An athlete will remain an athlete whether on the field or outside. Also, it is not necessary to be on the field only to improve your game. The question is ‘how to get better at lacrosse by yourself’. A lacrosse player can include many things in the routine to take the game to another level. Here are a few things that you can do off-field to boost your skills.
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Go for strength training
Playing lacrosse involves lots of bones and muscles and you need to make them strong to be consistent in your game. To amplify your core strength, you must do strength training off-field. For that, it is not important to go to the gym; you can do it at home too. Include those exercises in your routine that strengthen your core and abs. You can do planks, sit-ups, and ab twists. You can do their sets separately or combine these exercises. Do as many times as you can and your game will get better for sure.
Watch the game
When you are not practicing, one way to get better at the game is by watching the game. You can select any of the past games of your favorite player, or any other player. When you select the player, watch every move of him; his movement, his cut, his way of holding his stick, his dodging, and his mistakes. You can learn well by watching all the good moves and the bad ones. Take notes and try to copy the moves that can take your game to another level.
Do wall ball drills
Old is gold, and this old practice can give a great benefit to you. Do wall ball drills daily to create a difference in your games. Here are some tips to follow:
- Do right and left hand passes and right and left hand catches
- Do cross hands – left hand passes and right hand catches and vice versa
- Change distance from time to time during your practice
- Change shooting angles too like go for an underhand, sidearm, overhand, etc.
- Throw the ball at the wall and catch it while running
- Do one hand catches
- Be creative and include variations to wall ball drills often
Increase your speed
Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport. Your body needs to act quickly all the time. Your hands are holding the stick but your feet need to do all the running. One best way to gain agility is by performing ladder drills. There are many ways to perform these drills. However, it is highly recommended to perform ladder drills having a lacrosse stick in your hands so that your feet work flawlessly with your hands in the field.
When you are doing ladder drills, follow these tips:
- Don’t leave your feet too long on the ground and pick them up immediately after touching the ground
- Allow your toes to bear your body weight mostly
- Go tip-toe and be gentle on your feet – stay light
- Follow the pattern whatever you have made – if it appears hard to follow, then follow slowly and then speed up gradually
- Try the drill backward if possible, it will further make you better
Pick up the ground ball
Picking a ground ball is a very basic but highly crucial skill to master. Also, you can practice picking up the ball alone. No matter how well you are in other aspects but if you can’t pick the ground ball on the run and in stressful field conditions then surely your game is not perfect at all.
To improve this skill, you actually need to pick the ground balls with your stick. The easiest way to practice is by spreading the balls in the field and picking them up while on the run. You can also side-by-side practice throwing the picked ball to the goal as well. When you are practicing, just be on the move and don’t stop. Pick the ball while on the run and try to pick the ball correctly.
To make things a bit harder for yourself, use a timer to pick the ball. Increase the distance once you have achieved a time milestone. It will add aggression and energy when you are practicing alone. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, you can always improve your ground balls.
Practice, practice, and practice
What is your playing position? Do you need to dodge more or shot more? Whatever you need to do more in the game, just practice it as much as you can. Even when you are alone, running in the field following and mimicking your playing actions alone will create a positive impact on your game overall. Your hand and body coordination should be flawless to achieve your goals in the field.
String a new stick
A custom strung lacrosse stick offers many benefits overall. You can string a new stick not only for playing but to also exercise your mind. Furthermore, a self-strung head is easier to tighten or loosen as per the player’s demand which also provides an edge during the game. Your manual adjustments are according to your game requirements and give you more confidence in your game.
Check your nutrition
“You are what you eat!” It’s an old saying. So, when you are an athlete, you must understand your nutritional needs because it affects you and your game directly. You don’t have to follow a strict diet routine, but there are some dos and don’ts that you can easily follow to have a healthy diet routine.
You must avoid junk food as much as you can because it has an overall negative effect on the body. As a lacrosse player, your body demands more protein to cope with all the hard work you are making it go through. Protein builds muscles and makes you strong from within. Add protein-rich food to your diet.
Eat good carbs to fuel your body. Additionally, keep a check on your water intake to keep your body hydrated. Use electrolyte drinks as well while you practice; it will keep you in better shape.