DefenseGround Balls

Ground Ball Denial Drill

Teaches defenders to use body positioning to deny an opponent a loose ball rather than simply racing straight to it.

Age RangeAges 7+
Duration6-8 minutes
Group SizePairs
SportLacrosse

Equipment Needed

  • One ball per pair

Keep balls in every pair

A bulk bag of lacrosse balls means every pair gets their own ball to compete for.

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Setup

  • Roll a ball between two players positioned a few steps away on either side.
Ground Ball Denial Drill12Get body position between opponent and ball first

Instructions

  1. On the coach's signal, both players go for the ground ball.
  2. The defender's goal is to get body position between the opponent and the ball, not just win the race.
  3. Whoever controls the ball protects it with their body; the other player practices legal positioning to deny a re-approach.
  4. Reset and rotate partners every few reps.
Coaching Points
  • Get your body between the opponent and the ball the instant you arrive, even if you don't scoop it first.
  • Stay low with a wide base so you can't be knocked off the ball.
  • Use legs and body position to box out, not stick checks, once you're both near the ball.

Variation

Add a second defender to simulate team ground-ball support.