For most of the kindergarten and 1st grade students it was the first time they had ever held a lacrosse stick so making sure they had the correct grip was the first step. Students then worked on scooping balls off the ground while stationary. Getting the back end of the stick low and bending the knees were key cues to learning this skill. We then used self toss activities to get the feel of catching the ball in the pocket of the net.
2nd grade students revisited how to hold the stick properly and the scooping cues mentioned above. They practiced self-catching in personal space with the stick out in front of the body. For the students who picked this up quickly they practiced catching a self-tossed ball above the shoulder on the stick side. Throwing into open space initiated the throwing skills and was followed by low bouncing shots and high shots. The release point of the ball is marked by the sudden stop of the forward movement of the stick. Out in front will create a bounce throw (low shot) and stopping behind the head will send the ball through the air.
3rd graders reviewed grip, scooping, and throwing. They were introduced to catching a bouncing ball from a partner and a ball passed in the air. They practiced shooting at a target as well.
4th grade students worked on 1v1 scooping challenges, passing to each other low, high, and to an over the shoulder target.
