What are the most effective upper body exercises for lacrosse players. How can these exercises improve your game performance. Which exercises target key muscle groups used in lacrosse.
The Importance of Upper Body Strength in Lacrosse
A strong and powerful upper body is crucial for lacrosse players, often more so than many realize. It’s not about developing a bodybuilder physique, but rather about enhancing functionality that directly translates to on-field performance. Upper body strength helps players win position battles, finish plays against defensive pressure, and reduce the risk of injury.
Effective upper body training for lacrosse focuses on compound exercises that develop strength and power in movement patterns specific to the sport. Let’s explore the top 10 upper body exercises that can significantly improve a lacrosse player’s game.
Push Press: Developing Explosive Power
The Push Press is an excellent exercise for lacrosse players, combining lower body power with upper body strength. This Olympic-style lift requires coordination between the hips, core, and shoulders to generate explosive force.
How to Perform the Push Press:
- Set the barbell at shoulder height on a rack.
- Grip the bar with hands just outside shoulder width.
- Unrack the bar and step back.
- Initiate with a slight knee bend, then explosively drive the bar overhead.
- Lock out arms at the top, then lower the bar back to shoulders.
Can lacrosse players use alternatives to the barbell Push Press? Yes, a medicine ball power jerk can be an effective substitute for those uncomfortable with barbell technique.
Pull-Ups: Building Lat Strength and Upper Body Power
Pull-ups are arguably one of the most beneficial exercises for lacrosse players. They target the latissimus dorsi muscles, which play a crucial role in many stick movements and overall upper body strength.
Proper Pull-Up Technique:
- Grip the bar with palms facing away, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
- Engage your core and upper back muscles.
- Pull yourself up until your chin clears the bar.
- Lower yourself back down with control.
How often should lacrosse players incorporate pull-ups into their training? Ideally, pull-ups should be performed at least once a week to maximize upper body development.
Single Arm Dumbbell Bench Press: Enhancing Unilateral Strength
The single arm dumbbell bench press is an excellent exercise for developing unilateral strength and stability. This variation of the traditional bench press offers several benefits specific to lacrosse players.
Benefits of Single Arm Dumbbell Bench Press:
- Improves core stability and rotational strength
- Addresses muscle imbalances between sides
- Enhances shoulder stability and control
How does this exercise translate to lacrosse performance? The unilateral nature of the movement mimics many actions on the field, such as fending off defenders or maintaining control of the stick under pressure.
Inverted Rows: Strengthening the Upper Back
Inverted rows, also known as bodyweight rows, are an excellent exercise for developing upper back strength and improving posture. This exercise is particularly beneficial for lacrosse players as it targets the muscles used in cradling and stick control.
Performing Inverted Rows:
- Set a barbell in a rack at about waist height.
- Lie underneath the bar, grasping it with an overhand grip.
- Keep your body straight and pull your chest to the bar.
- Lower yourself back down with control.
How can players progress with inverted rows? As strength improves, players can increase difficulty by lowering the bar height or adding weight to their torso.
Medicine Ball Slams: Developing Rotational Power
Medicine ball slams are an excellent exercise for developing explosive rotational power, which is crucial in lacrosse for shooting, passing, and changing directions quickly.
Proper Medicine Ball Slam Technique:
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a medicine ball overhead.
- Engage your core and slam the ball down in front of you as hard as possible.
- Catch the ball on the rebound or pick it up quickly to maintain a high intensity.
How do medicine ball slams benefit lacrosse players specifically? This exercise mimics the explosive rotational movements used in shooting and passing, helping to improve power and speed in these critical skills.
Dumbbell Renegade Rows: Building Core Stability and Upper Body Strength
Renegade rows are a compound exercise that simultaneously targets the upper back, shoulders, and core. This exercise is particularly beneficial for lacrosse players as it improves overall stability and strength in a functional manner.
Performing Renegade Rows:
- Start in a push-up position with a dumbbell in each hand.
- Keeping your core tight, row one dumbbell up to your ribcage.
- Lower the dumbbell and repeat on the other side.
- Maintain a stable plank position throughout the movement.
Why are renegade rows effective for lacrosse players? This exercise enhances core stability and upper body strength simultaneously, which translates to improved balance and power on the field.
Landmine Press: Enhancing Shoulder Stability and Power
The landmine press is an excellent exercise for developing shoulder stability and power in a more functional range of motion compared to traditional overhead pressing exercises.
Benefits of the Landmine Press for Lacrosse Players:
- Improves shoulder stability in a sport-specific range of motion
- Develops unilateral strength and balance
- Enhances core stability and rotational strength
How does the landmine press translate to lacrosse performance? The pressing motion closely mimics the movement patterns used in face-offs, stick checks, and maintaining possession against defensive pressure.
Face Pulls: Targeting Posterior Shoulder Health
Face pulls are an often-overlooked exercise that can significantly benefit lacrosse players by targeting the posterior deltoids and rotator cuff muscles. These muscles are crucial for maintaining shoulder health and preventing injuries.
Proper Face Pull Technique:
- Attach a rope attachment to a cable machine at about head height.
- Grasp the rope with both hands and step back to create tension.
- Pull the rope towards your face, focusing on squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- Slowly return to the starting position, maintaining control throughout.
Why are face pulls important for lacrosse players? This exercise helps counteract the forward shoulder posture often developed from excessive pushing movements, promoting better shoulder health and reducing injury risk.
Dumbbell Farmer’s Walks: Improving Grip Strength and Overall Stability
Farmer’s walks are a simple yet highly effective exercise for developing grip strength, core stability, and overall body control. These qualities are essential for lacrosse players who need to maintain a strong grip on their stick while moving dynamically on the field.
Performing Farmer’s Walks:
- Pick up a heavy dumbbell in each hand.
- Walk for a set distance or time, maintaining an upright posture.
- Focus on keeping your shoulders back and core engaged throughout the movement.
How do farmer’s walks benefit lacrosse players? This exercise improves grip endurance, which is crucial for maintaining control of the stick during long games or practices. It also enhances overall body stability and control, which translates to better on-field performance.
Kettlebell Turkish Get-Ups: Developing Full-Body Coordination and Stability
The Turkish Get-Up is a complex movement that develops full-body coordination, stability, and strength. This exercise is particularly beneficial for lacrosse players as it improves body awareness and control in various positions.
Key Benefits of Turkish Get-Ups for Lacrosse Players:
- Enhances shoulder stability and mobility
- Improves core strength and rotational control
- Develops overall body awareness and coordination
How does the Turkish Get-Up translate to lacrosse performance? This exercise improves a player’s ability to maintain control and power in various body positions, which is crucial during face-offs, ground ball pickups, and while evading defenders.
Implementing Upper Body Exercises in Your Lacrosse Training Program
Incorporating these upper body exercises into your training routine can significantly enhance your lacrosse performance. However, it’s essential to implement them properly to maximize benefits and minimize injury risk.
Tips for Effective Implementation:
- Start with proper form and technique before increasing weight or volume.
- Gradually increase intensity and volume over time to allow for adaptation.
- Incorporate a mix of strength, power, and endurance exercises.
- Balance upper body training with lower body and core exercises for overall athleticism.
- Allow for adequate recovery between intense training sessions.
How often should lacrosse players perform upper body exercises? Aim for 2-3 upper body focused sessions per week, depending on your overall training schedule and in-season demands.
The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Upper Body Development
While proper training is crucial, nutrition plays an equally important role in developing upper body strength and power for lacrosse players. Adequate protein intake, balanced macronutrients, and proper hydration are essential for muscle recovery and growth.
Key Nutritional Considerations:
- Consume sufficient protein (1.6-2.2 grams per kg of body weight daily)
- Balance carbohydrate intake to support energy needs
- Include healthy fats for hormone production and overall health
- Stay well-hydrated to support performance and recovery
How can lacrosse players optimize their nutrition for upper body development? Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and time your meals appropriately around training sessions for optimal recovery and growth.
Injury Prevention and Recovery Strategies for Upper Body Training
While developing upper body strength is important, it’s equally crucial to prioritize injury prevention and proper recovery. Lacrosse players should incorporate strategies to maintain shoulder health and overall upper body function.
Injury Prevention and Recovery Tips:
- Incorporate regular mobility and flexibility work
- Use proper warm-up and cool-down routines
- Implement recovery techniques such as foam rolling and massage
- Gradually progress exercise intensity and volume
- Listen to your body and allow for adequate rest between sessions
What are some effective recovery strategies for lacrosse players? Techniques such as contrast therapy, proper sleep hygiene, and active recovery sessions can help optimize recovery and reduce injury risk.
Measuring Progress and Adjusting Your Upper Body Training Program
To ensure continued improvement in upper body strength and performance, it’s important to regularly assess progress and make adjustments to your training program. This helps prevent plateaus and ensures that your training remains effective and challenging.
Methods for Measuring Progress:
- Regular strength testing (e.g., 1RM or 3RM tests)
- Performance-based assessments (e.g., max pull-ups, med ball throw distance)
- Tracking workout volumes and intensities
- Monitoring on-field performance improvements
How often should lacrosse players reassess their upper body training program? Aim to evaluate progress every 4-6 weeks and make adjustments as needed to ensure continued improvement.
Integrating Upper Body Exercises with Sport-Specific Lacrosse Training
While developing upper body strength is crucial, it’s essential to integrate this training with sport-specific lacrosse skills. This ensures that the strength gains translate effectively to on-field performance.
Strategies for Integration:
- Incorporate resistance bands or light weights into stick skill drills
- Use medicine ball exercises to mimic shooting and passing motions
- Perform bodyweight exercises as part of on-field conditioning
- Include upper body plyometrics to develop explosive power for face-offs and checks
How can players ensure their upper body training enhances their lacrosse skills? Regularly practice sport-specific movements immediately following strength training sessions to help “transfer” the strength gains to lacrosse-specific skills.
By incorporating these 10 essential upper body exercises and following the outlined strategies for implementation, nutrition, injury prevention, and progress tracking, lacrosse players can significantly enhance their upper body strength and overall performance on the field. Remember to tailor your training program to your individual needs and goals, and always prioritize proper form and technique to maximize benefits and minimize injury risk.
10 Best Upper Body Exercises for Lacrosse Players (2023) – Horton Barbell
Having a strong and powerful upper body is more important for lacrosse players than most give it credit for. Having a powerful upper body will help you be able to win position on the field more often and help you finish plays with defenders leaning on you.
Intelligent upper-body training will also help lacrosse players be more resilient to injury. You need to consider your shoulders, elbows, and wrists in every movement that you perform.
Upper body training for lacrosse is not about getting jacked up like a bodybuilder. Training the upper body for lacrosse should be about functionality that will directly carry over to the field.
And functionality doesn’t mean standing on one leg on a balance ball doing a single-arm cable press while juggling tennis balls. What it does mean is utilizing compound exercises to develop strength and power to improve movement patterns used on the lacrosse field.
In this article, I will be sharing my 10 favorite upper body exercises for lacrosse, why I like each one and instructions on how to do them.
Lacrosse Upper Body Exercises
Push Press
I’m a big believer in utilizing the Olympic lifts to develop power with lacrosse players. The Push Press requires coordinating the hips, core and shoulders to generate power and drive the weight overhead.
If you want to train like an athlete (and not a bodybuilder), exercises like Push Press should be high on the priority list.
Pro Tip: If you’re not comfortable with the technique, you can do the exact same movement with a medicine ball instead (Med Ball Power Jerk).
Equipment Needed
- Multi-purpose lifting rack
- Barbell
- Bumper Plates (technically possible to do with Iron Plates, but Bumper Plates are highly recommended)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Set the barbell at the height you would normally front squat with.
(Barbell 1-2 inches below the flexed elbow, still on the hooks). - Grab the barbell with your index finger on the knurling or just outside the knurling. (Flexibility and what feels comfortable are important here).
- Flex the elbows up slightly and keep your knuckles fairly vertical to the ceiling.
- You are not taking a “Front rack” position here. The elbows will be slightly up but the bar is not resting on the anterior delts.
- To unrack the bar, take a deep breath and brace the abdominal muscles and upper back. Use a staggered stance to unrack the bar.
- Take 2 steps backward and be sure that you will not hit the hooks or anything above your head when you start to press.
- Initiate the movement with a “dip” or bend of the knee that will help you propel the barbell up with momentum. Do not bend the knee forward onto the toes.
- Think about how you initiate a squat. The knee bend should be very similar to this movement.
- This is a quick movement that helps get the barbell moving upward.
- As you extend the legs, push the barbell up. Be sure not to hit your chin. Lock the rep out by holding the barbell overhead for about 1 second.
- Some coaches use the queue “push your head through the arms” to help lock out the rep and stabilize the bar overhead.
- Slowly bring the barbell back down to prepare for the next repetition.
(Barbell 1-2 inches below the flexed elbow, still on the hooks).
Coaching Points
This lift is very technical, uses the whole body, and requires patience and persistence. Never sacrifice technique to add more weight to the bar.
Pull-Ups
Pull-Ups are one of my favorite upper body exercises for almost any athlete (almost any human being really) and this is especially true for lacrosse players. The lats are extremely important with so many of the movements done with the stick and no exercise develops the lats better than Pull-ups.
If you’re a lacrosse player, you should be doing Pull-ups at least once a week in my opinion.
Equipment Needed
- Pull Up Bar (Either as part of a rack or a wall-mounted bar)
- Weight belt (For weighted variations)
- For modification purposes:
- Lifting Band (To assist in completing the pull-up or doing more repetitions with full range of motion).
- Lifting partner (To assist in getting your chin over the bar)
Step-by-Step Instruction
- Approach the pull-up bar and grab the bar with a pronated grip (palms facing away).
- Use a bench to get to the bar if it is too high.
- Later in the article, I will talk about variations, alternatives, and modifications where the supinated (palms facing in) grip will be discussed.
- Squeeze the bar and engage the core muscles and do not cross your legs.
- Engage the upper back and pull up until your chin is over the bar.
- Pause for 1 second with your chin over the bar.
- Slowly lower yourself back to the starting position.
Coaching Points
Take your time and master the pull-up. The benefits of doing sound pull-ups will pay dividends for your shoulder health and the potential to maximize your upper body strength.
Single Arm Dumbbell Bench Press
For the record, I do have lacrosse players Bench Press and think it’s a great exercise for building upper body strength.
However, there is a Bench Press variation that I like for lacrosse players even more – Single Arm Dumbbell Bench Press.
The reason is that SA DB Bench is an anti-rotational exercise. That means that as you bench, the core has to work to keep you from rotating and literally falling off the bench. This utilization of the core is so beneficial for lacrosse players who need to be able to stay strong and stable while defenders are potentially pushing and pulling on them.
Equipment Needed
- Dumbbell
- Bench
Step-by-Step Instruction
- Grab your dumbbell, sit on the edge of the bench, and sit the dumbbell on your thigh vertically.
- Take a deep breath, lie flat on your back on the bench, and get your dumbbell in position ready to press.
- Lay your free hand on your stomach. Placing your hand on your hip (as shown in the featured image above) will help balance you more is a more beginner-friendly hand placement.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor.
- Keep your butt on the bench.
- Pull your shoulder blades together and keep the back of your head on the bench. You will slightly arch your back. Keep your core tight and keep the shoulder blades pulled back tight.
- The dumbbells should be slightly angled at roughly a 45-degree angle to the torso. (representative of the path you are descending with your elbows).
- Press the dumbbell up.
- Control the dumbbell down during the eccentric movement and draw the dumbbell in, keeping the elbow at that 45-degree angle from the torso.
- The dumbbell will make contact with your torso right at the nipple line on the chest.
- Once contact is made, drive the dumbbell back up.
- Complete the designated number of reps and then switch sides.
- When your set is done, do not freely drop the dumbbell without checking your surroundings. You could drop the dumbbell and it might hit a person nearby. Or your could drop your dumbbell and crush your fingers on a dumbbell that was left next to your bench.
- The best way to finish a set is to bring the dumbbell back to your thigh and stand up with it. Or have a lifting partner take it from you.
Coaching Points
If you’re familiar with Dumbbell Bench Press but are new to this single-arm variation, you’ll probably be pretty surprised by just how much you need to brace your core to keep from literally rotating off the bench. For this reason, start light and then work your way up in weight.
This is a very shoulder-friendly pressing movement. Because the implement is a dumbbell, the range of motion is increased, the shear force on the shoulder is decreased, and the shoulder stabilizing muscles are engaged.
A, Y, T
Exercises that can help develop shoulder stability and, ultimately, shoulder health are important aspects of a lacrosse player’s strength and conditioning program. One of my favorite groups of exercises is the A, Y, T combination.
This group of three exercises works to improve the musculature around the rotator cuff to help keep lacrosse players’ shoulders stable and healthy.
Equipment Needed
- Very light dumbbells (typically 3lb or 5lb) OR Weight Plates (typically 2.5lb or 5lb)
- Adjustable Bench
Muscles Worked
- Mid and Upper Trapezius
- Posterior Delt
- Rotator Cuff Muscles (Infraspinatus, Subscapularis, Teres Minor and Supraspinatus)
How To
- Adjust a bench up to about 30 degrees and grab two light weight plates.
- Lay on your stomach with your head hanging off the top of the bench.
- Set up in the starting position by engaging the lats and pulling the shoulder blades together.
- Now, keep the arms straight and raise the plates overhead (like the A in YMCA).
- Lower back down under control and complete 10 reps.
- Once all reps are done immediately begin doing Ys by raising the plates at a 45-degree angle, thumbs pointed toward the ceiling.
- Once you’ve completed ten Ys, finish with 10 Ts.
- Ts are done by raising the arms straight to the side, thumbs still pointing up.
Coaching Points
Keep the shoulder blades pulled back, but do not shrug up. Shrugging up takes the emphasis away from the focus of A, Y, Ts.
Stay in control of each rep. Do not allow weights to be swung up and down.
Push Ups
Push Ups get a bad wrap sometimes because they’re looked at as, well, not “advanced” enough. However, there are very few exercises that are as effective at building upper body strength as Push-ups.
They’re another bodyweight exercise that is easily modifiable based on the player (like the clapping push-ups pictured above). And basic or not, I can guarantee you that a lacrosse player that can do multiple sets of 25 quality push-ups, is strong enough to compete on a lacrosse field.
Equipment Needed:
- None
For modification purposes though:
- Barbell
- Med ball
- Bench or box
Step-by-Step Instruction
- Lie face down on the floor.
- Pull your toes in so that you’re on the tip of your shoes.
- Eyes should be focused straight down or slightly up.
- Pull your hands close to about the nipple line of the chest and bring them out about 2-3 inches away.
- Take a deep breath, engage the core and brace.
- Push yourself up in one unit. There should be no sagging of the waist. The entire body from head to toe should move up and then back down in unison.
- Feel your scapula upwardly rotate and make sure the antagonist muscles (Back and biceps) are fully engaging.
- Lock out your push-up and pause.
- Slowly lower yourself back down and get ready for the next repetition from just above the ground. Do not fully relax at the bottom of the push-up unless your program specifies.
Coaching Points
Take your time and master the push-up. The benefits of doing sound push-ups will pay dividends for your shoulder health and the potential to maximize your upper body strength.
Keep the elbows at a 45-degree angle. For maximal chest, shoulder, and rotator cuff engagement, do not let the elbows flare out away from the middle. Also, do not let the elbow hug right next to the torso.
Renegade Row
Renegade Rows is a great lacrosse exercise that works the back and biceps but also challenges the core so much that it’s also one of the most effective core exercises you can do. In fact, very few exercises challenge the entire body quite the way Renegade Rows do.
Being able to brace and maintain core stability and then still apply strength translates perfectly to the lacrosse field. As an added benefit, Renegade Rows also aids in developing shoulder stability while holding yourself up on the opposite arm.
Equipment Needed
- Dumbbells
Instructions
- Grab one dumbbell in each hand and assume a pushup position with feet about shoulder width apart.
- Make sure the core is braced and row one dumbbell up.
- Lower the dumbbell under control and return to the starting pushup position.
- Alternate rowing each arm until all reps are completed.
Coaching Points
Try to limit rotating the torso as much as possible. It’s natural to want to open the torso toward the side of the arm you’re rowing with – try to fight against this and stay as square as possible.
The wider your feet, the easier it is to stay balanced while you perform the movement. Try to keep feet about shoulder-width apart.
Single Arm Farmer’s Walk
There are multiple exercises on this list that is just as much a core exercise as an upper body exercise and there is a reason for that. Lacrosse is played on the feet and any upper body movement is only as strong as the core that can brace, stabilize and help transfer power.
Single Arm Farmer’s Walk, also known as a Suitcase Carry, is a unique core stability exercise that emphasizes stabilization in the frontal plane. As you walk, the core has to continuously work to stabilize an upright torso, not allowing the body to bend to one side.
Being able to stay upright to make the shot without being shoved out of position can make the difference between a goal and not even being able to get the shot off.
Equipment Needed
- Dumbbell or Kettlebell
Muscles Worked
- Quadratus Laborum (QL
- Gluteus Medius
- Core Abdominals (Obliques Externus Abdominis, Rectus Femoris)
- Erector Spinae
- Secondarily: Forearms & Trapezius
How To
- Grab a single kettlebell or dumbbell.
- Brace the core and begin walking in a slow, controlled manner.
- As you walk, focus on keeping the core braced and the shoulders and hips square and level.
- Once you cover the assigned distance (or time), switch hands and repeat on the opposite side.
Coaching Points
You do not need to grab the heaviest kettlebell you can find. Find a weight that you can walk with and maintain proper form. Don’t rush through. Single Arm Farmer’s Walk can be done for time or for distance.
If going for distance, it should not be a speed walk to cover the ground as fast as possible. Stay under control and focus on form.
Dumbbell Shrugs
Dumbbell Shrugs are on here because they are one of the most effective exercises for building strength and muscle mass to help protect the head and neck. This is an often overlooked, but very important part of any athlete’s training, including lacrosse players.
Depending on what equipment you have access to I would also include a 4-way neck machine and/or manual neck strengthening exercises as well.
Equipment Needed
- Dumbbells
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Grab a pair of dumbells, one in each hand
- Place feet hip-width apart, brace the core and stand tall
- Now shrug up, visualizing touching your traps to your ears.
- Do NOT ‘roll’ the shoulders. Shrug straight up and straight down.
- Keep good posture. Do not let the shoulders slouch forward during the set.
- Control the weight back down to the starting position and repeat.
Coaching Points
Shrugs already have a short range of motion. Don’t shorten the range of motion even further by grabbing more weight than you can properly lift. (A mistake I see quite often)
Medicine Ball Side Throw
Photo Credit (Srdjan Randjelovic / shutterstock.com)
Like Renegade Rows and Single Arm Farmer’s Walk, Medicine Ball Side Throws are as much a core exercise as an upper body exercise, but I think they’re too important to leave off this list.
Rotational power is incredibly important in the sport of lacrosse and Med Ball Side Throws are one of the best movements for developing rotational core power. So, whether you consider side throws an upper body exercise or a core exercise, it’s one that should be part of a lacrosse player’s training.
Equipment Needed
- Medicine Ball
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Grab a medicine ball and stand perpendicular to a sturdy wall*.
- Distance away from the wall will vary based upon the type of medicine ball you have**.
- Stand in a good athletic position, feet shoulder width apart, hips and knees bent.
- Begin by rotating away from the wall, reaching the medicine ball toward the back hip.
- Now, aggressively rotate toward the wall, turning on the ball of the back foot, opening the hips toward the wall and releasing the ball into the wall.
- Catch the ball off the ball, reset and repeat. Once all reps are completed switch sides.
Coaching Points
The biggest mistake I see athletes make is using their arms (and not their hips) way too much to throw the ball. Power for the throw should primarily come from rotating the hips and torso and the arms should be secondary.
*If you have a partner, you can throw to each other instead of into a wall.
**The distance away from the wall will vary depending on what type of medicine ball you have. If you have a hard rubber medicine ball then be prepared for the ball to bounce a good ways back off of the wall. If you have a soft Dynamax-type medicine ball then you can stand much closer as the bounce off the wall will be much less.
Dips
I couldn’t possibly do a list of upper body exercises for lacrosse players and leave off Dips. Dips, along with Bench Press and Pull-ups, are probably the three most effective exercises for building upper body strength.
Equipment Needed
- Squat Rack
- Dip Attachment
- A Dip Station can be used as well if you have access to one.
Muscles Worked
- Chest
- Shoulders (Anterior Delt)
- Triceps
Step By Step Instructions
- Attach your dip rack to your rack. This process will vary based on your rack and dip attachment. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
- Set your dip rack just above waist height. This will allow enough room for your feet not to hit the ground while doing reps, but not so high you feel you have to jump up into your first rep.
- Starting position is hands on bars, arms extended, knees slightly bent and feet crossed (crossing feet is optional but does help with unwanted swinging in my experience.
- Descend down by bending the elbows and slightly leaning forward.
- Lower yourself under control until the triceps become parallel with the ground and then drive yourself back up to the starting position.
- Repeat until all reps are completed.
Coaching Points
The biggest mistake I see with dips is a poor range of motion. If someone is struggling to be able to do reps, the easiest solution is to simply not lower yourself into a full rep, but this is incorrect. If a lifter cannot perform a full rep they should switch to one of the variations listed below.
The other issue I see my athletes run into is unwanted swinging front to back while doing reps.
Stay under control, keep a consistent rep path, bend the knees and cross the feet. These are all solutions that I have seen help eliminate swinging while doing Dips.
Final Thoughts
Are these the only 10 upper body exercises I use when training lacrosse players? Of course not. There are dozens if not hundreds of exercises that can be used to develop upper body strength.
These are simply some of my favorites and ones that I use over and over again in my lacrosse strength programs.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to check out my favorite core exercises for lacrosse players.
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Improve Your Lacrosse Power With These Exercises
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For lacrosse players, power is the key to playing at a high level. The more power you can generate, the faster you’ll be able to do everything on the field, including sprinting and executing game skills.
Power is the combination of strength and speed. The faster you can exert strength, the more power you can produce. This is also called the rate of force development.
On the field, your rate of force development needs to be as quick as possible. “We are looking at very minimal time to produce force in game situations, with the exception of face-offs,” says Carl Christensen, strength coach for Duke men’s lacrosse and Performance Advisor for BridgeLacrosse.
When designing training programs for his athletes, Christensen emphasizes power development for this reason. You need a base of strength for power, but you need to be able to exert your strength quickly. It doesn’t do you much good if you can squat 500 pounds but can’t do so quickly.
Plyometric exercises and Olympic lifts are inherently designed to increase power. However, moves like the Bench Press and Squat can also increase power—if you focus on moving the barbell or dumbbells under control at a high speed.
“Whether it’s a power exercise or a move that’s strength-oriented, we are always looking to produce a high level of power and increasethe rate of force development,” Christensen says.
“That’s one of the primary ways we try to become faster and more powerful in the weight room.”
When adding power exercises to your program, always perform them toward the beginning of your workout, right after your dynamic warm-up, because you don’t want your muscles to be fatigued. Christensen advises lifting at sub-maximal loads, anywhere between 40 and 70 percent of your max. If you’re stronger, you should lift on the lower end of the range. No matter what, make sure you can perform the concentric portion of the lift (e.g., pressing the bar off your chest during a Bench Press or driving up out of a Squat) as explosively as possible with speed. If the bar slows down, lower the weight.
Below are five exercises Christensen recommends for lacrosse players to develop explosive power that will translate to improved on-field performance.
Single-Arm Dumbbell Snatch
A variation of the Snatch, this move will improve full-body explosive power. It’s also relatively easy to learn compared to the traditional Barbell Snatch, making it a great exercise for beginners.
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Barbell Power Clean
Another Olympic lift, the Power Clean is one of the fundamental and most commonly prescribed lifts to develop power. It trains the triple extension of the hips, knees and ankles, a movement sequence used in many athletic skills, including sprinting, jumping and, in lacrosse, shooting a ball or checking an opponent.
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Single-Arm Med Ball Throwdown
This exercise improves upper-body power. The throwdown motion is similar to how you shoot a ball, making this a great move to increase shot velocity.
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Incline Streamline Push-Up
This upper-body plyo movement increases pushing power, just what you need to unleash strong and powerful checks on your opponents to knock them out of position or off the ball.
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Weight Vest Power Step-Up
The Power Step-Up trains your legs to explode one at a time, important for acceleration and changing directions powerfully. It also ensures both your legs are equally powerful so you can shoot effectively off either one.
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For lacrosse players, power is the key to playing at a high level. The more power you can generate, the faster you’ll be able to do everything on the field, including sprinting and executing game skills.
Power is the combination of strength and speed. The faster you can exert strength, the more power you can produce. This is also called the rate of force development.
On the field, your rate of force development needs to be as quick as possible. “We are looking at very minimal time to produce force in game situations, with the exception of face-offs,” says Carl Christensen, strength coach for Duke men’s lacrosse and Performance Advisor for BridgeLacrosse.
When designing training programs for his athletes, Christensen emphasizes power development for this reason. You need a base of strength for power, but you need to be able to exert your strength quickly. It doesn’t do you much good if you can squat 500 pounds but can’t do so quickly.
Plyometric exercises and Olympic lifts are inherently designed to increase power. However, moves like the Bench Press and Squat can also increase power—if you focus on moving the barbell or dumbbells under control at a high speed.
“Whether it’s a power exercise or a move that’s strength-oriented, we are always looking to produce a high level of power and increasethe rate of force development,” Christensen says.
“That’s one of the primary ways we try to become faster and more powerful in the weight room.”
When adding power exercises to your program, always perform them toward the beginning of your workout, right after your dynamic warm-up, because you don’t want your muscles to be fatigued. Christensen advises lifting at sub-maximal loads, anywhere between 40 and 70 percent of your max. If you’re stronger, you should lift on the lower end of the range. No matter what, make sure you can perform the concentric portion of the lift (e.g., pressing the bar off your chest during a Bench Press or driving up out of a Squat) as explosively as possible with speed. If the bar slows down, lower the weight.
Below are five exercises Christensen recommends for lacrosse players to develop explosive power that will translate to improved on-field performance.
Single-Arm Dumbbell Snatch
A variation of the Snatch, this move will improve full-body explosive power. It’s also relatively easy to learn compared to the traditional Barbell Snatch, making it a great exercise for beginners.
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Barbell Power Clean
Another Olympic lift, the Power Clean is one of the fundamental and most commonly prescribed lifts to develop power. It trains the triple extension of the hips, knees and ankles, a movement sequence used in many athletic skills, including sprinting, jumping and, in lacrosse, shooting a ball or checking an opponent.
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Single-Arm Med Ball Throwdown
This exercise improves upper-body power. The throwdown motion is similar to how you shoot a ball, making this a great move to increase shot velocity.
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Incline Streamline Push-Up
This upper-body plyo movement increases pushing power, just what you need to unleash strong and powerful checks on your opponents to knock them out of position or off the ball.
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Weight Vest Power Step-Up
The Power Step-Up trains your legs to explode one at a time, important for acceleration and changing directions powerfully. It also ensures both your legs are equally powerful so you can shoot effectively off either one.
For privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.
I Accept
To learn more about the program and get custom lacrosse workouts created by elite experts, go to BridgeAthletic.com.
Share This Story!
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