Soft Lacrosse Cradle and Pass Partners
An introduction to soft lacrosse with plastic sticks and a soft ball, where students learn to scoop the ball off the ground, cradle it on the move, and pass it to a partner. It builds hand-eye coordination, stick grip, and passing and catching.
How to play
- Give each student a stick and each pair a soft ball; explain the grip (2 min): dominant hand high, just below the head, and the other hand low at the end.
- Scooping (3 min): with the ball on the ground, slide the stick head under it like a shovel and lift it up; 10 reps each.
- Cradling (4 min): walking and then jogging between two cones 15 yards apart, gently rotate the wrists so the ball stays in the pocket.
- Partner passing (5 min): 5 yards apart, throw by pushing with the top hand and pulling with the bottom hand; the receiver holds the stick head up as a target.
- When a pair completes 10 passes in a row, back up to 8 yards; any ball that drops is scooped with the stick, never the hand.
- Final challenge (6 min): pass on the run from one cone to the next without dropping the ball, in relay groups of 4.
Rules
- Touch the ball only with the stick, never with your hand.
- The stick head never goes above the shoulders of a nearby classmate.
- Pass only when the receiver has their stick up and is looking.
- Safety: no hitting another student's stick or swinging hard.
Variations
Easier
Pass with one bounce from 3 yards.
Standard
Scoop, cradle, and pass at 5-8 yards in pairs.
Harder
Pass and catch with the non-dominant hand on top.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student works seated or from a wheelchair with 3-yard passes and a short stick.
- Autism: break the skill down with picture cards of the three steps (scoop, cradle, pass).
- Advanced students: they must cradle in a zigzag through cones before each pass.
Learning goals
- Grip the stick and scoop the ball with correct technique.
- Cradle the ball on the move without dropping it.
- Pass and catch accurately with a partner.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft lacrosse sticks: 25
- soft balls: 13
- cones: 12
Teacher tip
Many students try to throw one-armed; stress the push-pull with both hands. If you have no lacrosse sticks, introduce the motion with scoops or cut-out plastic bottles.
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