Lesson 1-1
Running/Cradling
Lesson Goals and Objectives:
•To give athletes a chance to get comfortable holding and running with a lacrosse stick.
•To begin to develop athletes’ cradling skills.
Summary of Lesson Skills:
Running/pursuit, handling the stick, cradling.
A Blob Tag
Activity Type
Warm-Up
Time
5 min
Skills
Running, dodging, agility, co-operation
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mark out boundaries of playing area. One player is the chaser (beginning Blob) and the rest spread out around the
playing area.
On “Go”, the Blob chases the others and tries to tag them.
Tagged players join hands with the Blob.
When Blob becomes 3, only the outside players can tag.
When Blob becomes 4, it splits to make 2 Mini-Blobs.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Chaser
Blob
Mini-Blobs
Other players
Other players
Other players
4
Lesson 1-1
Running/Cradling
B Warm-up Relay
Activity Type
Warm-up
Time
8 min
Skills
Skipping, running
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Line the athletes up in teams of even numbers at one end of the playing surface (min. 4/team).
Each exercise is done 3 times (each athlete goes down and back 3 times).
Exercise #1: Walk to the end of the area and back (stress-free, swinging arms).
Exercise #2: Marching, first with low knee lift then with high knee lift.
Exercise #3: Skipping.
Exercise #4: Running on the spot for 10 seconds, then sprinting to the end and back.
Exercise #5: Butt Kicks.
Exercise #6: Sprinting.
5
Lesson 1-1
Running/Cradling
C Relay Race with Sticks
Activity Type
Game
Time
8 min
Skills
Running
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
Progression
Divide the athletes into evenly numbered groups (max. 4/team).
Place a cone at one end for the athletes to line up behind and a cone at the other end of the playing surface for them
to run around.
1st athlete runs down to the end around the cone and back.
Next athlete goes when first athlete tags them. Repeat until all athletes have had a turn.
When the athletes run around the cone, they must keep their stick in the hand furthest away from the cone. Encourage
athletes to try it both ways.
6
Lesson 1-1
Running/Cradling
d Learning how to Cradle
Activity Type
Skill Development
Time
8 min
Skills
Cradling
Description
1.
2.
3.
Have all athletes face you with their stick up and a ball on the ground in front of them.
Demonstrate the cradling motion without a ball. Have athletes follow along and mimic your actions. Have the athletes
cradle with the left and then the right hand on top.
Repeat the cradling motion with a ball. Have athletes follow along and mimic your actions. Once they are comfortable
standing and cradling, have them try walking and cradling.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Athletes
Athletes
Teacher
Teacher
7
Lesson 1-1
Running/Cradling
e Cradling Mr. Wolf
Activity Type
Game
Time
8 min
Skills
Cradling, running
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Athletes line up at one end of the playing surface with their stick and ball.
One athlete is Mr. Wolf.
Athletes call out “What time is it Mr. Wolf?”
Mr. Wolf calls out a time, i.e. 7 o’clock and athletes have to walk 7 steps while cradling the ball.
When Mr. Wolf calls lunch time the athletes try to get to the other end without dropping their ball
or being tagged by Mr. Wolf.
Athletes that drop the ball or get tagged join Mr. Wolf in his wolf pack.
7 o’clock
Mr. Wolf
Lunchtime!!
Athletes
8