Senior Development Plan players are developing their individual skills as they prepare for advanced play as a team that’s capable of multiple formations while defending and attacking.
Proficiency Level Skills
- Stick skills
- Groundballs
- Throwing
- Catching
- Shooting
- Footwork
- Dodging
- Understanding rules
- Terminology
- Draws
- 1-on-1 defense
- Passing to open player - “One More”
- Ball protection
- Clearing through
- Fast breaks
- Understanding positions
Developing Level Skills
- Weak-hand skills
- Clearing/Riding
- Motion offense
- Off-ball skills
- Team defense
- Advanced draw maneuvers
- Position specialty skills
Exposure Level Skills
- High School Expectations
- Leadership Skills
- Fitness / Speed / Pace
- Off-field priorities
- Grades / Accountability
- Safety / Behavior
- Nutrition / Maintenance
Tactics & Game Emphasis
Players are younger and not quite as fast, but 7th and 8th-grade lacrosse games should start resembling high school lacrosse games. The ball is on the ground less or in chaotic transition. But the ball is more controlled in a developed offense, which could include a fast-paced attack of the opponent’s goal.
Lacrosse players at this level should be able to work together on both offense and defense to establish shape and utilize everyone’s individual skills. They should work as one cohesive team, communicating with one another and understanding everyone’s role, responsibility, and objective.
The “special teams” aspect of the game should start looking cleaner between clearing, riding, fastbreaks, EPO, and PDD situations. Players should be comfortable attacking from and defending multiple formations.
While players will start gravitating towards set positions, we still want to encourage all players to learn all positions, and game planning should still revolve around learning and preparation.
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