Ball-Side Positioning
Positioning
Legend
- player
- defender
- coach / parent
- ball
How it works
Learn correct defensive positioning relative to the ball, staying ball-side and goal-side of your assignment.
What you need
- lacrosse stick
- lacrosse ball
- cones
- goal
Your focus
Correct defensive positioning is built on the principle of always being between your assignment and the goal. Teaching ball-side and goal-side positioning early prevents the fundamental mistake of losing defensive shape.
Pair up defenders and attackers. Coach moves the ball around the perimeter.
Defenders must adjust their position with every ball movement, always maintaining ball-side and goal-side position.
Coach stops play randomly and evaluates each defender's position.
If a defender is out of position, they call out what they need to do to fix it.
Goal
It's working when you stay ball-side and goal-side through multiple ball rotations without drifting, when the ball moves, you move.
Helpful cues
- You must be between your assignment and the goal, always
- When the ball moves, you move, don't wait
- An arm's length from your assignment in the danger zone; more space when they're far from goal
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Walk through ball movement slowly; defenders move to correct positions step by step.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Ball carrier can attack at any time; defenders must read the attack coming while maintaining positioning.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.