School, university and even club lacrosse teams hold tryouts each year to find new talent. Although precise plans vary from coach to coach, lacrosse tryouts tend to include a few basic elements, with coaches often dividing players into stations to evaluate individual abilities. Players then rotate stations after about 10 minutes, getting a chance to demonstrate their full range of skills.
Warm-Up Period
Before getting into any drills and stations, you can expect a brief warm-up period. Coaches usually run players through some light cardio and stretching to loosen tight muscles and get the heart pumping. You often will pair up with another player and spend a few minutes tossing a ball around just to get your body ready for what's to come.
Shooting
Most lacrosse tryouts feature some sort of shooting station, in which players get a chance to take a series of shots on net. You'll usually be asked to fire high shots and low shots and to release shots with either hand. Coaches keep shooting drills at a quick pace and evaluate players for accuracy, power, quickness and general stick control. Some coaches may not bother inviting long-pole defenders to take part, instead focusing on attackers, midfielders and short-stick defenders.
Three on Two
To get a feel for how players move the ball, coaches may organize a three-on-two station, pitting three offensive players against two defenders. Both long-pole and short-stick defenders take part, with each also rotating to the offensive side of the ball, as well. At this station, coaches want to see how well defenders slide and read the offensive play, while the offensive players must move the ball quickly and find the open man.
Four on Four
Evening the numbers to four offensive players against four defensive players increases the competitiveness yet still provides plenty of space for players to show what they can do. Attackers will want to move the ball around and also drive the net when the opportunity presents itself. Coaches may even implement certain variations, such as limiting the number of passes before a player must drive the goal.
Scrimmage
Many lacrosse tryouts end with a full-field scrimmage. As a player, this is your final opportunity to impress the coaches and talent evaluators. You want to make certain you leave everything on the field. Work as hard as you can and pay attention to proper technique and your defensive responsibilities. And if you're a scorer, don't be hesitant to go for it and make a big play.
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