Duke Lacrosse Practice 1V1’s
Variations and Critical Elements

In the most recent podcast with Coach Danowski from Duke Men’s Lacrosse there were a number of elements that really surprised me, as well as his lacrosse practice plan elements that have remained steadfast pillars in a Coach Danowski Practice Plan.

1. All lacrosse drills emulate game scenarios
2. All lacrosse drill are quick reps w a ton of touches (no longer than 10 min/drill)
3. Lacrosse drills are varied every day, even on 1V1’s to keep lacrosse practice interesting and fun for the coaches and the players
4. Amazing attention to detail

I can’t think of a better example of how all these inherent practice elements are included than how they directly pertain to how Duke Lacrosse works on the fundamentals and develop offensive and defensive skill sets in something as basic but critically important as 1V1 play.

The variations and key elements listed below would be included in the daily work on 1V1’s, but on different days during the week to keep it interesting for the players… Please make sure and read to the end of this article, as the final section on “The Detail” is critical and a huge part of this scheme at Duke. Remember, after you read the article you can simply “Click Here” and listen to Coach Danowski describe all this in his own words in the Preview Sample for all Free Members of my site, just log in, [private]

1V1 – No Entry Pass

This just a straight basic 1V1 drill from various locations on the field, but locations that are inherently in your planned offense, or to the strengths of your individual offensive players.

They might be from X, or from the wing, the top to the alleys or anywhere Duke might initiate a drive to the cage. Or remember this is also a great opportunity to work on “Invert” scenarios both offensively and defensively.

1V1 – One Entry Pass

In this variation, there is an entry pass to make the 1V1 a little more game-like. For example, we might begin with a pass from the wing to X, and we go – 1V1 dodging right away or it might be the wing to up top, or an exchange pass and we go right away. Again remember your “Invert” looks.

The Attack or offensive player will catch the pass and dodge, or catch and dodge opposite, practicing reading their defender. See the critical elements towards the end of this article.

The Defense needs to adjust accordingly, and approach fundamentally sound, they are working on “angles” (a word we here a lot on defensive fundamentals,) and aware of passing lanes etc.

1V1 – Two or Three Entry Passes

This is awesome. Now we are working within the parameters of our offense. It might a specific element of a play we run. It might be a great opportunity to work on scenarios if we are facing athletic teams that like to pressure out. It is a great opportunity to work on cutting or breaking in and out in order to be free to throw or receive a pass.

Defensively, we are adjusting again to the passing lane, working on approach with angles, or even pressuring the dodger aggressively.

1V1 – Add One (or two)

In this example we again initiate the 1V1 drill in any one of the three scenarios listed above, but … we now add a defender in the crease (if we want to emulate a crease slide) and perhaps an offensive player in the crease as well.

In this case we drive from X, topside, or even wing with a quick slide from the crease. It is an awesome example of “parts of the whole,” in that we can defensively work on the slide angle and just as importantly the quick recovery of the defender back inside.

The focus is for the dodger to keep his head up, and make a quick feed inside.

This is also a great opportunity if we are going to play a team that slides “Coma” or even an “Adjacent” slide (this is key as most lacrosse coaches do not see a ton of adjacent slide configuration teams.) Again, the focus is on slide and recovery as well as offensive ball movement and offensively moving into the appropriate slot to receive the pass. This will really help your team if you have offensive players that stand still when their defender slides…

The Detail!

I loved Coach Danowski’s detail analysis (a former Attackman) of reading the defender and getting to the “Island.” First the “island is the target area, 5 yards up from GLE, and five yards from the pipe. Coach points out that many players want to keep driving topside from X, and once they pass the “Island” they are doomed as they continue into the teeth of all the other defenders. Understanding this critical location is very important.

Once they reach the “Island” now they read their defender and react accordingly. This is the critical detail. Inherent in these 1V1 looks we are practicing the detail-oriented elements.

Once the player drives from X to the Island…

1. Defender commits to have his stick and pressure “over the top” to the high side – Attack now working on inside roll,

2. Defender commits to have his stick and pressure on the back side, – Attack now working on the rocker step or bounce,

3. Defender playing great solid defense – Attack now ‘throw his stick’ to the outside, step away, and shoot…

The attention to all this detail was amazing to me, in the words of Coach Danowski, “You get really good at what you practice,”

Please leave your comments below, or email me at mike@laxcoachmike.com

To read another awesome article from my previous Coach Danowski podcast, Seven Ways to Score!, Just Click Here

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