4 Advanced Lacrosse Drills for Experienced Players

Has your lacrosse development hit a plateau? For experienced players looking to elevate their game to collegiate or elite levels, standard drills might not provide the challenge needed for continued growth. Reaching another level requires training that tests technical precision, decision-making speed, and tactical awareness.

Here are four high-intensity training exercises that will sharpen your competitive edge and transform your performance on the field.

Lacrosse Drills for Advanced Players 

Triple-Threat Progression Drill

This challenges players to transition between dodging, passing, and shooting while maintaining technique under pressure.

How to do it:

• Create a diagonal line of three defenders spaced seven yards apart
• Attackers start with the ball at the top of the restraining box
• The attacker must execute three consecutive moves:
  1. Beat the first defender with a specific dodge (split, roll, face)
  2. Draw and dump to a teammate after beating the second defender
  3. Receive a return pass and finish with a time-and-room or off-hip shot
• Defenders provide escalating pressure with each repetition
• Track completion percentage, aiming for 70%+ success rate

This drill forces you to sequence multiple skills while reading defensive reactions in real-time, developing the split-second decision-making that defines elite offensive players.

Chameleon Defense Drill

Top defenders must adapt instantly to changing offensive threats. This drill develops positional awareness and defensive versatility.

How to do it:

• Four offensive players form a box formation
• One defender starts in the middle
• Coach calls out random offensive player numbers
• Defender must sprint to proper positioning relative to each called player
• After five positioning shifts, the offense initiates play
• Defender must force the ball carrier to their weak hand
• Rotate after each repetition, tracking defensive stops

This helps eliminate predictability in defensive scenarios while forcing you to make instantaneous adjustments while maintaining proper body positioning against dynamic threats.

End-Line Recovery Transition

Elite players dominate in transition. This drill simulates game fatigue while demanding precision.

How to do it:

• Player starts on the end line, sprints to midfield
• Receives pass from coach, initiates fast break
• After shot/turnover, immediately sprints back to the opposite end line
• Transitions immediately to defense against advancing attackers
• Complete five consecutive repetitions without rest
• Focus on maintaining technique despite increasing fatigue

This replicates transition moments that often determine game outcomes, training you to maintain skill precision even when you’re exhausted.

Two-Man Blind Pick Game

Advanced team play requires anticipating what your teammates will do without visual confirmation. This drill develops non-verbal communication and spatial awareness.

How to do it:

• Two offensive players work against three defenders in a half-field setting
• Offensive players must execute pick plays without verbal communication
• Points are awarded for successful picks leading to quality shots
• Defenders earn points for disrupting timing or forcing turnovers
• First team to seven points wins

This elevates your team’s IQ by forcing the anticipation of movements and developing the chemistry that elite units possess.

Are you looking to take your game to the next level this summer? Our expert coaches are ready to help you improve at one of our 2025 GameBreaker Lacrosse Camps. Find a location near you and sign up today!