Intercrosse: Shooting off a Fake Against the Goalie

A shooting session in intercrosse: the goalie defends from a circular crease that no one else may enter, and the shooter has to fool them with body and stick before shooting. It blends throwing technique with reading the goalie.

How to play

1. Review of the overhand and sidearm shot; chalk the goalie's crease (4 min).
2. Shooting at a goal with four target zones marked by cones in the corners: shooters call their zone before shooting and count hits (5 min).
3. Shot off a fake: fake high and shoot low, or the other way around; goalies rotate every five shots (7 min).
4. 2 vs 1 plus goalie: the attacker with the ball chooses between faking and shooting or passing to a teammate (6 min).
5. Count goals by type of shot: which fake fooled the goalie most? (3 min).

Rules

• No one enters the goalie's crease, attackers or defenders.
• Shoot only when the goalie is set and looking.
• No stick contact on an opponent.
• A goalie can opt out at any time: someone else swaps in, no questions.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments shoot at a goal while a teammate claps behind the chosen zone.
• Wrist injury: plays goalie holding the stick in the healthy hand, or keeps score.
• Students nervous about playing goalie can start with foam balls before moving to the intercrosse ball.

Learning goals

• Improve shooting accuracy with a stick.
• Use fakes to throw off the goalie.
• Choose between shooting and passing with a player advantage.

Equipment for a class of 25

• intercrosse sticks: 30
• intercrosse balls: 15
• futsal goals: 2
• cones: 20
• chalk: 2

Teacher tip

The intercrosse ball is soft, so the goalie doesn't need pads; still, rotate often. If you're using a handball goal, shrink it with cones. Typical mistake: always shooting to the same corner.

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