground balls, pass or catch - you will end up losing the ball right away if you cannot cradle properly. For some, this skill set takes awhile to sink in.

Ground Balls

We will spend alot of time working on the proper way to scoop up ground balls. In most lacrosse games the ball will hit the ground over 100 times - in youth games especially. Once we scoop the ground ball we must be able to cradle it!

Catching

Proper catching of the ball has proven to be the toughest skill set to teach youngsters. It may not be a "natural motion" for the kids and there is some tiny bit of theory to be understood. Catching the ball with the stick in proper position is something we will strive for by the end of the season, but in many cases the kids at this level won't get that far. Don't get discouraged!

Dodging

Once the child is comfortable with cradling it is time to introduce dodging. As a player progresses with the sport, dodging a defensive player becomes a critical skill set. At this age level we simply introduce the basics of dodging.

What you can work on at home

All of the above! Nothing beats playing catch with your child or having them play catch with other kids. They will end up working on throwing, catching and ground balls (especially ground balls).

In bad weather, have your child work on cradling in the basement or while watching TV! If a player can cradle the ball successfully they will be able to concentrate on other skill sets to learn - this will make their experiences on the practice field much more enjoyable!

**** PLAY WALL BALL !!! (see sidebar on right)

PRACTICE

Our eight-week practice plans were set out for children in the first and second grade, but can be adapted to any group of newcomers to the sport.

WALL BALL
What is "wall ball" and how can it make me a better lacrosse player?

Wall ball is the act of throwing a ball up against a brick or cinderblock wall and catching it on the return, either in the air or on the bounce.

Sounds simple enough, right?

No other practice tool can beat wall ball for the improvement of stick skills for the developing lacrosse player.

If your child is just learning the sport, please make sure they spend time in front of the brick wall!