Team DefenseTransition

Riding Drill

Riding is the mirror image of clearing — applying coordinated pressure to force a turnover before the other team gets the ball across midfield — and it's a full team defensive unit skill, not just a job for one or two players.

Age RangeAges 11+
Duration15 minutes
Group Size6+ players
SportLacrosse

Equipment Needed

  • Balls
  • Cones to mark lanes

Setup

  • Attack (riders) line up near the midline; defense and goalie start with the ball in their own end simulating a clear.
  • Assign each rider a lane or a specific clearing defender to shadow.
Riding DrillDClearingRPressures ballRCuts lanepressureshade laneRiders shape to the ball carrier and the passing lanesControlled pressure forces the turnover, not a wild chase

Instructions

  1. As the defense clears the ball, riders apply pressure to the ball carrier first, forcing a quick or rushed decision.
  2. Off-ball riders shade toward the passing lanes rather than chasing the ball, cutting off the easy outlet.
  3. If the ball is forced into a sideline or trapped area, converge as a group to force the turnover.
  4. Reset after every clear attempt, whether the ride succeeds or the defense clears successfully, and rotate riders with clearers.
Coaching Points
  • The first rider should influence the ball carrier's direction (toward a sideline or a teammate) rather than just chasing it.
  • Riders without the direct pressure assignment must still move — a static rider gives the clear an easy outlet.
  • Communicate constantly about who has the ball carrier and who is covering which passing lane.
  • Riding is about controlled pressure, not wild chasing; a disciplined shape forces more turnovers than an aggressive scramble.

Variation

Practice riding down a player to simulate a man-down transition situation, or set a shot clock for the clearing team to add game-like urgency to both sides.