Lacrosse Practice Plans for Ages 7–8
Age-appropriate lacrosse practices for 7–8 year olds (U8) — built to keep every kid active and having fun. Stick skills for everyone, from the first practice.
Seven and eight year olds can start to handle a real skill or two per practice, but fun still comes first. Keep drills short and disguised as games, give constant reps, and use small-sided play (like 3v3) so nobody's stuck watching. They're starting to grasp simple rules — introduce one idea at a time and repeat it, don't lecture.
What a great 7–8 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 7–8 lacrosse practice plan
Here's a real 45-minute plan Coach Coach generated for a 7–8 lacrosse team. Yours is customized to your kids and ready in under 30 seconds.
🏆 Lacrosse Practice — Ages 7-8 — 45 min
⏱️ Warmup (10 min)
- Lacrosse Tag — Mark a small area with cones. All kids have their sticks but no balls. One or two kids are "it" and try to tag others with their hands. Once tagged, kids switch roles. This keeps everyone moving and gets them used to holding the stick.
🎯 Skill Work (20 min)
- Ground Ball Relay — Set up two lines of 5 kids each with a cone about 10 yards away. On "go," the first kid in each line runs to the cone, scoops a ground ball, and runs back to pass it to the next. Key coaching cue: "Get low and scoop through the ball." Success is kids improving their scooping technique.
- Cradle Run — In the same lines, kids practice cradling as they run to the cone and back. Use a ball for each kid. Key coaching cue: "Keep the ball in the net when you run." Success is kids keeping the ball in their stick as they move.
🏃 Game Time (10 min)
- 3v3 Mini Game — Use a smaller area, set up two goals with cones or pop-up goals. Play 3v3, no goalies. Rotate players every few minutes. Focus on passing and moving with the ball. Encourage teamwork and having fun.
🧊 Wrap Up (5 min)
- Stick Trick Challenge — Ask the kids to try and do a simple stick trick, like flipping the ball up and catching it. End with a quick team cheer and ask, "What was your favorite part of today?" High-fives all around!
🎒 What to Bring
- 6 cones · 10 lacrosse sticks · 10 balls · 2 pop-up goals or 4 cones for goals
- Set up a small rectangular area with cones for tag and mini-games.
📋 Coach's Cheat Sheet
- "Get low and scoop through the ball."
- "Keep the ball in the net when you run."
- Common mistake: Kids holding the stick too upright while running. Gently remind them to angle it slightly forward.
- Praise loudly when a kid successfully scoops or cradles the ball for the first time.
✅ 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 fun
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Build your lacrosse planLacrosse practice questions
What should a lacrosse practice for 7–8 year olds look like?
Seven and eight year olds can start to handle a real skill or two per practice, but fun still comes first. Keep drills short and disguised as games, give constant reps, and use small-sided play (like 3v3) so nobody's stuck watching. They're starting to grasp simple rules — introduce one idea at a time and repeat it, don't lecture.
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.