Ever notice how quickly young players’ attention drifts during repetitive drills? Maintaining enthusiasm while teaching fundamental skills is the ultimate balancing act for youth lacrosse coaches. The secret is to disguise skill development with games that spark excitement and friendly competition.

Here are five ideas that reinforce critical skills while keeping youth lacrosse practice entertaining.

Keep Youth Lacrosse Practice Fun With These Ideas

Hungry Hungry Hippos

Transform the classic board game into a ground ball frenzy that kids will love.

How to play:

• Divide players into four teams positioned at the corners of a square
• Scatter 20+ balls in the center circle
• On the whistle, one player from each team sprints to grab a ground ball
• Players must properly scoop the ball and carry it back to their team
• After returning, the next teammate goes
• The team collecting the most balls in two minutes wins

This reinforces proper scooping technique, acceleration, and awareness while creating an atmosphere of excited energy.

Sharks and Minnows

This playground classic adapts perfectly to develop dodging and defensive footwork.

How to play:

• Designate two “sharks” with pool noodles in the middle
• “Minnows” (players with sticks and balls) line up at one end
• Minnows must cradle across to the opposite side without being tagged
• Tagged players become sharks in the next round
• The last minnow standing wins the round

Players naturally develop creative dodges and protection techniques without even realizing they’re working on fundamental skills.

Rapid Fire Relay

Turn passing practice into a high-energy competition that reinforces accuracy under pressure.

How to play:

• Form teams of 4-5 players in lines
• First player passes to a coach/target 10 yards away
• After passing, they sprint to the back of their line
• Teams score a point for each accurate pass
• The first team to reach 20 points wins

The combination of passing fundamentals with team-based competition creates natural peer coaching and celebration.

Castle Defense

This medieval-themed game builds shooting precision while creating heroic moments for every player.

How to play:

• Stack five cones in a pyramid formation (“the castle”)
• Position a goalie to defend the castle
• Attacking players take shots from designated distances
• Award points based on shot difficulty and cone knockdowns
• The first player to reach 10 points becomes the “Castle Defender”

Players develop shooting accuracy and power while embracing imaginative play that makes practice memorable.

Treasure Hunt 

This end-of-practice favorite incorporates multiple skills into a treasure-seeking adventure.

How to play:

• Hide colored pinnies throughout the practice area
• Divide players into teams of 3-4
• Teams must complete skill challenges to earn clues
• Clues lead to hidden “treasure” (pinnies)
• The team collecting the most pinnies in the allotted time wins

The scavenger hunt format creates excitement while reinforcing the day’s learned skills through practical application.

If you’re looking to get your youth lacrosse players a terrific experience while improving their skills in a fun and positive environment, we’re waiting for you this summer! Our expert coaches are ready to help you improve your lax game at one of our 2025 GameBreaker Lacrosse Camps. Find a location near you and sign up today!