A 7th and 8th Grade lacrosse team is geared toward preparing players for high school-level competition by focusing on advanced skills, in-depth game strategies, and fostering leadership on and off the field. Players at this level are more competitive, and the game intensity increases, but player development and sportsmanship remain priorities.

Team Overview

• Ages: Typically 12–14 years old (7th and 8th grade).
• Focus: Mastering advanced skills, learning complex game strategies, and enhancing physical conditioning and mental toughness.
• Format: Games are played 10v10 (boys) or 12v12 (girls) on a full-sized field with standard lacrosse rules.

Key Goals

1. Skill Mastery: Refining stick skills like precision passing, catching, advanced cradling, and accurate shooting. Players learn advanced techniques like face-offs, dodges, defensive slides, and goalie positioning.
2. Strategic Play: Teaching complex offensive and defensive schemes, transition strategies, ride and clear concepts, and special situations like man-up and man-down.
3. Physical Development: Improving speed, agility, strength, and endurance to meet the physical demands of higher-level lacrosse.
4. Leadership & Sportsmanship: Encouraging leadership roles on the team, accountability, and respect for the game, coaches, officials, and opponents.
5. Game IQ: Developing a deeper understanding of game flow, situational awareness, and decision-making under pressure.

Equipment

• Sticks: Regulation lacrosse sticks based on position, with players often customizing their equipment for performance.
• Protective Gear: Full protective equipment, including helmets, gloves, mouthguards, shoulder pads, and arm pads (boys); helmet and mouthguards (girls). Goalies require full protective gear, including chest protectors and throat guards.
• Balls: Standard lacrosse balls.

Practices & Games

• Practices: Focus on advanced drills, conditioning, and scrimmages to simulate game scenarios. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, communication, and execution of strategies.
• Games: Competitions are more structured and competitive, often including league play and tournaments. Coaches begin focusing on player positions and roles to prepare athletes for high school lacrosse.