Contested 1v1 Carry
Cradling
Legend
- ball carrier
- defender
- goal gate
- ball
- attack route
How it works
Attack a defender at full intensity, using protection, pivots, and hand switches to carry the ball past a defined gate.
What you need
- lacrosse stick
- lacrosse ball
- 2 cones
- partner
Your focus
The final test of cradling , can you hold possession against live stick-check and body pressure while driving to a scoring position?
Set two cones 3 yards apart (the goal gate) at one end. Ball carrier starts 12 yards out.
Defender starts 5 yards in front of the cones, active checking allowed.
Carrier attacks. Use any legal cradle technique to get through the gate.
Alternate attacker/defender after each attempt. First to 5 gate completions wins.
Goal
It's clicking when you carry the ball past the gate against a real defender, your protection and pivots made them choose wrong, not just slow you down.
Helpful cues
- Commit to a move, hesitation gets you checked
- Keep the stick tight on the pivot so it doesn't swing out
- Drive through contact, don't curl away from it
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Passive defender (stick only, no body).
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Carry to the gate AND finish with an on-cage shot.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.