Star Passing Drill: Improving Lacrosse Skills and Teamwork

The star passing drill is a classic stick-handling exercise in lacrosse that helps improve passing accuracy, quick decision-making, and player coordination, as well as their movement on the field

To perform a 5-point star passing drill in women’s lacrosse, follow these detailed steps:

Setup:

• Place five cones in a star shape, with each cone approximately 10 to 20 yards apart.

• Assign a player/players to each cone in the star formation.

Starting the Drill:

• A player begins with the ball and passes it to one of the other players on the perimeter of the star.

• After making the pass, the player quickly moves to the position of the player who received the pass, maintaining constant movement.

Pass Rotation:

• The player who received the pass then passes the ball to the next player on the perimeter and moves to their respective position.

• This process continues in a star pattern, ensuring that each player passes, moves, and receives the ball multiple times during the drill.

Variations for Women’s Lacrosse:

• Timed: Set a time limit for completing a series of passes, finishing with a shot on goal. This encourages speed, accuracy, and game-like pressure in women’s lacrosse.

• Multiple Balls: Start the drill with two balls to increase the challenge, focusing on maintaining control and speed in the passing rotation.

Additional Tips for Women’s Lacrosse:

• Encourage players to keep their heads up and maintain constant communication with teammates to ensure smooth passing.

• Focus on using both hands for passing and receiving, as versatility is key in women’s lacrosse.

• Keep a high pace in the drill to simulate the intensity and quick decision-making needed in real women’s lacrosse games.

Benefits of the 5-Point Star Passing Drill in Women’s Lacrosse:

• Improved Passing Accuracy: Performing constant passes in a star pattern helps players develop the accuracy and consistency needed for quick and precise passing in women’s lacrosse games.

• Enhanced Coordination and Synchronization: The drill emphasizes movement and passing in a coordinated way, improving player synchronization, which is essential for building chemistry in a women’s lacrosse team.

• Promotion of Communication: The constant need for communication ensures players know who to pass to and when to move, which builds essential communication skills for effective teamwork in women’s lacrosse.

• Increased Agility and Speed: Quick changes of direction and fast-paced movements in this drill enhance players’ agility and speed, preparing them for the physical and fast-paced nature of women’s lacrosse.

• Versatility and Adaptability: By adding variations such as defenders or multiple balls, the drill becomes more challenging, simulating different game scenarios and making players in women’s lacrosse more adaptable to unpredictable situations.

Conclusion:

This 5-point star passing drill is an essential tool for any women’s lacrosse team. It improves technical skills like passing accuracy and movement while promoting teamwork and communication. The fast-paced nature of the drill also prepares players for real-game situations, making it a vital part of women’s lacrosse training.