Wall ball
Ready when: Hold, cradle, scoop (b1) started.
What you are learning
Throwing overhand at a wall and catching the rebound with soft hands, with both the normal hand and the off-hand. Wall ball is how lacrosse players practise most; a player who can use both hands is hard to defend.
Words on this card Stick, Head, Off-hand, Wall ball, Soft hands, Clear
- Stick
- The lacrosse stick: a shaft with a head at the top.
- Head
- The head is the frame at the top of the stick; the pocket is the net inside it that holds the ball.
- Off-hand
- Throwing and catching with the hands swapped on the stick.
- Wall ball
- Throwing at a wall and catching the rebound.
- Soft hands
- Letting the stick move back a little as the ball arrives, so it stays in.
- Clear
- Moving the ball from defence to attack, and the other team trying to stop it.
Set up
A wall with a chalk target; a stick and a soft ball or tennis ball; 2 to 3 m away; 2 m clear around.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand side on to the wall, the stick head up by the ear.
- Step and throw overhand, the stick coming over the shoulder, at the chalk target.
- Catch the rebound in the pocket, letting the stick give back a little.
- Swap the hands on the stick and do the same.
Your part while they practise
Count catches.
Step by step
- Throw to the wall overhand.
- Catch with soft hands.
- Switch hands.
How much: 20 throws, 3 rounds 8 min a session 4 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Minute count
Count the catches in one minute, then try to beat it.
Who plays: the child against their own best; take turns if two.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Stand behind the throwing mark
- On "go", throw and catch for 1 minute; count each catch aloud
- Then 1 minute with the off-hand
- Fair play
- A grown-up stands 1 m further back.
- Points
- 1 point for each catch with the strong hand; 2 points for each catch with the off-hand.
- Fouls
- No point for that catch
- Stepping past the mark
- A sidearm throw instead of overhand
- Catching with the hand
- Winning
- Beat your best total.
- 20 points for 1 star
- 35 points for 2 stars
- 50 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Closer.
Further, off-hand.
What you will see, and what to say
- the catch pops out
Give with the ball
Let the stick move back. - the throw is sidearm
Overhand, over the shoulder
The stick head starts by the ear.
Self-check
10 catches in a row with the right hand and 10 with the left.
Stop and get a coach when
Shoulder pain.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains throwing, catching, off-hand.
awiseathlete.com/sports/lacrosse/lacrosse-b2