Oakland Passing Drill

Written By Coach Ted

This is a great passing drill to run with your offensive players to start practice. It combines some “game like” concepts as well as fast paced and engaging flow drill style. One of the biggest issues I run into as a coach is how do we drill stick work (we need to be able to pass/catch at a high level full speed) but keep it fresh, high level and engaging. This drill popped up on my twitter feed from a basketball coach and I just took it to the lacrosse field and it worked great.


Here is the link to the original basketball drill: https://x.com/BBcoachinsider/status/1701940435407482904?s=20


A few concepts to consider:

  • Dodging - this needs to be a game speed dodge like you are trying to create your own shot. In a game, we are dodging to score so we should practice with that speed/mentality. I would say players should dodge and wind up like they are going to shoot before the skip it through to the low corners

  • The low “attack” lines should time their cuts to “show” for the midfielder dodging. They should be coming up field into space where that defender who is the “2nd Slide” would be vacating to help the middle. In a game, this could be a “catch and shot” so we wan’t to get to that spot in the drill (even though we aren’t shooting)

  • “Quiet sticks” - part of what makes this drill great is its ability to mimic offensive motions/concepts while doing stick work. However, if we don’t do this drill as if we are playing offense - we aren’t maximizing the potential of the drill. Players should not be holding the ball for very long. Especially that lower attack line, they should be showing up field and catching it loaded in that “triple threat” position. They should have a half cradle, head up, and kick it back up to the next middy to dodge. No time should be wasted here carrying the ball, players should move before they get it and be able to spin the ball right away without having to move their feet to a new spot WITH the ball.

  • “Right Away” - when the middy gets this quick one more pass from that low attack line they should be catching this in and immediately beginning their approach to breakdown the defender. They should not carry the ball high and start their dodge, this is an immediate re-dodge type move. If players need more space to approach and breakdown their defender, they should “climb the ladder” before the attackman is getting the ball so they can catch and dodge immediately.


These subtle details are hard to teach because they are extremely nuanced. But these little things separate an effective player from a non-effective one. Being able to anticipate where the ball is going and get yourself into position for the next play is huge. As well as, not wasting time with the ball in your stick - we shouldn’t have to “carry” the ball anywhere… we should get to the spot we need to be at before the ball arrives and then we are dodging, feeding, or shooting when we get it (triple threat)


Coach Ted