LACROSSE
OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVE
The objective of lacrosse is to score more goals than the opposing team by using a stick to catch, carry, and pass a ball into the opponent’s net while preventing them from scoring.
LACROSSE FIELD
Lacrosse can be played on a field or in a box similar in size to an ice rink.
EQUIPMENT
OFFICIAL
Equipment
Lacrosse sticks
Lacrosse balls
Goals
Gloves
Coloured shirts
ALTERNATIVE
Equipment
Use hands instead of sticks
Use cones as scoopers
Soft balls, such as children’s tennis balls
Benches or cones to mark goals
Pinnies
SPACE Adaptations
Keep groups small to increase engagement.
Quick, short rounds.
Reduce distance of the goal by using a smaller area.
Use smaller playing areas to reduce movement distance and focus on skill practice.
Use a smooth surface for those who use a chair.
Create safe zones where players can pause.
TASK Adaptations
Simplify instructions by using clear, simple, language, visuals, and demonstrations.
Focus on one skill at a time (cradle, pass, etc.)
Allow more time before a defender can challenge the ball carrier.
Allow students time to practice without limitations e.g. Throw at the target vs throw at the target 10 times.
EQUIPMENT Adaptations
Lighter or softer balls (tennis balls or foam balls).
Different coloured balls/bean bags for visual clarity.
Larger goals.
Use brightly coloured tape as visual aid on target.
Use sound to signal location of goal.
Use lightweight shorter sticks for better handling.
PEOPLE Adaptations
Provide individualized goals.
Pair less experienced players with supportive partners.
Adjust team sizes (3 vs. 3) for more touches on the ball.
Use peer coaching or buddy systems for skill support.
THROW
Hands apart with dominant hand near the bottom of the stick, non-dominant hand near the top.
Stick up and hold the stick upright and close to your ear or shoulder.
Turn your body sideways — point non-throwing shoulder toward the target.
Step to the target by stepping forward with your front foot (same side as non throwing arm).
Push with top hand, pull with bottom hand— top hand pushes forward, bottom hand pulls down.
Finish low— end with the stick pointing toward the target and the head of the stick low across your opposite hip or thighs.
CATCH
Hold your stick out in front, head of the stick open and facing the passer.
Relax your top hand so you can "absorb" the ball or cushion it into the pocket.
Keep your eyes on the ball all the way into the pocket.
As the ball hits the pocket, slightly pull the stick back towards your body to absorb impact.
Once you have the ball, do a quick small cradle to secure it.
CRADLE
Your top hand controls the stick, close to the head (top part) and the bottom hand acts like a guide.
Move your wrist and forearm so the stick head rocks back and forth (or slightly side to side if running fast). "Rock the baby"
Hold the stick close to your body, not out wide. Helps protect the ball. Look ahead, not down at the ball.
SCOOP
Run to the ball.
Get low with knees bent, stick close to the ground.
Bottom hand to the ground, slide your lower hand down the stick shaft.
Line the stick head up directly with the ball.
Scoop and step to push the stick through the ball while stepping past it.
Cradle the ball right away to keep the ball from being checked.
ACTIVITIES & SKILL DEVELOPMENT
MOVE & BALANCE
PARTNER PASSING / EGG TOSS
HUNGRY HIPPOS
SHARKS & MINNOWS
STEAL THE BACON
MOVE & BALANCE
Give each student a lacrosse stick.
Have students move around the space while keeping the stick balancing on their hand.
Try two and one finger balance as a challenge, if it drops off, pick it up and try again.
Photo courtesy of Lacrossing Barriers
PARTNER PASSING / EGG TOSS
Partner Passing: Place students in partners and have them facing one another.
Pass the ball back and forth.
Egg Toss: Partner students up to pass and throw.
Take a step back at each catch so they get further and further apart.
Last team to avoid dropping the "egg" (ball) wins.
Photo courtesy of Lacrossing Barriers
HUNGRY HIPPOS
Scatter balls around the area.
Students move around the space and scoop the balls up before returning them to a bucket.
Round One: practice picking up the balls.
Round Two: see how fast the group can pick up balls.
Round Three: place students into 4 teams and see which team can collect the most balls.
SHARKS & MINNOWS
Give every child a stick and a ball.
Select a number of students to start in the middle of the space as “sharks” (no ball), everyone else is a “minnow”.
Minnows have to run across the space without the sharks knocking their ball out of their stick.
If ball drops out, you become a shark.
STEAL THE BACON
Divide the students into two teams and line up the players on two sides of the field.
Assign each person on the two teams with a number (i.e. 1,2,3,4, etc.).
Stand in the middle of the two lines and drop a ground ball.
Shout out a number. The students assigned with that number will come and try to scoop the ground ball up.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING
Or contact Scott Goddfrey (scott@lacrossingbarriers.org)
REFERENCES
Lacrossing Barriers - www.lacrossingbarriers.org
Fundamental Movement Skills Cue Cards. School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project. 2025
Inclusion of Students of All Abilities in School-Based Physical Activity Experiences. PHE Canada. 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2025. School-Based Physical Activity Experiences for Students of All Abilities | PHE Canada.
