Build Box Lacrosse Stick Handling With Three Simple Drills

You receive a pass, a defender closes, and your next passing lane is already opening. Good stick handling means securing the ball without taking so long to settle it that the lane disappears.

Cradling—the wrist-and-arm movement that keeps the ball in the pocket—is only part of the skill. In box lacrosse, practise connecting that control to movement, stick protection and a ready pass. The aim is not a bigger or faster cradle. It is a ball you can carry securely and release when you choose.

Start with a relaxed, two-handed cradle

For a beginner, use these cues:

• Top hand near the throat: the throat is where the stick head meets the shaft. This hand controls the rocking movement.
• Bottom hand near the butt end: keep it loose enough for the shaft to rotate rather than locking both hands rigidly.
• Wrists working with the arms: gently flex and extend the top wrist as the arm moves. Do not simply swing a stiff stick backward and forward.
• Head of the stick near shoulder height: avoid letting it trail low behind you.

These fundamentals follow the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s 2024 entry-level box coaching manual, which identifies wrist tension and arm movement without wrist flexion as common cradling faults.

Start slowly enough to feel the ball staying in the pocket. Then walk. Use only as much cradle as you need to retain control; an exaggerated swing is not the target.

Checkpoint: you can walk, stop and restart without dropping the ball or staring continuously into the pocket.

Protect the stick without losing your next play

When a defender approaches, move your feet and turn your body so the stick is on the side farther from them. Keep it close enough to protect, but not pinned against your chest where you cannot pass.

After a scoop, bring the stick back up rather than continuing to run with it near the floor. After a catch, cushion the ball by letting the head give back toward your ready position. The OLA manual teaches both returning a scooped ball to a protected position and cushioning a catch; it also flags twirling the stick instead of cushioning as a catching fault.

Do not add a cradle automatically after every catch. If you have controlled the ball and a clear passing lane is available, pass. If you need to carry, protect it while looking for the next option.

For field players entering box, make this the practice priority: receive, protect, look, release, rather than carrying for the sake of carrying.

Three drills to connect control and decisions

Use these as a short skill block after warming up. Wear your program’s required protective equipment, clear loose balls from the working area and keep the partner drill non-contact. OLA’s practice-safety guidance stresses a clear, dry floor and checking the contact rules that apply to your league.

1. Cradle, walk, stop

Setup: one stick, one ball and a clear lane about five metres long.

Action: cradle while standing, then walk the lane. Stop at the end, hold a balanced position and turn before returning. Build toward a light jog only when walking is controlled. Try the same sequence with the other hand on top at a slower pace.

Checkpoint: the ball stays secure through the stop and turn, and the bottom hand still allows the shaft to rotate. If the ball jumps out, slow down and check for stiff wrists before adding speed.

2. Carry around a figure eight

Setup: place two cones roughly three metres apart, away from boards and other players.

Action: walk a figure eight around them. At each turn, bend your knees and change direction with your feet instead of reaching the stick far outside your body. Keep looking along your route. Progress to a controlled jog.

Checkpoint: the stick remains under control during both turns—not just on the straight sections. Keep it close through the turn rather than swinging it wide.

3. Catch, shield, outlet

Setup: use a passer, a receiver and a shadow defender in a clear area. The defender carries no stick and makes no contact.

Action: the passer feeds the receiver, then moves to offer a return target. The shadow defender walks toward one shoulder, stopping short of the receiver without reaching for the ball or stick. The receiver cushions the catch, takes a step to put their body between the defender and stick, and returns the pass through a clear lane. Rotate roles after five attempts.

Checkpoint: the receiver can see the return target and pass without first making a large, unnecessary cradle. If control breaks down, remove the defender and rebuild the catch with these box lacrosse catching drills.

Fix the error you can see

What happens	What to try next
The ball falls out as you start moving	Walk more slowly; loosen the bottom hand and coordinate wrist movement with your stride.
The stick swings far from your body	Reduce the arm swing and turn with your feet.
You keep looking down	Reduce the movement challenge until you can look ahead while retaining the ball.
You control the ball but miss the outlet	Make the next repetition a catch-and-pass task, not a longer carry.

Once those links are reliable, work on passing the ball in box lacrosse. Secure possession is useful when it leaves you ready for the next play.