Boston University, Rapid Fire Lacrosse Drill
Head Coach Ryan Polley
Following the recent podcast, actually my first podcast with Coach Ryan Polley, it is easy to understand the success of this relatively new program. Coach Polley coached under Andy Shay at Yale (a great friend of the site) and I found Coach Polley to be an extremely interesting interview in terms of his practice structure, and I believe a program that will do great things.
Like the recent podcast with Coach Danowski, Coach Polley spends a significant amount of time on basic fundamentals for a significant amount of time, 30-40 minutes at the beginning of his practices before focusing on the “Pace” of his practices. Perhaps more coaches are returning to this type of practice schedule at the beginning of practice.
However, once the practice fundamentals, throwing and catching and stickwork portion of the practice everyday concludes, he gets into “Pace” in a huge way, thus this Rapid Fire Lacrosse Drill. To increase the temp of the practice at this point there is also an important competition element.
At Boston University they run interestingly enough, as a 6V4, although Coach is quick to point out that it might a 5V3 or even 6V5. The choice of running this drill as a 6V4 was very unique and his reasoning was on a loose ball in the offensive end, the initial look might often be a 6V4… and it requires more offensive passes to get an open look. I have not heard this before but it seems to make sense.
First the drill…
The drill begins as players enter the drill, six offensive players and four defensive players. You might choose to position the offensive players in your preferred set, but at Boston University the most common format is one behind, one up top, two in each alley outside or at the lines of the Box. (see the diagram below)