DEFENSIVE DRILLS

In this section, you will find videos that cover defensive drills and techniques. Some drills require multiple participants (marked Requires two+). Please pay special attention to the notes in the Checking Techniques section, as some checks may not be allowed depending on age group and league rules.

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This list isn’t meant to be completely comprehensive, but it provides a strong foundation of defensive skills every McKinney Lacrosse athlete should know.

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If you’d like to see additional drills or notice a problem, please reach out to our Program Director.

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Defensive Positioning

• Holding the Stick

• Proper Approach

• Getting Through Screens

• Defending Behind the Cage

• Defending from the Top

• Defending Passing Lanes

• On-ball Defense for Short Sticks

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Checking Techniques

Important Notes:

• Always defer to your defensive coaches regarding which checks are allowed in games.

• Some checks are illegal in youth leagues (for example, DFWL rules prohibit one-handed checks like the wrap check).

• Use caution and proper technique—some checks require a strong understanding of positioning and game flow.

• Poke Check

• Lift Check

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Individual Drills

• Shuffle Hurdle Drill

• In Tight Drill

• Zig Zag Approach Drill

• The “Random” Drill (Requires two+)

• Checking the Goal Drill (Requires two+)

• Loose Ball Box Drill (Requires two+)

• Get to the Cone Drill (Requires two+)

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These drills and techniques will help McKinney Lacrosse athletes build solid defensive fundamentals, improve reaction time, and learn smart, legal checking skills.