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Every time the ball is transitioned from offensive player to offensive player (defenders) need to be talking. What’s your assignment? Where’s the ball? Are you the hot guy? Are you the second slot? If you talk on defense it’s going to be tough for your coach to sit you on the bench.

to drink another sixteen to twenty-four ounces, more if the weather is hot.

Warm-Up Even on hot days, it is important to warm up the body and especially its muscles. The most important part of the warm-up is stretching. After the pregame snack and drink,

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players should start the warm-up with twenty- five minutes of stretching. Stretching loosens the muscles and tendons, increasing flexibility and therefore reducing the chance of injury. Stretching, along with staying hydrated, also helps prevent cramping. Lacrosse uses all of the body’s muscle groups, so the routine should include both upper and lower body stretching, but it is especially important not to rush through the lower body stretching, such as in the groin, calves, and hamstrings. Stretching out the back muscles, both upper and lower, is also important. Drills After stretching, it is a good idea to get some stick work in. Make sure that the drills are dynamic and keep the body moving, so it does not cool back down and tighten up. Pass and catch drills that include running to scoop ground balls are good examples of dynamic drills.

– Quint Kessenich, two-time Kelly Award winner

“What makes a dodger very effective is that they never plan their dodge. They make one hard move, they read what their defender does, and then they react off of what their defender does."

– Katie Chrest, 2005 Tewaarton Award winner

Another example of a pregame drill is the tiger drill. For this offensive drill, two attackers

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