Lacrosse Coach Checklist

Prepare to lead your team to greatness this upcoming lacrosse season with the ultimate gear guide.

Coaching lacrosse can be fun and rewarding in its own right, but being prepared with the right equipment can make it even better. For example, it could mean the difference between a difficult, unfocused practice and an exciting, productive one.

APPAREL & EQUIPMENT

Because most lacrosse practices begin in the early spring, it’s hard to know exactly what Mother Nature’s going to throw your way. So, it’s best to come prepared with cold weather gear and raingear in case you need it. Also, wear comfortable, breathable athletic wear and athletic shoes or turf shoes to keep up with your players or if you need to demonstrate important techniques.

Of course, players will sometimes forget some items at home, so make sure you have extras of basic gear like gloves and goggles.

Also, in leagues with younger players, no player permanently plays as goalie, and so they won’t have much goalie gear. Bring along a set of gear to games and practices so that you can rotate players in the crease, giving everyone a chance to try their hand at blocking balls.

TRAINING & DRILL GEAR

It’s a good idea to have more lacrosse balls than you think you may need. Bring a bucket of balls to practice so there’s enough for drills or, if you split the players up, to work on solo skills training.

Cones, training balls and a whistle are also needed to run drills. You can even bring two different colored pinnies to split your team up for scrimmages.

It can also be helpful to have agility ladders for working on footwork and speed, and goal shooting targets to help your players work on accuracy.

Bring printouts of your drills and the skills they build to help you prepare for practice and capitalize teaching moments.

GAMEDAY NEEDS

On gameday, your needs are much simpler. Show up ready to address your players. It’s their big moment.

You can bring along a scorebook to keep track of your team’s progress, and a clipboard or white board with a diagram of the field. This visual aid can help guide your players through plays, concoct new strategies or keep lists of reminders.

You’ll be running support for the length of the game, so be sure to have all the fixings. Bottles of water are essential and extras like bug spray and sunscreen can really come in handy.

In case of emergency, make sure you have a fully charged cellphone, a fully-stocked first-aid kit and all of your players’ emergency contact and medical information.

Coaching can be invigorating, enjoyable and fulfilling, especially when you’re prepared with the right tools. Stay on top of your team’s needs from the very beginning with the essentials needed, and you’ll be on your way to a productive and successful season.

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