Mistake Management Protocol
Composure
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Apply a personal composure protocol after making a technical mistake during live scrimmage play.
What you need
- lacrosse stick
- lacrosse ball
- goal
- cones
- pinnies
Your focus
How a player responds to mistakes determines whether one error becomes two or three. Installing a personal protocol (breathe-release-refocus) provides a cognitive and physical anchor that prevents emotional spiraling.
Before scrimmage, every player writes down their personal 3-word composure cue (e.g., 'breathe, release, next').
Scrimmage runs normally. Any time a player makes a visible mistake (turnover, missed assignment), they must pause one second, say their cue, and immediately sprint to their next assignment.
Coach tracks how many errors compound (one mistake followed immediately by another) versus are isolated.
Post-scrimmage: identify compounding errors and discuss composure protocol adherence.
Helpful cues
- Your cue is your reset button, use it every single time
- The second after a mistake is the most important moment of the possession
- Composure is visible: body language tells your teammates everything
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Practice the protocol in isolation first (intentional turnover, then reset) before using it in scrimmage.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a 'composure challenge': any time a player shows negative body language, they run a 40-yard sprint at the next dead ball.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.