Utilizing tactful games in practice, players that are not skilled enough to get all of the "glory" of scoring goals in League play, get the chance to demonstrate their unique skills and feel a better sense of self-efficacy.  Further, using a Move-Think-Learn Philosophy, using games is a great way to help kids internalize concepts being taught in drills.

Coaches are free to be creative and involve games anywhere within their Practice Plans, as long as there is a purpose that is served (any drill can be transformed into a game in some capacity).  The reason could be as simple as to add some fun to the practice, to emphasize a particular skill, or to disguise a cardio-effect embedded in a game.

SSG's ("Small-Sided Games) are known to greatly increase the number of contacts with the ball, attacking/defending opportunities, decision making skills (which happen more frequently), goal attempts, fitness and fun within a practice setting.  In fact, box lacrosse should be viewed as a small-sided game relative to field lacrosse, which is why so many of the best field coaches recommend box lacrosse for skill development (more reps!!!).  SSG's develop the physical, technical and tactical components of lacrosse, in conjunction with each other as opposed to in isolation.  Manipulating the size of the playing area and number of players (which greatly affects intensity), shift duration, number of shifts, technical/tactical considerations, exercise type and coach encouragement, have all been shown to significantly alter the physical and technical demands associated with SSG's. The ability to perform technical and tactical requirements under fatigued conditions should also be considered vitally important to team success.

It is of paramount importance that practice design and SSG implementation should be performed with precision and careful consideration of the training objective.  SSG's should simulate the physiological workloads and intensities commensurate of actual game play (1:2 work:rest ratio), while also developing technical and tactical proficiency.  In practical terms, this could mean 30 second shifts with 60 second rests; or it could mean 3 players per line/team during a "relay race" (i.e. 1 player working and 2 players resting).

SSG have shown cardiovascular stress and training adaptations comparative to generic short duration intermittent sprint training, with similar effects as 6 and 12 weeks of interval training in youth players during the competitive season (in soccer).  It has also had a positive effect on both the anaerobic and aerobic system during in-season breaks (where no games were scheduled). That said, games should still be closely monitored to prevent players from overreaching/overtraining.  An over-reliance on this training method may mask specific weaknesses within an individual player's profile and requires stringent control and standardization of influential factors.