Behind-the-Back Cradle
Stick Skills
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Learn to switch the stick from dominant to non-dominant hand behind the back to protect possession while cradling.
What you need
- lacrosse stick
- lacrosse ball
- cones (for variations)
Your focus
The behind-the-back hand switch is an intermediate stick skill that expands a player's ability to protect the ball from defenders coming from all angles. Developing this skill broadens the stick skill toolkit significantly.
Player cradles with dominant hand while walking.
On coach's signal, player passes the stick behind their back to the non-dominant hand and continues cradling.
On next signal, player switches back.
Complete 10 behind-the-back switches while walking, then progress to jogging.
Goal
Success is completing the behind-the-back switch without breaking your stride, the ball stays in the stick and you're still moving when it's done.
Helpful cues
- Keep the pocket up through the switch, don't flip it over
- The switch should be smooth, practice slowly first
- Non-dominant hand must already be positioned behind your back before you release
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Practice the empty stick switch without a ball first.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Perform the behind-the-back switch while jogging through a cone course.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.