Wall Ball: Just Do It!

Lacrosse games are won or lost with ball and stick skills.  Period.

Everyone on the team must be able to quickly pick up the ball and reliably move the ball up the field and around the goal without dropping it or missing a pass.  While working with teammates during team practices builds ball and stick skills, team practice is not enough. To get to a competitive level, you need to practice on your own in between team practices.  Sometimes you can practice catching and throwing with a friend, but many times, when you are by yourself, you will have to turn to a tried and true technique: Wall Ball!

However, as effective as wall ball is at building your ball and stick skills it has a significant downside: it can get downright boring. :(  My high school coach recommended that we get in 100,000 bounces (or “touches”) on the wall during the off season.  How do you throw the ball against a wall 100,000 times over four months without giving up or going crazy?

1)Well, first try to bring music with you when you practice.  That by itself helps the time go by faster. And, it keeps your energy flowing.

2) Second, make challenges for yourself. See how fast you can do fifty right and left handed touches. Count how many times you throw and catch without a miss. Set personal records and constantly try to break them.

3)Third, unless all you have is one wall, there is no rule that says you have to stand in front of the same old wall to do your drills! Find a high school or college campus with multiple buildings with lots of walls and work your way around the building or campus.  These 11 year-old boys  have the right idea to turn a practice session into an adventure!

When you toss the ball, start with the basics. Throw right - catch right, throw left - catch left, throw right - catch left, and throw left - catch right. Once you have those down, why not mix it up more?  Flip the ball behind your back right - catch right and do the same with your left.  Move around and work around the wall.  Try throwing and catching with one hand.  You can even try throwing lefty with your right hand and righty with your left hand.  That's called a backhand "Canadian" pass. Build your personal throw-catch streak record.  Keep the music pumping, and you'll have 1000 touches in every time you play wall ball!