Coaching 12 to 14 Year Olds

From US Lacrosse: Lacrosse Athlete Development Model

Coaching 12-14 Year Old Athletes

KEY OBJECTIVES FOR SUCCESS

• Focus-Where we spend most of our time: Technical and Tactical Refinement
• Goals for this stage of development -What we are trying to achieve: To combine technical skills with tactical understanding to develop as a well-rounded lacrosse player, while also improving physically and psychologically in preparation for more competitive settings.
• Player-centered environment-what it should look like: Fun, accepting, meaningful, safe and positive. Rewards improvement and effort, develops healthy peer relationships. Appeals to players sense of need to belong yet also develop a positive personal identity through team dynamics. Recognizes individual strengths and potential. Growth mindset. Mastery environment is evident.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

• Athletic Development: Agility, footwork, dynamic balance, core strength, lower extremity strength (for injury prevention), endurance (at growth spurt), speed, and flexibility.
• Technical (Skills) Development: Consistently demonstrates and can execute fundamental skills under pressure. Developing stick checking and body checking ability as allowable within the rules. Developing proficiency of position-specific skills.
• Tactical (Strategy) Development: Exploring extra-player defense and offense, Mastering numbers situations and tactical play up to 7v7. Developing transition, riding and clearing skills for transition to full-sided play. Developing awareness and anticipation.
• Psychological Development - working to support athlete development in these areas: Autonomy, choosing ones activities, setting more complex and long-term goals, seeing long-term benefits to hard work, developing good peer relationships and teamwork, self-motivation. Respect for the game, teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and self.
• Social-Behavioral Development--know that at this age they are: Time of rapid change physically, very aware of body and differences in maturity. Self-identity is being formed. Participation in sport is largely dependent upon friends. Can understand the full scope of rules of the game and the consequences of one's actions.

PRACTICE

• Practice to Competition & Competition Specific Training Ratio: 60:40
• Primary Objective of Practice: To refine technical skills and develop tactical proficiency. Practices include regular competitive situations in progressions. Include competitive games that reinforce understanding, and high-repetition game-like drills. Include free play.
• Max Recommended Ratio (player:coach): 15:1
• Length of Session: 90 minutes
• Frequency: Up to 3x a week during an 8-14 week season Multi-Sport Participation-Sport and physical activity diversification-Other sports and activities: Athlete may decide to start focusing more on 1-2 key sports. If lacrosse rises to the top in motivation and desire, suggest picking another sport that is complimentary during another season. Such as field hockey, soccer, ice hockey, football, basketball etc.