[
YOUR EDGE] coaches Crawl–Walk–Run
‘Chunking’ allows players to grasp new skills in natural progression
By TJ Buchanan
Teaching lacrosse is a skill that has been passed down through generations of coaches. Coach X teaches the game the way he does because Coach Y taught him that way. Coach Y teaches the way he does because Coach W taught him that way, and the cycle continues. In October 2012, Lacrosse Magazine profi led Cindy Timchal’s coaching family tree and highlighted those elite coaches who are connected to her either as a former player or assistant coach. And largely through Timchal protégé and Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, a new generation of highly successful coaches has emerged from this tutelage.
One skill all great coaches share is “chunking.” Chunking is taking a complex task and breaking it down into smaller, more easily achievable parts. Coaches of even the most elite athletes dedicate substantial time getting the individual parts to work correctly before adding complexity. Think about how small children becomes mobile. First they crawl, then they learn to stand and eventually they take those fi rst steps. Once, they have mastered walking, the pace increases and they’re off and running. Here are two examples of the crawl-walk-run approach to installing a motion offense.
Teaching Motion Offense (Men’s Game) CRAWL
WALK X2 X2 X4
RUN X2 X6 X1 X1 X3
X1 passes to X2 and clears through, opening up the alley for X2 to dodge and shoot. X1 should always be prepared to catch a pass and never have his back to the ball.
Objective: Creating space for the dodger.
Add X3 and X4. As X2 begins his dodge, X4 will follow him and X3 will drift to ball side to be an outlet behind if needed.
Objective: Providing help on both sides of the ball carrier.
Teaching Motion Offense (Women’s Game) CRAWL
WALK X1 X1 X3 X6 X2 X1 X1 X3
Add X5 and X6 to the offense. X1’s cut after the initial pass starts the motion offense. X1 pushes X6 up to replace X4, and X3 movement to ball side “pulls” X5 behind the goal.
Objective: Keeping the fi eld balanced. X5 X4
RUN X5 X3 X7
X2
X4
X1 passes to X2 and clears through the 8-meter looking for a return pass.
Objective: Teaching the give-and-go.
To increase the intensity of these drills: •
•
Specify which dodges to use. Slowly add defensive pressure.
• Vary the location of the ball to start. 78 LACROSSE MAGAZINE March 2013 >>
Add X3 and X4. As X1 gets inside the 8-meter, X3 will rotate across and X4 will move up the fi eld maintaining balance.
Objective: Maintaining balance on the 8-meter.
X2
X4
Add X5, X6 and X7. X5 becomes part of the rotation, while X6 and X7 work on “popping” in and out to occupy adjacent and off-ball defenders.
Objective: Occupying off-ball defenders.
TJ Buchanan is the coaching education content manager for US Lacrosse. For more on the US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program, visit
uslacrosse.org/cep.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
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