Lacrosse Practice Plans for Ages 5–6
Age-appropriate lacrosse practices for 5–6 year olds (U6) — built to keep every kid active and having fun. Stick skills for everyone, from the first practice.
At 5 and 6, practice is really structured play. Attention spans are short — think 5-to-8-minute activities, constant movement, and zero standing in line. Every kid needs their own ball (or their own turn) because sharing and waiting is where you lose them. Skip the tactics entirely; the win is that they had fun, touched the ball a hundred times, and want to come back next week.
What a great 5–6 practice looks like
What to work on in lacrosse
The first skill — every kid, every practice, until it's second nature.
Partner reps and wall-ball-style work so no one stands and watches.
Scooping under pressure, taught as competitive races and games.
3v3 and 4v4 build stick skills and decisions with the ball moving fast.
Gear: Sticks, plenty of balls, cones, goals, and required protective gear.
A sample 5–6 lacrosse practice plan
Here's a real 45-minute plan Coach Coach generated for a 5–6 lacrosse team. Yours is customized to your kids and ready in under 30 seconds.
🏆 Lacrosse Practice — Ages 5-6 — 45 min
⏱️ Warmup (10 min)
- Sharks and Minnows with Sticks — Set up a small rectangle with cones. Choose 2 "sharks" and the rest are "minnows" with sticks and balls. Minnows try to cradle their ball and get from one side to the other without getting tagged by a shark. If tagged, they become sharks. Keep it light and fun — lots of giggles!
🎯 Skill Work (20 min)
-
Cradle Relay Races (10 min) — Line up two teams. Set a cone about 10 yards away. Kids cradle their ball to the cone and back, then hand off to the next teammate. Key cue: "Keep the ball in your stick like it's an egg!" Success is everyone having fun and getting the hang of cradling.
-
Scoop and Shoot (10 min) — Scatter balls around a small area. Kids practice scooping up a ground ball and then shooting on a small goal or target. Key cue: "Get low and scoop like a vacuum!" Success is kids picking up balls and taking shots with smiles.
🏃 Game Time (10 min)
- 3v3 Mini Games — Set up two small fields with cones and play 3v3 games. Keep teams rotating so everyone gets in. No goalies needed — just focus on passing and trying to score. Encourage sharing the ball and cheering for each other.
🧊 Wrap Up (5 min)
- Stick Tricks Challenge — Show a simple trick like spinning the stick in their hands. Let them try and make up their own tricks. Ask: "What's one fun thing you learned today?" Finish with big high-fives all around!
🎒 What to Bring
- 10 cones · 10 lacrosse sticks · 10 balls · 2 small goals or targets
- Set up two 3v3 fields side by side using cones for boundaries
📋 Coach's Cheat Sheet
- "Keep the ball in your stick like it's an egg!"
- "Get low and scoop like a vacuum!"
- Common Mistake: Kids holding the stick too tight. Encourage a relaxed grip for better control.
- Praise: Loudly cheer when a kid makes their first successful scoop or pass!
✅ Coach Coach Check
- Every kid gets touches in every drill
- No standing in long lines
- At least one small-sided game
- Age-appropriate intensity and loads of fun!
Coach your best practice tonight
Tell Coach Coach your sport, age group, and what to work on. Get a complete, age-appropriate lacrosse practice in under 30 seconds — free.
Build your lacrosse planLacrosse practice questions
What should a lacrosse practice for 5–6 year olds look like?
At 5 and 6, practice is really structured play. Attention spans are short — think 5-to-8-minute activities, constant movement, and zero standing in line. Every kid needs their own ball (or their own turn) because sharing and waiting is where you lose them. Skip the tactics entirely; the win is that they had fun, touched the ball a hundred times, and want to come back next week.
How do beginners build lacrosse stick skills fast?
Constant reps. Partner passing and lots of catching every practice — plus wall ball at home — builds hands faster than anything else. Keep everyone with a stick and a ball moving.
What should a first lacrosse practice cover?
Cradling and carrying the ball, then simple catching and throwing. Make it playful and rep-heavy; footwork and team concepts come later.
How long should youth lacrosse practice be?
60–75 minutes. Keep drills short and finish with small-sided games so the skills show up in a game context.