5 Box Lacrosse Shooting Drills: From Targets to Live Reads

A clean shot from a stationary start is only the beginning. In box lacrosse, practise connecting the shot to a catch, a cut or a decision—not just winding up harder.

These five lacrosse shooting drills progress from controlled placement to a live passing-or-shooting read. The distances, rep counts and scoring systems below are suggested practice settings; adjust them to the players’ ability. For a fuller explanation of grip and release mechanics, use our box shooting technique guide.

Set up a safe shooting area

Use an approved shooting area with a secure goal and backstop, balls, cones and the protective equipment required by your program. The first four drills can use an empty net; the fifth works best with a properly equipped box goalie.

Keep waiting players and feeders outside the shooting lane. Send one shot at a time, wait until the goalie is ready, and collect balls only when shooting stops. Check for wet spots, close arena doors and clear loose balls from running routes—hazards identified in Ontario Lacrosse’s 2024 entry-level coaching manual. All defensive pressure in this progression is non-contact, with equipped defenders under coach supervision. Do not shoot at or through a defender.

Start close enough to reach the goal with a balanced motion. Facing the goal, right-handed shooters can begin on the left side and left-handed shooters on the right, keeping the stick toward the middle.

1. Called-target shooting

Setup: Mark two target areas on an empty net with securely attached, purpose-made soft shooting targets. Start roughly 4–6 metres from the goal, farther back if necessary to stay clear of the crease.

Action: Call a target before each shot. Take five controlled overhand shots at each area, resetting your feet between attempts. Start side-on, step toward the target and rotate through the shot rather than generating all the force with your arms. Ontario Lacrosse’s shooting guidance emphasizes using the legs and trunk, transferring weight forward and keeping the hands soft for accuracy.

Checkpoint: Record target hits out of ten. Also watch whether you finish balanced; a hit while falling sideways is not a repeatable rep.

Progression: Move one step farther back only when placement and balance remain consistent. With a goalie, remove the targets and choose an available opening instead.

2. Catch-to-shot release

Setup: Put a feeder beside the shooting lane and a shooter at a comfortable distance outside the crease. The feeder must remain clear of the backswing and follow-through.

Action: Present the stick as a passing target. Catch, cushion the ball and shoot without an unnecessary cradle or stick twirl. Begin stationary, then receive while taking one step into the shot. Do ten feeds, then switch roles.

The catch should flow into the release, not become a rushed jab. Ontario Lacrosse teaches cushioning the catch rather than twirling the stick.

Checkpoint: Count clean catches that lead directly to an on-net shot. If the ball rattles out or you need to rebuild your stance every time, slow the feed before speeding up the release.

Progression: Vary the feed slightly within a catchable range. A poor feed should be controlled and reset—not forced into a shot.

3. Give-and-go finish

Setup: Place a shooter high on one side and a feeder lower on the opposite side, safely outside the shot path. Mark a receiving spot outside the crease.

Action: Pass to the feeder, take a short step away, then cut into a clear return-pass lane. Catch near the marked spot and finish. Alternate sides after five attempts. This adapts the pass, cut and return-pass finish in the Canadian Lacrosse Association’s give-and-go drill cards.

Checkpoint: Does the return pass arrive ahead of the cutter, allowing a catch in stride? If the shooter has to stop or reach behind, fix the feed timing before judging the shot.

Progression: Remove the receiving cone. The cutter and feeder must now coordinate the catch without a fixed landmark.

4. Carry, cut and shoot on the move

Setup: Mark a starting point on one side and a turning cone farther from the goal than the crease. Leave room to cut toward the middle without entering the crease or another player’s lane.

Action: Carry toward the cone, cut inward and shoot while moving under control. Continue into a clear exit lane after the release. Alternate sides, with only one shooter active. This is a simplified version of Ontario Lacrosse’s snake shooting drill, which connects a carry down the side to a middle cut and running shot.

Checkpoint: Watch for a balanced release without a full stop or drifting into the crease. With a goalie, notice how the visible opening changes as you move; do not keep aiming at a preselected corner regardless of their position.

Progression: Add a shadow defender who follows without checking and stays clear of the release. Shorten the carry if pressure makes the shooter lose control.

5. Two-on-one shooting decision

Setup: Use two attackers, one defender and a goalie. Start the attackers high, several metres apart, with the defender between them and the goal. Mark a stopping line outside the crease.

Action: Attack at controlled speed. The defender may move and intercept passes but cannot check. The ball carrier shoots when a clear lane and goalie opening are available or passes when the defender commits and leaves the teammate open. If neither option is safe, retain the ball and reset. End each rep after one shot, interception, lost ball or reset; rotate roles every three reps.

This adds a non-contact defender to the passing-and-finishing rush used in the CLA’s two-on-one preparation drill.

Checkpoint: Score the decision separately from the finish: one point for using a clear shooting lane and opening, finding the open teammate or resetting when both options are covered; one for an on-net shot. A forced shot into a covered lane should not count as a good decision just because it was hard.

Progression: Let the defender vary which attacker they approach. Avoid scripting the same final pass every rep.

Run it as a 30-minute shooting block

• 5 minutes: Movement warm-up, easy passing and controlled shots. Warm the goalie before adding pressure; extend this phase if they are not ready.
• 20 minutes: Four minutes per drill, including rotations and brief feedback.
• 5 minutes: Repeat the drill with the weakest checkpoint, then stop shooting and collect balls.

For beginners, spend the decision-drill time repeating catches and give-and-goes instead. Track one useful measure per drill—target hits, clean catch-to-shot reps, catches in stride, balanced moving shots or sound decisions—so the next session has a specific starting point.