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totLax - U7 Plan 2 - Goin' Fishin'
Equipment Needed: 3x3 Nets, Helmets & Gloves, Sticks, Lacrosse Balls, Portable Speaker, Duct Tape, Pylons, Whistle, Wooden Talking Stick, (Optional = Fishing Themed Costumes)
*Note - 3x3 Nets Are Recommended - Goalies Are Not Recommended
Recommended Video (for kids to watch prior to practice): "We Are Water Protectors"
Recommended Book (for kids to read prior to practice): "We Are Water Protectors"
See: Apple Music Playlist for associated audio clips
**DJ - remember to run an audio test for speaker settings and how far away from the speaker you can be on bluetooth
Reminders:
- Coach Roles: 2 Drill Leaders (Alternating Each Drill), 2 Drill Helpers (Organizing The Kids), 1 DJ (Controlling Audio), 1+ Designated "Kid Managers" For Any Difficult Kids
- Words of Wisdom: Re-direct - change activities, talk to them, don’t say no, exercise patience, don’t talk too much, the less instructions the better
- 1 Coach Whistle = everyone stop what they are doing
- 2 Coach Whistles = run in and have a seat (coaches take a knee)
- Consider: Inviting all or some of the parents onto the floor to help out, especially if their kid needs extra attention. Also consider making it mandatory for at least one parent to be present
- Advice: Make it your own. Re-name drills to suit your own version of the story. Anything goes.
- 4 phases of a movement: preparation (1), force production (2), critical instant (3), follow through (4)
- Loose Ball Skills Analysis Link
- Cradling Skills Analysis Link
- Shooting Skills Analysis Link
- Static Stretching Link
5 Senses:
- Touch - Wooden Lacrosse Stick, India Rubber Balls, Hand Drum
- Taste - Apple Pie
- Smell - Worms, Lacrosse Equipment, Arena
- Sight - First Nation Representation (Guests, Traditional Clothes, Arts & Crafts, etc.), Aquatic Themed Costumes and/or Cardboard Cut Outs + Aquatic Story Books
- Hearing - See Drill Audio Clips For Each Drill (Kids Can Also Be Encouraged To Make Aquatic/Fishing Sounds)
TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME:
60
MINS
Huddle
DRILL #MINS- Sit in the "Listening Circle" at centre floor - utilize the talking stick
Story:
- "Going Fishing With Your Buddies"
- Early mornings and evening are the best fishing...when the lake is calm...Defense Drill #1: Athletic Position (“Triple Threat”)
DRILL #MINSStoryline: Setting the scene (the weeds) - keeps the water clean (highlight conservation of water)
Playlist: "Babbling Brook" audio clip
Variation #4C: "Follow The Stick" (With Balls)
- Demo (30 sec): "Triple Threat Stick Position"
- Have players stand (with nobody else within arm’s length) in two different groups, in opposite ends of the floor, with the assistant coaches instructing them to follow their stick (forward, back-pedal, side-shuffle).
- Players should be carrying the ball in the "triple threat position" throughout the drill.
- Each sequence of movements should last between 30-45 seconds (giving players the feel for what an average shift would be like).
- Have players sprint to the opposite end of the floor and repeat the drill in front of the other coach.Warm Up
DRILL #MINSStoryline: Set the scene (it’s morning and calm)
- "Preparing for your day on the water"
Playlist: "Singing Birds" audio clip (3x)
- Dynamic Stretches - water creatures/animals/birds/plants
Animals:
- Deer - Zig Zag Running
- Downward Dog to Upward Dog + Roll
- Bear Crawl
- Fish Eating - Use Arms to Act Like Fishes Mouth (arm swings - horizontal + vertical)
- Frog Hop - Jump + Stick Landing (Hula Hoops?) - Deep Squat Jump
Birds:
- Bird Run - Quick Feet
- Pheasant Running - Elbows tucked + arms flapping + high knees
- Bird Flying - Jumping Jacks
- Eagle Soaring Arms (Lyle Thompson) - advance to hinge at waist + stretch out arms
- Duck Walk (Deep Squat Walk)
- Heron - Standing and balancing on one leg (also with eyes closed)
- Bird head twisting - side to sideCradling Drill #1B: Dynamic Cradling
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "You are a bunch of small fish swimming around trying not to get eaten by the bigger fish"
Playlist: "Babbling Brook" audio clip in the background and any time a minnow gets caught play "Water Splash" audio clip
Variation #4: "Scrambled Eggs"
- Re-Hash (1 min): "Ball Protection"
- Create a designated area using pylons, appropriate to the size of the group you are working with.
- Have all players weave around each other at a walking speed, and later at jogging speed.
- Emphasize players keeping their body between other players and the ball (i.e. protect or “hide”the ball), utilizing proper cradling technique.
- Once the players get the hang of the technique coaches or volunteer players ("sharks") can casually try to dislodge the ball from players who don't have it protected, otherwise pushing them on their hips in order to throw off their centre-of-gravity.
- This drill can also be done as a game whereby if a player drops their ball or gets knocked out, they must go out of the designated area and wait until the next game (multiple small designated areas is preferred).
- Most common error = not protecting their stick from their opponentGames Drill #4: Gathering Minnows
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Fisherman gathering bait minnows along shore"
Playlist: "Babbling Brook" audio clip in the background and any time a minnow gets caught play "Water Splash" audio clip
Variation #1: "D/O Zone Boundary"
- Using the end-boards and/or the restraining-lines as boundaries, start with a coach and one volunteer (possibly more depending on the size of the group), in one or more of the 3 zones (offensive zone, defensive zone, neutral zone) of a lacrosse floor; otherwise using the full-floor with large groups. Creases could also be utilized as another boundary that only the "muskies" can step in.
- Have all players ("minnows") start against the side-boards, with balls in everyone’s stick, ready to try and successfully cradle to the opposite side boards, without dropping the ball.
- The coach and initial volunteers ("muskies") are trying to “strip” players of the ball; all players should be using 2-hands to cradle.
- Players become "muskies" if they drop the ball, get stripped, or get pushed over one of the boundaries. Otherwise, the same muskies can be used for the entire game (which places high cardio demands on the muskies). Players need to protect the ball and should use team tactics or any other sort of deception that will help get the, safely to the other side of the floor
- The game ends when every player has lost their ball, or there is one or two players left who still haven’t dropped their ball.Games Drill #1: Follow The Leader
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Fisherman scouting out the best spots to fish, telling their friends and then driving around together on a birch bark canoe together and going to the best spots"
Playlist: "Boat" audio clips (5)
Variation #1A (4 min): "Without Balls" (2 Lines)
- Demo (30 sec): "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."
- 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 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 #3 (4 min): "With Balls"
- Re-hash (1 min): "Cradling"
- 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).Loose Ball Drill #1A: Stationary & Dynamic "Scooping"
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Baiting and Jigging the Hook"
Playlist: "Fencing" & "Sword Fight" audio clips (2x consecutively)
Variation #1 (2 min): "3 Different Techniques"
*top diagram*
- Re-Hash (1 min): Loose Ball – "Scoop, "Trap & Scoop," "Scoop-Tuck-Turn," Scoop-To-Triple Threat Position"
- Have players stand (with nobody else within arm’s length) as a group.
- Each player should have a ball on the ground in front of them to start.
- Have them practice all of the loose ball techniques demonstrated in stationary form (from a stand still).
- Start with the "trap & scoop” (Variation #1A), the "scoop" (Variation #1B) and lastly the "scoop-to-triple threat position" (Variation #1D); 5 reps of each.
- Most common error = not keeping the butt-end of the stick low to the ground ("mowing the lawn" instead of "shovelling snow")
Variation #2 (2 min): "Dynamic Loose Balls"
*bottom diagram*
- Advance to having players take 3-5 running steps before they pick up the ball; eventually having them run full speed from half-floor or full-floor.
- Most common error = not keeping the butt-end of the stick low to the ground ("mowing the lawn" instead of "shovelling snow")Loose Ball Drill #2: Rolling ("Attacking") A Ball With A Partner
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Learning how to bring a fish into the boat" (fish that is still active)
Playlist: "Several People Swimming" audio clips (6x)
Variation #1 (1 min): "Loose Ball"
*top diagram*
- Demo (30 sec): "Attacking A Loose Ball" (Keep It In Front Of You)
- Have players line up in pairs 10-15 metres apart, rolling (underhand motion - with their hand if necessary) a ball back and forth.
- As players progress, coaches can have players practice different techniques ("scoop," "scoop, tuck & turn," "scoop to triple-threat position").
- Most common error = waiting for the ball to arrive instead of "pursuing" it
Variation #2A (2 min): "Loose Ball & Cradle"
*bottom diagram*
- Same as the drill variation above except one partner scoops the loose ball and then cradles around the partner (left side & right side) that rolled them the ball. Alternate back and forth.
- Most common error = not protecting the ball as they cradle around their partnerStickwork Drill #3: Loose Balls On-The-Run
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Handling a fish once you’ve got it in the boat (for the picture)"
Playlist: "Cartoon Fish" audio clips (2) any time you see someone catch a corral the loose ball on the first try
Variation #1A: "Dynamic Loose Balls"
- Coaches divide the floor in half lengthwise with pylons; two lines starting in opposite corners (opposite ends); this drill could also be done on half of the floor as well.
- Coaches then stand by the side-boards at both sides of centre-floor and roll a ball to the first player in both lines as they run forward.
- Standardize the direction the loose ball is rolled into the drill, preferably nice and smoothly, and somewhat perpendicular to the oncoming player; players may finish with a breakaway shot on net.
- Switch which corners the players are starting from halfway through the drill (i.e. after players have completed 5 reps). This forces players to corral half of the balls with their stick to the middle of the floor versus on the board-side.
- Water Break = 1 minStickwork Drill #2: Stationary Catching (With A Coach)
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Dropping The Fish In the Tank"
Playlist: "Splash" audio clip any time you see someone catch a ball
Variation #1A: "Stationary Catching"
- Demo (30 sec): "Soft Hands - Catching An Egg Example," "Watch It Into The Stick"
- Start with multiple lines of 4-5 players along the side-boards with their back against the boards, using one pylon per player to mark off where they should stand. The coach is 3-5 metres away and underhand tosses the ball to the closest player who try to catch it; if they miss, the ball should roll right back to the coach.
- The player who attempted to catch the ball goes to the back pylon and all other players move forward one pylon, as a method for rotating through the drill.
- Each player should get at least 5-10 quality attempts to catch the ball in this fashion. Players should give a target to pass to when preparing to receive the ball and use "soft hands."Stickwork Drill #1: Passing Against The Boards ("Wall Ball")
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Perfect your cast - same thing on the run (trolling)"
Playlist: "Fly Fishing," "Fishing Reel" & "9.9 HP Outboard" audio clips (2x consecutively)
Variation #1A (3 min): "Normal Pass"
- Demo (30 sec): Passing (See Passing/Shooting Skill Analysis).
- Spread players out as evenly as possible across the floor space, with players starting 10 metres away from the boards (or a wall), picking a spot to aim for, getting comfortable with the release point of their stick. For first timers, consider starting with bare hand and/or top-hand only, to compare mechanics of throwing a ball.
- With feet "stationary," pass against a spot on the side-boards/glass at approximately eye level; corral the rebounding ball.
- Emphasis should be placed on getting one’s body in front of the ball when attempting to catch the ball ("no reaching"); that way if missed, the ball is still in front of the player to scoop up.
- Assistant coaches should be ready with plenty of extra balls.
- Most common error = not using proper overhand techniqueWarm Up Drill #3: Board Shuttles
DRILL #MINSStoryline: First player casts, second player tries reel in the fish ("catch & release")
Playlist: "Fly Fishing," "Fishing Reel" audio clips consecutively and then "Crowd Cheering" audio clip any time someone catches the ball
Variation #1B: "Stationary Passing"
- Have players in lines of 3-4 players, facing the side-boards (or a wall), 10 metres away (marked with a pylon), with a 30cm x 30cm square target taped on the wall.
- The first player in line starts with a ball. This player passes the ball at the target, then gets out of the way of the rebounding ball.
- The next player in line corrals the loose ball and repeats the same action, as does the next player in line, and so on and so forth. Encourage players to get in front of the ball with their body, instead of reaching with their arms.
- A successful rep is when the player passes against the wall and the ball hits the tape or anywhere inside the square.
- Assistant coaches should be ready with plenty of extra balls.Games Drill #6: Lax Darts
DRILL #MINSStoryline: "Spears or Gaff, known as “anit” in Ojibway, were one of the most commonly used tools associated with ice fishing"
Playlist: "Fly Fishing" audio clip and then "Applause" if someone gets the ball in the bucket
Variation #1: "Taking Turns"
- Place a garbage can in the middle of the face-off circle.
- Have players grouped in 4-6 lines depending on numbers (aim for 2-3 players per line if possible), with lines spread out evenly across the floor (north-south orientation), on one side of the restraining line. Coaches should be on the other side of the garbage can, actively collecting balls to send back to the players. Alternatively, (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - not shown in the diagram), the garbage can could be placed in the crease (net removed), with coaches behind the players instead of in front of them.
- Lines should be an appropriate distance away from the garbage can, depending on the age and skill level. Place pylons on the ground to mark the start of each line, where required.
- On the coaches whistle all players at the front of their line lob the ball at the garbage can, trying to get it in. The winner is determined in a sudden death format, although a one time rebuttal shot may also be permitted.
- Most common error = players not using enough arc lob when passingCardio Drill #3: Bench Runs
DRILL #MINSStoryline: Storm clouds rolling in...need to get off the water!
Playlist: "Loud Booming Thunder" & "115 Hp Outboard" audio clips consecutively
- "Need to get home for the fish fry" (each group is in a separate boat (timed to see who can get back the fastest)...
Variation #1A: "Regular Lacrosse Shift"
- Start with 4 groups of a relatively even number of players, all on one bench.
- The first group sprints and touches the crossbar on one net, then runs all the way to the other end and touches the other crossbar; returning to the bench and entering through the opposite door that they left from. As soon as the first player from the 1st group arrives back at the bench, the entire 2nd group repeats the same pattern, with the 3rd group doing the same after them.
- Switch the directions of the players coming off of the benches half way through the drill (i.e. exiting through a different bench door and touching a different net first).Cool Down
DRILL #MINS- Circle at centre floor
Story Conclusion:
- At full moon ceremonies tobacco is offered to the waters in thanksgiving of the Namebin (the fish swim up-river to spawn in huge numbers which makes them easy game
- Village feast – an announcement to acknowledge the special efforts of the person who brought the fish for the event.
- Pass around the "talking stick" for kids to say what they liked most about today's lesson
- Start the fire with their sticks (Playlist = "Forest Fire" audio clip)
- Snacks: Scone & Apple Pie
- Homework: 100 Scoops (Loose Balls)
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