BEGINNER 

• Demo (1 min):  Cutting

• Evenly space 16 cones throughout the neutral zone or one end of the floor, forming a square.  Have players put their sticks into a pile, with a coach or player selecting a stick to be "the leader."
  

• *Variation #1 (5 min):  "Without Balls."  Have players line up in opposite corners of the "square," without balls.  Players run first as individuals, 1 rep each - changing directions at each cone and eventually joining the opposite line (Variation #1A) and later both lines join as a group "following the leader" in a zigzag formation (Variation #1B), at jogging speed, staying as tight as possible as a group (stick touching the person in front of them - two hands on the stick).  Mix between running forward, side-shuffling and back-pedaling, switching movement patterns every 10-15 seconds or on the coaches command (with coaches echoing the current footwork pattern to the rest of the group).

• Coaches can pick different players to lead the group every 20-30 seconds, having them run to the front of the line (on the coaches whistle).

• *Variation #2 (5 min):  "2 Lines."  Advance to 2 lines starting at opposite corners of the square, paying special attention to players' spatial awareness (keep your head up!).

• *Variation #3 (5 min):  "With Balls."  Same as the above variation except players start with balls and cradle around the pylons (don't let the person in front of you get too far ahead in the "follow the leader" variation - coaches may need to tell the leader to slow down on several occasions).

*Most common error = players not planting with a stiff outside leg when cutting.