Lacrosse is a rough and fast moving game that is played with sticks that have a small net attached to the end and a hard, rubber ball. Lacrosse is taken from a Native Canadian game baggataway. Baggataway was the most popular sport in Canada before ice hockey came to prominence. Lacrosse continues to grow in popularity and has its own professional league in the United States and Canada. Teaching kids to play lacrosse can be a fun way to stay active and continue the popularity of the sport.
Step 1
Gain a wide base of knowledge about the game of lacrosse, its rules, history and customs. Teaching children who are full of questions is easier if you know the answers to most of them.
Step 2
Explain the rules and the basic premise of the game. Use diagrams to show how each team is trying to score a goal on the opposition's net.
Step 3
Run through the different positions of attackmen, midfielders, defense and goalies. Explain that attackmen are mostly concerned with offense, defensemen with defense, midfielders a bit of both and goalies must stop the ball from going into the net.
Step 4
Practice the basics of passing, shooting, catching, scooping and cradling. Cradling refers to rotating your wrists quickly back and forth while you run with the ball so it stays in the netting.
Step 5
Introduce checking slowly as the kids become comfortable with the basic movements. First teach checking to the stick, then to the body.
Step 6
Emphasize effort and practice. Encourage each player every step of the way. Keep all parents informed of what you have planned for practices and your goals for the kids.
