Hi Everyone, this is Coach Bruce. It's now 4 years after I made this video and I was a new coach then and have learned a lot about catching since I made this video. A lot of the commenters are correct so let me clarify a few things. 1. It's fine for a beginner to hold her hand near the top of her stick to catch, it gives you much more control. 2. Don't let you stick go back to horizontal when you catch, try to keep your stick taller. All the players in this video let their stick go back too far but then don't anymore. 3. You should absolutely "give when you catch" as I stress in the video. It's without a doubt the most important part of learning to catch with a girls stick. 4. When you throw, you should slide your hand down to the middle of the stick and follow the 90, 90 rule as explained by one of the commenters below. 5. Both of the girls featured in this video, #36 and #7 are both likely headed to play D1 Lacrosse. #7 is absolutely going to play D1. She's a freshman in high school this year and already has D1 colleges watching her. She still catches like this and still holds her hand high on her stick when she shoots and she and is an incredible player and a goal scoring machine. #36 is a sophomore this year and missed leading her successful Varsity team in goals last year by 1, so while the video isn't perfect, it's still a good primer for the beginning player and if you learn to catch like they do, you will be well on your way to becoming a good lacrosse player. Have fun girls!
Quick Follow up from Coach Bruce. It's now 7 years since I made this video and many of the critiques of the video are valid, but as some validation that what I was teaching works, Caroline (#38) is committed to play D2 lacrosse at a school in Colorado and Kaitlyn (#7) recently committed to play at the University of Florida. I'm not taking credit for getting them there, they have worked very hard to get where they are, but learning to catch and throw this way works. See my comment below for things I've learned since making the video, but the basics still hold up. Give when you catch and keep your stick facing the ball.
Kayla Samuel Just keep trying, eventually (if you practice) you'll be GREAT. I use to be like you then i just joined and now i am the best on the team! You wont suck, im telling you!!!!!
-Simply The Nickster- And also, if you do join, keep a positive attitude. I, being a goalie, hates when its half through the game and my team is losing. But... i just try harder and flip the game around by be being determined and having a positive attitude!
-Simply The Nickster- thank :) I'm just scared cause my city don't really like play or have Lacrosse and I would have to go to a different city to join and I don't know anyone, but I will eventually. But I'm naturally athletic, but I've never in my life thought about Lacrosse except volleyball and Basketball till now-.- and I'm 13. It looks so fun!
Kayla Samuel i am in 8th grade and this is my first year playing. It's not that hard to pick it up, I have to admit I am struggling with catching but I'm getting better from practice. Don't worry if you're not perfect at first, you'll get better!! If you want to do it, go for it!! :)
Great video. My 11 year old is just getting into it, and these two steps are just what I needed. Thanks for getting straight to the point, too. Some comments are complaining about the lack of cradling, but you specified that you don’t do that as part of this practice, so... whatever people.
How tall was she @ 11 ? And what was the length of her stick? I have an 11 year old she’s 4’ 11” tall and wants to play. Just trying to figure out what would be a good stick for her to begin with
This is a great video. I sent it to the parents for both my 8U and 10U girls. Lots of people nit picking and criticizing from a level of expectation that isn’t realistic for first season 8U / K-2nd girls. I like the video because it shows several girls at different levels of their catching and throwing skills and exactly what you run into as a coach of 8U and 10U players. I like now to watch it and see what I would try to work with each girl and I can think of every player on my team and what they do right and wrong.
great video. I started back in February but only for 5 days and I went to practice today and I sucked and I actually love lacrosse and want to get more into it. I’ll try these techniques next week when I have practice. Very useful thank you
Great video - my 12 year old just is just about to start lacrosse at school (mandatory in 6th grade) and I have never played or even held a lacrosse stick. Now I am practicing with her and she’s doing a great job with the catch and give! Thanks!
She's not supposed to throw the ball like that, she's supposed to use her bottom hand to throw it while your top hand follows. Do NOT use your top hand to throw a ball !!
Coaching boy's clinic (U8) with kids as young as 5. Some can catch, cradle, slide they hand down and pass. Most cannot, I'll try this one next practice.
Hey Coach Bruce, thanks for the video. I played boys LAX in high school, trying to teach my 9 year old how to play girls LAX. Any additional drills or advice would be awesome. Great first video!!! Appreciate it
I really want to start playing lacrosse, but I'm not sure if I've left it too late. What is the best way to learn? (Summer Camp? Join a Team? etc?) I have no experience, so what helped all of you begin to play?
cailey letson I am going to get a stick and play with my friends over the summer and try out for the school team next spring. They have a lot of beginners at our school.
this urks me, for one, there not stepping when trowing 2, if u catch like that in a game, chances are there going illegally check not thinking, 3, do a half cradle when catching the ball to get used to it in a game.
I understand that you said she is a newer player, but this video is making me cringe due to how this player was taught to catch and throw. The player should be taught to give, yes, but they also should learn to cradle as soon as they give in with the ball. Another thing is, she's not aiming at all. She isn't stepping with her opposite foot or anything. Anyways, I know if I did any of this at practice or games my coach would fix me so fast.
Ive been watching videos about the rules to the game and it is very overwhelming since i havent played before... do u think ill be able to get it after i join a team
You’ll definitely be able to get it, I’m new at lacrosse and the first week I was litterally so bad, but I’ve practiced and gotten better, I’m still working on it and still the worst on the team but if you keep on practicing you’ll eventually get it
I'm in 8th grade and I want to do lacrosse but if I do lacrosse I will have to do high school lacrosse should I do it or not, I have no experience what so ever, never even thought about doing it till now so yes or no?
Erin Freund do it!! I have never played lacrosse until high school and i have improved so much by going to workouts and practicing out of school. Wish you luck! Have fun and dont stress about it!!
Jojo & Kammy it is harder than it looks but you get the hang of it once you start bc i depends if your partner is good at throwning if they are not then it’s hard to catch the ball lol 😂
+Leah reahan So am i, i'm 14 and i don't know if i will be good or bad at it. We've played at school and i was actually really good! But i still don't know. I have my first practice today so i'm really nervous. I hope you'll try to play!
They are both doing great. Kaitlyn is now at Florida looking forward to her freshman season and I'm sure she'll be getting plenty of playing time. She's a remarkable player. Caroline had a great freshman season at Colorado Mesa last year.
She’s bringing her stick way to back, she needs to slide her upper hand down, also they should be cradling because it’s to slow to be quick sticks. Plus it’s just totally incorrect.
Okay not being rude or anything but I can catch and throw correctly and I have only done it for like 2 weeks in p.e just saying I'm not trying to say I'm really good or anything.
All of your players are throwing and catching incorrectly, they need to move their top hand to about the upper middle of the stick and as for throwing they are throwing from their shoulder and they need to be throwing with their arms up with something I call 90 90 because the elbow and armpit should both be at a 90 degree angle. This is not a good video it will not help in anyway.
shes not throwing all the way through the ball isnt going to go far it’ll jsut arch and fall to the ground and she also holds her hand a bit higher than it should be when throwing
bella cooper well I started in 3 grade and it was even hard for me because girls have been playing since 1 grade but if you have a good coach and practice a lot then no but you should start now
I've honestly never watched girls lacrosse until I showed up early to practice and the girls team was playing (I play lsm on my high schools boys team) dude weird as hell to watch a face off also no body? that blows
She’s does it wrong when she throws she needs to make kinda like an L shape with her shoulders and lift it a bit higher than what she was doing she made a V that turned to a very long have W
