Friday, June 13, 2025

Building Lacrosse Skills and Making Connections


In Physical Education this week, our Grade 3 students have been exploring the exciting sport of lacrosse, one of Canada's national sports! Students have been developing fundamental movement skills and applied them in a game-like situation. The primary focus has been on sending and receiving objects with control, spatial awareness, teamwork, and following the rules and etiquette of gameplay.

Throughout our lacrosse unit, students have practiced several key skills:

Cradling and Stick Handling: Learning how to hold and move the stick effectively to control the ball while on the move.

Skills & Tricks
  • Scooping
  • Trapping
  • Spin the Stick
  • Paint the circle
  • Underhand Passing
  • Double Passes
  • Throw & Catch
Passing and Catching: Practicing accurate passes to a partner and safely catching with the lacrosse stick.

Shooting on Goal: Developing control and accuracy when aiming for the net.

Team Play and Positioning: Understanding how to move into open space, work together as a team, and apply strategies during mini-games.

These skills build coordination, confidence, and cooperation, which are essential for physical literacy.

Connections to Other Sports

Lacrosse has been a great opportunity to make connections to other sports we’ve played in the gym. For example:
  • Passing and catching in lacrosse is similar to skills used in basketball and handball.
  • Dodging and movement strategies resemble those used in soccer and tag games, where spatial awareness is key.
  • Shooting techniques can be linked to aiming in sports like hockey or ringette.
  • Teamwork and communication are universal across all our physical education activities, including volleyball, cooperative games, and relay races.
By making these connections, students recognize how the skills they’re learning in one sport can help them improve in others, encouraging a deeper understanding of movement and a greater appreciation for physical activity.

Practice Ideas for Home (with or without equipment):

With a lacrosse stick (if you have one):

Wall Ball: Practice throwing and catching against a wall to improve hand-eye coordination.

Cradle Challenge: Time yourself cradling the ball while walking or jogging.

Target Practice: Aim for a specific target (like a laundry basket) to work on accuracy.

Without a lacrosse stick:
  • Ball Toss and Catch: Use any soft ball to play catch, focusing on tracking and reacting to the ball.
  • Agility Ladder or Chalk Patterns: Practice footwork by hopping, jumping, or side-stepping through patterns on the ground.
  • Dodging Practice: Set up small objects (pillows, cones, etc.) and weave through them to practice changing direction quickly.
  • Sock Ball Scoop: Use a large spoon or plastic scoop with a rolled-up sock ball to simulate picking up and tossing—great for developing coordination!

Lacrosse helps students develop personal fitness, gross motor skills, and positive social interaction, all of which are key parts of the Grade 3 outcomes. We encourage students to keep active at home with fun challenges and skill-building games. Whether with a stick or without, there are so many ways to grow as a young athlete!

Let’s keep moving, keep learning, and have fun!

Thank you to Coach Dan for coming to Andrew Sibbald to teach us about Lacrosse. Some of the students were building their skills and others were playing for the first time.

Thank you to the parent association for this amazing opportunity.













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