Stick Fakes
Ages 8 and up · A stick, a ball, and a target or cage (a wall with taped corners works); later a parent as the reacting goalie
The stick fake (a shot or feed convincingly begun and not thrown) is lacrosse's cheapest superpower: goalies and defenders react to stick motion, and the player whose fakes look identical to their real releases gets goalies leaning, defenders lunging, and easy finishes the rest of the day. It is also pure driveway material: fakes rehearse against a wall or cage at infinite volume.
The believability standard is the whole drill: a fake works only if it IS the real motion, interrupted late. Lazy half-waves fool nobody at any level; full-commitment fakes with the ball retained (the skill's hidden difficulty) fool everyone. Cradle control through the fake is where the practice actually lives.
How to run it
- The high fake: the full overhand shot motion begun (stick accelerating, shoulders selling) and stopped late, ball RETAINED in the pocket, stick returning to ready. Ten reps, retention graded (the ball staying seated is the hard part).
- Fake-then-finish: the high fake immediately followed by the real release to a called low corner (the classic goalie-lifter). Ten reps.
- The feed fake: the passing motion sold toward one direction, held, then the real feed elsewhere (a second target). Ten reps.
- Believability rounds: a parent watches and calls "BOUGHT!" or "SAW IT!" on each fake; only full-motion fakes get bought. Ten reps.
- Finish with the goalie game: the parent plays reacting goalie (hands as posts); the kid may fake or shoot freely, scoring on placed finishes after honest reactions. Log the session's bought-fake percentage.
What to say
Common faults and fixes
The half-hearted wave (a fake that announces itself).
The believability rounds are the cure: only full-motion fakes score. Film one real shot and one fake side by side; they should be indistinguishable until the interruption.
The ball flying out mid-fake (retention failing under the whip).
Slow the fake's violence until the cradle holds, then rebuild: the top hand's cushion at the interruption is a real skill with reps. Retention graded on every fake, always.
Faking forever (three fakes, opportunity gone, everyone home).
The one-fake-then-decide rule in the goalie game: fakes buy one reaction, and the finish must spend it immediately. Serial faking is a habit games punish; cap it in practice.
Make it easier, make it harder
Slow-motion fakes grading retention only; tennis ball; no goalie phase until the motion is full.
Fake menus (high-to-low, near-to-far feed fakes, the bounce-shot fake); fakes mid-run and off the dodge; the crease game (catch, one fake maximum, finish) at rising speed; weak-hand fake sets.
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