5 Box Lacrosse Faceoff Drills: From Whistle to First Pass

You move the ball first, but an opponent scoops it. Or you collect it cleanly, then throw into a covered lane. For this box lacrosse progression, count a successful faceoff as more than the first stick movement: finish with controlled possession and a usable first pass.

These five drills build from an unopposed start to a small-sided team contest. The emphasis is on moving the ball, following it with your feet and giving the winner somewhere safe to pass—not prolonged clamp battles.

Set the rules before the reps

Use your competition’s faceoff code. Under the World Lacrosse 2026–2028 box rules, the two faceoff players must remain motionless after “set” until the whistle, and the ball must come out of the small dotted circle around the faceoff spot. Trapping, clamping or holding a stick still with the intent to withhold play is illegal; an over-clamp—clamping on top of an opponent’s clamp—is also a violation. Supporting players start in the offensive or defensive zones and are released on the whistle, not a possession call. They may move behind their zone line before the whistle, without contacting an opponent. National governing bodies may adapt these rules or use different implementation timelines. World Lacrosse rules, sections 6.2–6.3 and “About This Book”

Have a coach check stance, hand placement and stick spacing before starting. For the full setup, see our box lacrosse faceoff rules guide.

Equipment: sticks, balls, flat markers, a whistle and your program’s required protective equipment. Use a clear, dry area away from boards. Allow stick-to-stick competition for the ball during paired draws, but no deliberate body checks or other stick checks. Paired draws still need supervision because sticks and players work close together.

1. Set–whistle–move

Setup: One player takes a legal faceoff stance over a ball. A coach or partner stands clear and gives the commands.

Action: After “set,” vary the pause before the whistle. On the whistle, the player sweeps the ball along the floor into open space, then follows and scoops it. Reset completely between attempts. Start slowly enough that the coach can see each part of the movement.

Cue: “Still at set; move at the whistle.” Avoid rocking forward or tightening the stance just before the signal.

Checkpoint: Record legal starts separately from clean pickups. If the player repeatedly moves early, return to timing-only reps before adding speed.

Dose: Two sets of five starts, with a short standing break between sets.

2. Directional exit and pickup

An exit is the direction you send the ball away from the faceoff spot.

Setup: Place two wide marker gates about two metres from the ball, in different open directions the player can reach with a controlled sweep. Leave a clear running lane beyond each gate.

Action: Name the target gate before “set.” On the whistle, sweep the ball toward that gate, follow it and scoop through it. Alternate directions rather than repeating only the comfortable exit.

Cue: Move the ball far enough to collect, but not so far that it becomes a chase. For the pickup, bend the knees, lower the stick’s butt end and move through the ball; then bring the stick close to the body. Those pickup cues follow the Ontario Lacrosse entry-level coaching manual.

Checkpoint: Can the player direct and collect the ball without stopping over it or needing several scoop attempts?

Dose: Five exits toward each gate.

3. Paired draw to controlled possession

Setup: Two players of similar size and skill face off. The coach checks both stances and officiates each repetition.

Action: Begin with one player actively sweeping while the other offers light stick resistance, without pinning the ball or the opponent’s stick. Swap roles, then progress to both contesting the draw. Continue until someone controls the ball and moves clear, or the coach stops an unsafe or stalled contest.

Cue: “Ball out, feet follow.” If you lose the initial movement, turn toward the loose ball instead of continuing to wrestle at the empty spot.

Checkpoint: Track three things: legal starts, first ball movement and controlled pickups. First movement without recovery is not a completed rep.

Dose: Six to eight paired draws, with enough reset time to correct one fault at a time.

4. Support-player release: two-on-two

Setup: Each team has a faceoff player and one supporting runner. Use the actual zone lines and release rule for your competition; do not put runners beside the ball to shorten the drill.

Action: On the whistle, the faceoff players contest the ball and the runners enter. Whoever reaches the loose ball collects it. Their teammate moves into a visible passing lane rather than arriving at the same scoop point. Opponents may intercept passes, but do not check.

Cue: Call “ball” if you are collecting; call “help” if you are offering a pass. Make the roles clear without both teammates chasing the same task.

Checkpoint: Stop after the first completed pass. Did the support player release legally, read the exit and offer a reachable target?

Dose: Six draws, rotating all four players through both roles.

5. Three-on-three draw to two passes

Setup: Each team has one faceoff player and two supporting runners behind the appropriate zone lines. No goalies or shooting are needed.

Action: Play from the whistle until a team completes two consecutive passes, the ball leaves the practice area or the coach stops play. A turnover changes which team is trying to complete the passes. Keep the drill interception-only after the draw. Reset and rotate the faceoff players between repetitions.

Cue: The two off-ball teammates should offer different lanes—not stand together where one defender can cover both. The ball carrier should look up once control is secure, rather than forcing a pass while still scooping.

Checkpoint: Award a practice point for two completed passes. Separately note early movement, failed pickups and forced first passes so the score does not hide the problem.

A 20-minute faceoff block

After your normal warm-up, allow 3 minutes for drill 1, 4 each for drills 2–4, and 5 for drill 5, including resets. Treat the rep counts as targets, not a reason to rush.

If pickups are breaking down, spend more time on drill 2. If the draw is clean but possession disappears on the outlet, return to drill 4 and work on the first pass. Choose the next practice focus from where the possession actually failed.