Simple Lacrosse Plays Every Youth Coach Should Know
The best starter plays for a youth lacrosse team are the give-and-go, the two-man pick, and a simple man-up set run from a 2-3-1 formation. They work because they create one clear advantage at a time, they are easy to draw up on the sideline, and young players can run them without memorizing a playbook.
Below you get each play broken down step by step, the formation to run it from, and the coaching point that makes it click. Draw them on a board, walk through them at half speed, then let your team rep them live.
What Makes a Lacrosse Play Actually Work?
A play works when it forces the defense to make a choice they cannot win. Good youth offense is not about fancy stick tricks. It is about spacing, ball movement, and one player getting a step on their defender while a teammate is ready to finish. If your team can move the ball, hold their spacing, and cut with purpose, you already have the foundation for every play on this page.
Three habits matter more than any single set. First, keep five feet of space between teammates so one slide cannot cover two players. Second, catch and look before you dodge, because the pass almost always beats the defense faster than the feet do. Third, keep the ball moving, since a defense that has to shift twice in three seconds will break down on its own.
Which Offensive Set Should You Start With?
For most youth teams, start in a 2-3-1. You put two attackers up top, three across the middle, and one behind the goal. It spreads the field, keeps clear passing lanes, and gives every player a simple job. Once your team is comfortable, a 1-4-1 is a strong next step because it opens the middle of the field for dodging.
The diagram below shows a basic 2-3-1 with the ball up top. Orange markers are your offense, the dashed line is a pass, and the solid arrow is a cut toward the goal.
How Do You Run a Pick in Lacrosse?
The two-man pick, often called the pick and roll, is the highest value play you can teach. One player sets a screen on the ball carrier's defender, the ball carrier dodges off it, and the screener rolls to the open space. Done right, it forces the defense to either switch or get beaten clean.
What Is the Give-and-Go in Lacrosse?
The give-and-go is the simplest two-player play in the game, and it is deadly against defenders who watch the ball. The ball carrier passes to a teammate, then cuts hard to the goal expecting the ball right back. If the defender turns to follow the pass, the cutter is already gone.
Custom Lacrosse Clipboard (2 Sided)
Draw up every play on this page with real lacrosse field markings on one side and a blank half field on the other. Add your team name and logo so it feels like yours on the sideline.
How Do You Score on a Man-Up?
When the other team takes a penalty, you get a man-up, also called the extra man offense or EMO. You have one more player than the defense, so your only job is to swing the ball fast enough to find the open man. A 3-2-1 set works well because it gives you shooters up top and a dangerous player on the crease.
The rule is simple. Move the ball around the perimeter with quick passes and make the defense slide. Every pass forces a rotation, and after two or three rotations a shooter will be wide open. Patience beats forcing it almost every time.
Lacrosse Coaching Questions, Answered
In boys field lacrosse each team has ten players on the field: three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders, and one goalie. Women's lacrosse plays with twelve per side.
Start with a 2-3-1. It spreads the field, keeps passing lanes clean, and gives every player a clear spot. Move to a 1-4-1 once your team can dodge and feed with confidence.
Attack stays near the opponent's goal and scores, midfield runs the full field on offense and defense, defense protects your goal, and the goalie stops shots and starts the clear.
Use markers on the field and spots on your board. Teach players to stay about five yards apart so a single defensive slide cannot guard two offensive players at once.
A slide is when a defender leaves their own matchup to help stop a dodger who has beaten their defender. Beating the slide with a quick pass is how most goals are set up.
Keep it small. Two or three plays your team runs well will beat a dozen they half know. Master the give-and-go and the two-man pick before adding anything else.
Put These Plays on a Board Your Team Will Remember
Plays stick when players can see them. A clean two sided lacrosse board lets you show the formation, the cut, and the feed in seconds during a timeout, and the blank half field is perfect for drawing up something new on the fly. Make it yours with your team name and colors.
