with Richard Carrington,
Tusculum University Head Men's Coach;
8.93 assists per game in 2007 (NCAA Division II leader);
Virginia Military Institute Assistant Coach in 2011-2012;
at VMI, Carrington's defense allowed the fewest goals in conference play since 2009
Richard Carrington understands the value of maximizing every minute of practice, and has replaced an antiquated static stretching period with a series of dynamic and competitive drills that help to develop proper technique along with effective situational recognition. In this video, he stresses the value of creating a competitive atmosphere in practice, one that will at once enrich the learning curve for players while also making practice more fun. You'll get a rich array of short, dynamic and highly engaging drills that integrate numerous players engaging in a variety of activities that shape essential skills.
Warm-Up and Scoring Drills
Coach Carrington opens with a series of keep away drills. By replacing traditional line drills with competitive and situational drills, he is able to teach and refine multiple teaching points at once. Furthermore, these drills are simple enough to serve as an effective warm-up for players.
Next, Carrington presents a series of scoring drills in which players work on the fundamentals of shooting after executing an effective situational recognition. These drills are predicated upon the "pass down/pick down" offensive philosophy, and offer players a high number of repetitions in a short time in which they not only practice their shooting, but also practice higher order offensive concepts.
Defense
While defensive approaches are featured in the Keep Away segment, Coach Carrington also features a series of drills designed to instruct and develop defensive approaches. He articulates the difference between soft and hard approaches, slide approaches, and skip approaches. As critical to defenders as passing and catching are to offensive players, this is another series of multi-layered drills that offer a variety of benefits.
Competitive Drills
Finally, Coach Carrington shares his favorite competitive drills: the 32 Challenge Drill and his 3x Drill. The 3x Drill is a fast paced, highly competitive drill that stresses effective decision-making for offensive players and skillful approaches for defensive players. It's fast, it's fun, and it effectively reinforces a number of offensive and defensive concepts. Players compete in teams of three, and all personnel play all positions so that defenders can cultivate stick skills for clearing, and offensive players are better prepared for defensive situations.
In total, this video features 16 drills, all of which integrate offensive and defensive players. In presenting the drills, Carrington emphasizes some key concepts repeatedly; for example, he discusses "release points" for shooting a number of times, while also stressing the benefits of "contactless pressure" for both his offensive and defensive personnel.
Coach Carrington shares excellent drills that allow players to sharpen their decision making abilities and field IQ while simultaneously warming up for practice and executing essential skill development. Experienced coaches know the importance of having a dynamic start to practice and the benefits of a competitive practice atmosphere. This video shares how to maximize every minute!
53 minutes. 2022.
LXD-05945B:
with Richard Carrington,
Tusculum University Head Men's Coach;
8.93 assists per game in 2007 (NCAA Division II leader);
Virginia Military Institute Assistant Coach in 2011-2012;
at VMI, Carrington's defense allowed the fewest goals in conference play since 2009
What's old is new in lacrosse, as the venerable two-man game has made a resurgence across all levels of the game. Whether it's through mirrors, on-ball picks, the big/little game or double inverts, the two-man game leads to higher percentage shots and more goals.
In this video, Tusculum University head coach Richard Carrington takes you through a series of drills that are designed to help your players understand the importance of spacing and how a properly-executed two-man game can lead to open looks. Coach Carrington presents four main drills, each with its own set of variations and modifications to suit your team's needs and goals. Through progressive series of 11 drills, Carrington demonstrates the various ways, in the two-man game, that players can create the necessary space, even when constrained to certain parts of the field, to create a 2-on-1 for an easy look at the goal
Phone Booth 2v2s
Before a two-man offense can be implemented in the half field, your players need to understand the importance of spacing and how to create it. With Phone Booth 2v2s, Coach Carrington demonstrates how, even in limited space, two offensive players can work together to make room for a pass, beat their defenders and go to the cage.
Push Pull
Next, Carrington introduces the Push Pull drill, which is actually a series of drills that build on the original concept. Again operating in limited space, this time only half of the offensive box, two players initiate with one of several two-man moves while the off-ball player or players find open space. Coach Carrington puts his players through four variations of this drill - 3v2 (same side), 3v2 (from X), 4v3 (off ball) and 4v3 (hedge and snap) - all designed to ultimately create a 2v1 for that high percentage look at the net.
Shake and Bake
In what is Coach Carrington's favorite drill of this series, the Shake and Bake and its various iterations take you one step closer to a complete two-man offense. A two-ball drill, each variation continues to build on the principles of the earlier drills, requiring off-ball players to find space in a limited area through two-man techniques. In the 32, three players work at least five yards above the goal, and after their reps concludes, the drill immediately toggles to the two offensive players behind the goal. Coach Carrington also introduces the 42 and the 44 variations, adding players to congest the space and create more game-like scenarios.
Coach Carrington presents easy to run drills that can be modified to suit your needs. This video will definitely help you build and successfully implement a two-man offense!
99 minutes. 2022.
LXD-05945C:
with Richard Carrington,
Tusculum University Head Men's Coach;
8.93 assists per game in 2007 (NCAA Division II leader);
Virginia Military Institute Assistant Coach in 2011-2022;
at VMI, Carrington's defense allowed the fewest goals in conference play since 2009
Inspired by the pack line defense run by the University of Virginia men's basketball team, the pipeline defense takes those same principles of packed-in, support-heavy team defense from the hardwood to the lacrosse field.
In this video, Tusculum University's Richard Carrington takes you through a series of drills that are designed to implement the pipeline defense, a system that neutralizes any athletic disadvantages and can be incorporated into any slide package. Through an adherence to the "three C's", the pipeline defense prevents opposing offenses from penetrating the heart of the defense and taking high percentage shots.
Without communication, no defense will be successful. Crowding the pipeline is critical to providing maximum support and forces opposing dodgers to beat not one defender, but three or four. By contesting every ball carrier with proper technique, approaches and final touches, your defense will prevent the offense from skipping the ball through to the backside.
Building the Pipeline Defense
Using a progressive series of drills, Coach Carrington builds his pipeline defense from just one defender against two offensive players all the way up to a 6v6 scenario. Each drill implements the three C's and builds on them in a four-step process:
- In the first series of drills, the defender is all alone as Carrington teaches his players to hedge to the ball carrier and snap back to their own man from various points on the field.
- In the Hedge Drill and its multiple variations, the defense takes on the offense in a 4v4 scenario, learning to provide as much support as possible without over-committing.
- In the Manchester City drill, the defense battles the offense 5v5 as they refine their hedges and snaps while increasing the off-ball movement in limited space.
- Finally, in the Pressure drill, the defense puts everything together in a variety of scenarios that call for forced double teams and the resulting rotations and recoveries.
It's Not All About the Defense!
While Coach Carrington's defense refines their pipeline strategy, his offensive players get in their own valuable work. You'll see live drills that require offensive players to dodge and carry effectively, set picks and run mirrors, and otherwise refine the footwork necessary to evade the pipeline defense and create scoring opportunities.
Coach Carrington takes what could be a complicated idea and breaks it down into easily-digestible parts to help you build a packed-in, but aggressive way of playing defense!
71 minutes. 2022.