You can see the original Hot Pot post here, but the gist is that now that I’ve seen, coached, and played so much lacrosse that I’m starting to think of the game differently. I believe that getting away from drills, and just playing the game, will benefit players more. I believe that less structure creates better players, and potentially better teams. And I pretty much left it at that.

Here is Brian Silcott’s response:

I have to ask which teams you are referring to that “just play the game” and don’t drill specific skills, techniques and situations. I believe you need to use both to become a great player or a great team. There are things that are best learned through well designed drills that mimic game situations, and more importantly, game speed. They allow you to give athletes lots of reps in these critical skills and situations in a short period of time and correct mistakes immediately after they are made.

Even if players have mastered the basics like catching, throwing, shooting etc (all of which are things best mastered through high reps) there are still lots for more intricate and team based skills and situations that need to be drilled.

However, playing the game is equally important. We all have seen the guys who are great at drills but for some reason just cant transfer it into game situations. Getting the flow of full field play both as an individual and as a team is vital to success.

Let’s look at fast breaks. I think this is a good example of something that needs to be drilled through high repetition but also needs to become part of your natural game flow. The fast break is essentially a quick set play within the flow of the game. Teaching your players how to line up, what their looks are and getting them both comfortable with those positions and precise in the execution of their responsibilities is best and most efficiently achieved by doing it lots of times in a short period of time.

However it is also important that players learn to anticipate the break, communicate what is happening get to their spots and execute the break in an “unplanned” situation, this is what happens by “just playing the game”.

I believe there are a few critical elements to effective drills and their execution in practice:

1.  Make them game like.  Don’t drill things that don’t really ever happen in games.  There are lots of ways to get repetition on stick skills in practice, line drills may be the worst I have seen.

2.  Push players to play at full speed all the time.  Obviously new skills need to be moved through at a slower pace first but the goal is to get to game speed as quickly as possible.  This makes the drill more effective, more fun and hopefully reduces the need for additional conditioning.

3.  Use three 10 minute drills rather than one 30 minute drill.  

4.  Be creative.  Find drills that are best for you teams style of play and what you want them to do on the field.  All drills were made up by someone if you have something you need to drill and don’t know a good one, ask other coaches or sit down and figure out something out yourself.

5.  Always give the kids a chance to “just play the game”.  While drills are great for mastering specific elements in the game, this is not football.  In the end you need to get comfortable in the full field flow both as individuals and as a unit.  Not to mention scrimmaging is lots of fun.

Ok, now that you have read Brian’s entire comment, you can see why I posted it! It’s filled with TONS of great information, questions, and tips for success. It’s possibly the most intelligent comment on their entire internet. It’s freaking genius!

I can readily admit that Brian is right, especially at the higher levels, that drilling is still a useful tool that every team uses at some level. I clearly went a little overboard in my argument, but I was trying to make a point, and head in a new direction. Thankfully, Brian brings me back down to Earth. It’s an especially good thing that he did, because in the process Brian also provided a balanced approach to coaching, and now the people out there have something they can use in the real world, with concrete examples.

But just for the fun of it, and the mental exercise, I’ll go through Brian’s questions and arguments and provide an alternate view. Hey, if my crazy ramblings two weeks ago elicited a response like the above from Mr. Silcott, maybe this week’s post will help release his magnum opus on lacrosse philosophy. We can always hope!

- I have to ask which teams you are referring to that “just play the game” and don’t drill specific skills, techniques and situations. Ok, I don’t know of any teams that JUST play the game except the high school team I coach. I don’t believe we’re at the point where drills would help us yet. We need to get a more natural feel for the game first, so all we do is scrimmage and play trash can lacrosse. I don’t think any college team would be willing to even try this method, so I have no examples to point to. Brian 1, Connor 0.

- Even if players have mastered the basics like catching, throwing, shooting etc (all of which are things best mastered through high reps) there are still lots for more intricate and team based skills and situations that need to be drilled. For me, all of these skills listed above are things players should be drilling and working on themselves, outside of practice. Same goes for conditioning. I like to put it on the players’ shoulders, maybe that’s just the NESCAC in me. Brian 1, Connor 0, NESCAC 1.

- However, playing the game is equally important. We all have seen the guys who are great at drills but for some reason just cant transfer it into game situations. Getting the flow of full field play both as an individual and as a team is vital to success. I think it’s fair to give myself a point here. Brian 1, Connor 1, NESCAC 1.

- Let’s look at fast breaks. I think this is a good example of something that needs to be drilled through high repetition but also needs to become part of your natural game flow. The fast break is essentially a quick set play within the flow of the game. Teaching your players how to line up, what their looks are and getting them both comfortable with those positions and precise in the execution of their responsibilities is best and most efficiently achieved by doing it lots of times in a short period of time. 

I love that Brian picked fast breaks because this is the exact type of example where I believe that drilling hurts teams. How many true 4 on 3 fast breaks do you get in a game? 1, 2, maybe 3 or 4 if it’s an up and down affair? How many slow breaks do you get in a game? 12? 20? How many 4 on 4 breaks do you get in a game? 5 on 5s? The point I’m making here is that drilling narrows the focus on transition to a set play, whereas my belief on transition is that it is constant.

Subbing a guy off? That is transition. Is a guy locked off by the other team? Transition. Did the other team just switch from man to zone? Transition! It’s ALL transition play, and “fast break” situations can materialize in a million different ways. 3 on 2s, 2 on 1s, and other variants come up ALL THE TIME, and by playing the game, kids see the situations as they come up, and begin to recognize them only as another part of the pace of play, and another opportunity to score.

I trust my players to do what they do all the time much more than I trust their ability to form a pattern, run a play and score off a traditional fast break, all after recognizing that it’s happening, or by me yelling. I’ll take some non-traditional fast break screw ups, because I know I’ll also get a couple fast break goals where other teams would have pulled it out.

I literally can’t provide a scoreline on this, as I’m way too biased. We’ll keep it all tied up at 1.

- However it is also important that players learn to anticipate the break, communicate what is happening, get to their spots, and execute the break in an “unplanned” situation, this is what happens by “just playing the game”. Oh, so Brian does take all that I said above into account. I guess he wins this one too. Brian 2, Connor 1, NESCAC 1.

- 1.  Make them game like.  Don’t drill things that don’t really ever happen in games.  There are lots of ways to get repetition on stick skills in practice, line drills may be the worst I have seen. Agreed. Brian 3, Connor 1, NESCAC 1.

- 2.  Push players to play at full speed all the time.  Obviously new skills need to be moved through at a slower pace first but the goal is to get to game speed as quickly as possible.  This makes the drill more effective, more fun and hopefully reduces the need for additional conditioning. Agreed. Brian 4, Connor 1, NESCAC 1.

- 3.  Use three 10 minute drills rather than one 30 minute drill.  We’ll split this one. I consider trash can lacrosse a drill, at least to a certain extent, and we do that for 45 minutes sometimes. Can we call this one a draw? I’m going to. I can’t take another lost point. Brian 4.5, Connor 1.5, NESCAC 1.

- 4.  Be creative.  Find drills that are best for you teams style of play and what you want them to do on the field.  All drills were made up by someone if you have something you need to drill and don’t know a good one, ask other coaches or sit down and figure out something out yourself. Agreed and I love it. Make drills, if you will do them, like games. Creativity is good too. Brian 5.5, Connor 1.5, NESCAC 1.

- 5.  Always give the kids a chance to “just play the game”.  While drills are great for mastering specific elements in the game, this is not football.  In the end you need to get comfortable in the full field flow both as individuals and as a unit. Not to mention scrimmaging is lots of fun. I’ll give myself a point for this one as it is the driving force behind my thesis, but that’s not enough to close the gap. Brian 5.5, Connor 2.5, NESCAC 1.

Honestly, that wasn’t too bad! Sure, Brian outargued me in the realm of reality, but I think we both offered up some interesting thoughts on coaching the game, and hopefully the back and forth will help you become a better instructor and coach. Want to argue any of these points further? Defend the NESCAC? Drop us a comment below and we’ll see where it takes us!

I’ve played in, and still believe in, complex team systems, like zone defenses. I don’t knock them, especially at higher levels. I’ve also seen kids develop and focus their skills in specialized areas, and seen these kids become some of the best FoGos, shooters, d-mids, etc in the country. I can’t knock their success, or the methods they have used to get where they are.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t still believe there is still something better out there… for everyone.

However, when it comes to preparing players for complex systems, better competition, and potentially specialized roles, I don’t know that drilling and specialized training are always the best way to get there.

Instead, I am beginning to believe that nothing prepares players better for in-game success than a focus on just playing the game. Sliding, feeding, dodging, winning face offs… all of that can be drilled and practiced. No question about it! But all of the above can also be learned by simply playing the game, and it is now my belief that this latter method reinforces good habits overall, and helps players understand small pieces of the game within the larger framework.

Here is an example of two teams, and how they prepare. Which do you think will see better results?

Team A

Team A starts practice with a warm up lap, stretching, and then line drills. Everything is done together and is regimented. Then the team breaks into one on ones, structured fast breaks, some six on six, and finishes with man up vs man down, and some sprints.

Team B

Team B begins practice with 5 minutes of partner passing in two lines, then moves to a more chaotic throw around, where players pass in groups of three of four, trying to avoid each other as they move around the playing surface. From there, the team does one shooting drill, where longsticks also participate, and then the team plays a game for an hour and calls it a day. The coach works on man up, man down, fast breaks, etc as they come up in the pace of play.

For years, I wanted to push players and teams I was involved with into Team A’s Model. I thought structure bred success, and that everything could be planned for in advance. However, I am less sure of that than I have ever been before.

I’m not saying line drills are useless. I’m also not saying man down work isn’t important. Or that sprints can’t be good for a team. All of those things can be really good.

What I am saying is that a team can work all of those things into just playing the game, AND get an added benefit.

Want to work man down a lot this week? Call penalties when the kids play. Call a lot of them. Call penalties that weren’t even there. Now you’re also teaching your kids to roll with the punches and bad calls that are sure to come your way. Want to focus on fast breaks? I can guarantee some will develop during the play of practice. That’s a perfect time to coach kids up in real situations. Take advantage. Want to work on feeding off the dodge? Make a rule that assisted goals count for twice as much. Losing team is on post practice ball hunt and trash pick up duties. See how fast the players start passing the ball then.

Sprints and conditioning are worked into the play. Trust me, if your kids are playing games of lacrosse five days a week, they’ll be in great shape to… play lacrosse. Exactly. Stick skills get tuned up right away with partner passing, but skill development outside of practice is a requirement. An addiction to wall ball makes all the difference. Preach that point, especially when kids are frustrated. “Wall ball makes it better”. Say it with me.

The new college rules have pushed the game back to its roots of an up and down sport at that level. The men’s post collegiate scene has long been that way. And now we’re seeing it again at the high school level, and at much younger levels.

The teams with kids who can just PLAY THE GAME are some of the best out there right now, and that trend is not going to change. It’s not about component pieces anymore, save for a couple guys here and there. It is about a true team collection of overall lacrosse players and athletes. So how do you develop players that can simply play? Let them play.

Which Approach Do YOU Think Works Better?

Editor’s note: Welcome to another great installment of “Spotted”. With your help, we hope to shine a light on lacrosse spotted in unexpected places, whether it be on TV or in real life. If you find any aspect of lacrosse in a place you didn’t expect it, we would love to hear from you. Take a quick photo or video and email it to info@lacrosseallstars.com.

This week’s Spotted comes to us from our very own Connor Wilson! C-dub was up late one night catching up on his Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when he came across this gem.

The ultimate way to train to be a better defenseman? This just might be!

BONUS SPOTTED! 

Our boy Andrew Ratzke sent over this one. In preparation for their new movie, Monsters University, the creators of the movie have gone to extensive lengths to make the University a real life thing – even making its own webpage and having its own lacrosse team!

Monsters being used as sticks?! I wonder how smooth the release is…

For more lacrosse spottings, check out our full archive of ‘Spotted’ posts.

Did you spot lacrosse somewhere unexpected? Email your spottings to info@lacrosseallstars.com!

You can read more about my struggles in last week’s Hot Pot, but check out Bill’s excellent video below to learn the most important rule for higher level lacrosse: SPEED KILLS!

Thanks to Mitch Belisle, Tyler Fiorito, JJ Gilbane, and Joe Moore for taking some time out speak with us, for letting me get in a run, and for striving to make the MLL as competitive as they can. Keep up the great work, fellas!

Thanks to Bill for filming and editing the inspiring video above. And to all the kids out there watching… pay attention! These guys are dropping knowledge bombs left and right. There is a lot to take in!

While I was clearly in the worst shape out of anyone on the turf, it was great to be back out there, just training and practicing, and trying to get better.

Mitch Belisle started the night off with a dynamic stretch. For me, this was a workout in and of itself. Then we moved on to the speed ladder, and my footwork definitely improved by the end, but it was far from solid. We then got in to stick work, and with only five guys, the line drills we did were fast paced, and exhausting. I almost made it to the end of that, before my awful conditioning caught up with me full force.

I relegated myself to managing the clock for the final session, which entailed a TON of wind sprints, and had almost regained my breath 15 minutes later, when Mitch, JJ Gilbane, Joe Moore, and Tyler Fiorito were finishing up their runs.

There were moments where I was straight up embarrassed at the shape I was in. I used to be able to do stuff like this for hours on end. Ten years away from the gym will do that to you. But at the end of the night, I really did feel good about myself. I challenged my current level of fitness, and pushed myself to work harder. I had fun.

That was the easy part.

The hard part will be getting in 2 or 3 more workouts before NEXT week’s training session. The hard part will be doing it on my own. The hard part is the SECOND step.

I’m sore. I can think of a thousand reasons not to work out again until next week. I can blame work, or life, or the cold wind that has been sticking around NYC lately. I could argue that my training goals aren’t the same as these MLL guys’ goals. But that won’t do me any good whatsoever.

The only thing that will help me is taking the second step, no matter how poorly conditioned I am, or how hard it is. It’s put up or shut up time for this blogger.

Today, our partner RipNet launched the first ever national leaderboards for high school and middle school boys and girls. Ranked based on scoring data submitted by players using RipNet Performance Technology to improve their game, new RipNet Leaderboards will be released every Wednesday, now through the end of the Spring.

The First National Leaderboards for Scholastic Lacrosse

The addition of Leaderboards by RipNet represents an interesting milestone for the lacrosse community. These are the first high school rankings I’ve ever seen that don’t skew the results in favor of players from the major hotbeds, where talent grows like ivy, often covering the dirt.

POLL: Which region will America’s #1 scorer hail from?

Visit www.rip.net today to sign up for free, then download the mobile app for your iOS or Android device.

See the full RipNet news release below.

- JB

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RipNet Introduces First National Leaderboards for Scholastic Lacrosse

PENNINGTON, N.J., April 3, 2013 — RipNet Performance Technology, the free goal scoring app and social network for lacrosse, announced today they have published the nation’s first Leaderboards for high school and middle school boys and girls lacrosse players.

All players using RipNet can see where they and their friends stand amongst their peers by position, team level and team. A player’s position on the RipNet Leaderboards is determined by the total number of goals and assists a player has entered into the RipNet system for their 2013 school team. Each player is identified by their name, team, state, photo, and number of goals and assists with a link to that player’s profile containing the player’s club teams, past scoring stats, player information and highlight videos.

More than 10,000 high school and middle school players have joined RipNet so far this year.

The RipNet Leaderboards will be updated and published every Wednesday from now through the end of the Spring season at www.rip.net.

Players can get on the RipNet Leaderboards by downloading the free iPhone or Android app or by signing up at www.rip.net.

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We visited a small group of Boston Cannons players (and a lonely Chesapeake Bayhawk) who were prepping for the season in New York City, and Mitch Belisle, Captain of the Cannons, filled us in on why this type of small numbers lacrosse session is so important:

Some great advice from Mitch! Thanks to the guys from Trilogy, the Cannons, etc for inviting us out. Maybe next week I’ll strap on some pads and embarrass myself!

Photo Credit: Trilogy Lacrosse‘s Forrest Lindekens

With the Irish off to a stellar 5-1 start on the season, we knew there was no better time to do it. Good luck this weekend Irish!

And so 1000 Ways To Train For Lacrosse continues…

74. Fall Training and Testing

Circuit training, heavy lifting, footwork, speed tests, this video has it all. How hard you push yourself in the off season is a great gauge of how much potential you’ll have to go deep in the regular season.

75. Agility Drills

Footwork drills are bomb, as this video is proof of. They help with your first step, overall footwork, then your obvious speed and agility. The Notre Dame agility drills feature multiple cone drills, competitive races that help add to the training, and even some interesting fox and hound type footwork drills. Don’t forget your hurdles and speed ladders!

76. The ‘Beep’ Test

No one likes the Beep test, but its effectiveness can’t be argued. It forces you to run several quick sprints at a pretty steady pace with limited rest in between each leg. The next beep always seems to come just a bit too soon.

77. The Hills that Kills

Notre Dame’s very own Rocky IV training (the best Rocky in my opinion). Nothing like running sprints up a hill. This one really helps to emphasize great sprinting form and will really put a burn on those quads. You know you’re in trouble when the coaches start betting on who the first to puke will be. Coach Byrne even gets in on this one!

Notre Dame dedicates three videos to their hill workout. With an emphasis of power, determination and drive, this is a great workout to put in your repertoire for your own use.

78. The Mean 15

It’s all about the extra reps. Notre Dame puts together a circuit workout to get 15 minutes of extra hand speed and foot speed. What are you doing, that your opponent isn’t?

79. Bench Squats

Get your butt down! There is no question if you got low enough when you use something like a bench as a point to reach.

80. Tire Flips

‘Tires never get tired’, love that title. Get low, power through the flip, there is just something great about flipping and throwing things around. #ManWorkout

81. A Farmer’s Walk to Remember

Pretty sure ND gets the award for most creative video titles, Mandy Moore has nothing on this walk. Build up that arm strength with a good ole Farmer’s Walk. At the very least, you’re handshakes will start to improve.

82. Non-Stop Hip-Hop

Don’t forget to keep your knees up, no one wants to be the guy who kicks over the hurdle. These will be sure to give you that explosion you need to beat your man off the line.

83. The Running Man

These aren’t your typical treadmills. The harder you run, the faster the treadmill goes. No denying hard work during this workout.

Notre Dame doesn’t mess around when it comes to training, these videos are proof of that.

Until next time, only 917 to go!

An important note about training: You should always consider your own goals and decide what you want to accomplish during training. Most importantly though, always learn how to properly do an exercise before you start doing it. As very few of us are experts in Sports Science or Medicine, we always recommend doing your own research and finding credible trainers to teach you how to train. Train smart, train safe, train hard, lax on.

1,000 is a big number. Please share your favorite lifts and exercises in the comments section (or email us at info@lacrosseallstars.com) so we can add them to our list and reach the big 1-0-0-0.

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March is the month for Spring Break. In Texas, it marks the midway point of the season. Spring Break is also a time when some players have a break from their school programs. Like all fans / players of the game, they are looking for more opportunities to improve.

For StickStar Lacrosse, it is all about GROWING THE GAME in the Great State. While Dallas is a booming lacrosse scene, the depth of talent statewide is astounding at every level. In 2012, StickStar started its Texas United Seminar initiative. It has been growing judiciously ever since.

Texas United seminars are free practice opportunities / workshops for players to come out and learn from the StickStar coaching staff. At the seminars, players work on their understanding of the game, details, and ability to execute, instead of focusing on athleticism-based domination. Often, players from Texas are recruited primarily on their astounding athletic abilities, but coaches find their “Lax IQ” lacking.

While I am not a fan of the word “Lax IQ” as it is the most stock of all terms, StickStar seminars really focus on gaining knowledge and applying it immediately. Players, regardless of age, are taught to move with purpose throughout a series of component-based drills that build into various phases of the game.

At our most recent Spring Break Seminar, players from across the Great State descended upon the Woodlands for what was our most exciting seminar to date. Three days, 8 hours, 80+ players, and mild temperatures allowed for an excellent opportunity for development. Because so many of these players are in season, the initial goal was to make sure no one got injured. Thus, the focus for the seminar was primarily on odd number situations, zone-based concepts, communication, and the defense’s ability to rotate. This put less stress on individual 1 vs. 1 matchups, or subsequent slides, rather the necessity for execution of concepts and communication.

Players had the opportunity to learn from a very capable staff of StickStar coaches who really stress a consistent message. Players want to execute; they want to do a good job! A consistent message makes it that much easier. Coaches for the seminar included me, Anthony Crimmins, and a tremendous supporting cast including:

Kyle Saunders – DSelect & Texas United Head Asst.
Michael Crimmins – Former THSLL Commissioner – Division 1 Football Coach – Dad
Colt Power – Former ESD legend – Notre Dame Graduate – Native Texan
Thomas Wood – Former ESD legend – North Carolina Graduate – Native Texan
Mike Brand – Texas State Head Coach
Pat McGrath – StickStar Youth Coach – DSelect Alum
Brendan Harvey – StickStar Youth Coach – Texas United Alum

StickStar coaches have a wide array of age, playing experience, coaching experience, and hale from all over. For our coaches, age is just a number. The message, though, is consistent, as is the desire to coach from start to finish. Just as the seminars are an opportunity for players to develop, they are also used for coaches’ development. As the only way to become a better coach is to coach, the field is our lab. Players enjoy innovative drills and instructors who are focused from beginning to end. If drills are stale, players lose focus. Never an issue at these seminars as every player wants to be there.

In just one year, StickStar has held seven seminars all over the Great State totaling 34 hours of development. And we are just getting warmed up. At this latest seminar, players ranging from 4th to 11th grade worked efficiently to become proficient at a host of new skills. It was the best Texas United Seminar to date, and a tremendous opportunity to develop players from across the state.

StickStar is getting geared up for the remainder of the season and their next Seminar which falls in line with the State Championship. StickStar believes in the importance of driving traffic to the Championships to see the best teams our State has to offer! StickStar’s goal is to “Grow the Game in the Great State” as a Texas United!

23 Programs were represented from Austin (ATX), Dallas (DTX), and Houston (HTX):
Cedar Park – ATX
Lake Travis – ATX
McNeil – ATX
Regents – ATX
St. Michaels – ATX
Vandergrift – ATX
Westlake – ATX
Allen – DTX
Colleyville – DTX
Flower Mound – DTX
Frisco – DTX
Plano West – DTX
Southlake – DTX
Clear Lake – HTX
Cy Fair – HTX
Friendswood – HTX
Houston Christian – HTX
Houston Outlaws – HTX
Katy Taylor – HTX
Memorial – HTX
Strake Jesuit – HTX
St. Johns – HTX
The Woodlands – HTX

For more on Texas Lacrosse, check out Stickstar. And here are a couple of articles worth reading:

ESD 9 – St. Marks 7 

TYLER’S Player of the Month (February): Hayden Stanifer

One of the things I learned was how to do a simple test to tell if any player’s stick was holding them back.

At the beginning of practice, Daly has his guys stand five yards apart, and throw one handed passes to each other. Each pass is overhand, and focuses on form and accuracy. If a player looks to be struggling with their accuracy, Daly will come over and ask them if he can try their stick.

The player passes the stick to Daly, and Daly tries to throw passes with it. Now, keep in mind that Mike Daly was a baseball guy, and he is the first to admit that his stick skills are far from great. The concept here is that if Coach Daly can’t play with your stick, you need to change it.

If a regular person can’t throw a five yard pass with your stick, it’s probably holding you back.

The five yard, one hand passing drill is great because it forces your players to focus on fundamentals early on. It’s also great because it exposes players who use sticks with too much whip or hold, and who are being held back by their own equipment.

For any coach out there, this is a drill I recommend. I do with my HS team in Brooklyn, and it has already paid dividends. Try it out for yourself and you’ll see why!

Whether your goal is the Tewaaraton winner or Summer League MVP, add these workouts to your repertoire and prepare the best.

Editor’s Note: Kennith Campbell writes about slideboard training and other fitness training techniques for UltraSlide.

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73. Slideboards

While maybe not the first tool or technique that comes to mind when you think of lacrosse training, slideboards offer a very unique range of motion that can bring about some serious benefits on the field. The lateral movement of slideboards is one you’re not likely to find in the gym or on the field, but it’s precisely this individuality that makes them such a phenomenal training tool. Here’s just a small list of ways in which using slideboards can enhance your skills and performance.

Like training for most sports, strength and endurance should both be the focus of a good lacrosse training regime. Having gigantic pecks or quads won’t do you any good if you break down on the field to catch your breath; even defenders can’t hope to get out of running by relying on their size or long-distant passes. Nor can you make a career out of being the fastest if you lack the skills and strength to perform; nor could you expect to make wild, daring plays that require flexibility and dexterity if you haven’t taken steps to develop it. Luckily, the slideboard can work to address any of these facets.

Generally speaking, slideboards allow you workout in a way you’ve likely never been able to before, using lateral movements. This lateral movement allows you to exercise parts of your body not generally catered to in gyms, with machines or dumbbells. So how does this lateral movement translate into benefits on the field? Think of yourself as an attacker or midi on a breakaway encroaching your opponent’s goal; you’ve got a pair of defenders and a midi to deal with but your closest teammate is still too far back. The only hope you can have of making a goal is to juke around the defenders laterally, twisting your body to the side as you shoot from your back foot. Without the proper training, your juke will fail or else potentially cause you to bust the tendons in your knees. If you had trained on the slideboard this could have been avoided, allowing you to make those awkward lateral movements and make the game-winning play.

Slideboards are also great for increasing your lower body and core strength but become a secret lacrosse weapon when combined. This translates to greater dexterity, coordination, balance and flexibility: facets that become crucial for maneuvering and performing in lacrosse. Whether you’re making an ESPN-worthy play in a championship against Syracuse, or even making a relatively standard play, you’re using the physical aspects listed above, but the difference between the greats and the rest is in their proficiency with these skills—and slideboards will most assuredly help you become the former.

Power is a very valuable commodity on the field and slideboards can be a great tool to build it up. Designed to help skiers and skaters, who require powerful legs to perform their sport, the same benefits can extend to any sport and are phenomenal when applied to lacrosse.  Slideboards work the inner muscles of your legs, knees and hips—in addition to endurance—making you explosive once you’ve returned to the field. After your slideboard training, you’ll be able to push off the turf or grass with greater ease and greater speed in the same ways that a baseball player uses a doughnut on his bat to facilitate the same power and ease at the plate.  The universality of this benefit—especially when you consider its use in pivoting, juking or sharply changing directions— this applies to every position, from the attacker to the goalie.

Great training, whether for sports or fitness, is all about muscle confusion, making the slideboard such an effective weapon as it works areas of the body that have never had the chance to plateau or slip into a comfort zone. Once back on the field, the results are likely to leave your coach, your opponents, your teammates and even yourself blown away with your newfound power, dexterity and maneuverability.

Until next time, only 923 to go!

An important note about training: You should always consider your own goals and decide what you want to accomplish during training. Most importantly though, always learn how to properly do an exercise before you start doing it. As very few of us are experts in Sports Science or Medicine, we always recommend doing your own research and finding credible trainers to teach you how to train. Train smart, train safe, train hard, lax on.

1,000 is a big number. Please share your favorite lifts and exercises in the comments section (or email us at info@lacrosseallstars.com) so we can add them to our list and reach the big 1-0-0-0.

With two games left in his freshman season at University of North Carolina, William Benz “Billy” Bitter got an email from his father, Ward Bitter, that provided a little extra motivation to close out the year. Billy posted the email on his Intagram account earlier this week, and we thought it’d be worth sharing with LAS readers.

4/10/08

Billy,

With two games left it is time to make a statement. It’s about next year. Are you going to leave an impression or are you going to just try to blend in?
You have nothing to lose. Be aggressive. Lead your team as you did in Manhasset and Deerfield. Stop watching others and start visualizing your own game.
Break ankles, pass and come hard back to the ball on the second pass. Make it impossible for the Dman to cover you. Ride like hell and kill them on the cut backs.
if you don’t score goals in this game then don’t expect to play next year. You have to earn your success. Focus on the defensemen tapes and learn how they like to cover, check and contain their opponents. Know more about the defense then they know about you. Study and win!
Good Luck.

Love,
Dad

A graduate of Manhasset High School, just like Jim Brown, Billy did a post-graduate year at Deerfield Academy before heading to UNC. Here’s another motivational email from his father, which Billy received on May 1st, 2007, during his final month at Deerfield.

5/01/07

Billy,

Is a goalie going to beat you……Not if your Middies are disciplined….no stupid shots!
Is their midfield going to beat you…..Not if you guys win the ground balls….at least as a team
Is their defense going to beat you?……Not if you change your game a bit.
Practice going from the flag. That gives you time to run him before you go from the cut back. It also makes the double unsure of where to jump you. When you run hard from flag/corner to corner the double tends to miss their timing.
OH, I forgot to tell you. If he strips you then smile and get the ball back. It’s OK to be striped 3 times in the first quarter. That means you are testing him. So, be tough and don’t worry about mistakes. The best attackmen don’t give a s#@% about the first quarter.

Love,
Dad

Thanks to Billy Bitter for sharing these motivational emails with the world. Transparency like this provides a great opportunity for young athletes to get an inside look what makes the game’s greatest players tick.

Billy (left) during his senior year at Manhasset High School

Let’s say you fall in the first category, and you’ve been training like never before. You worked your off-hand, your footwork is on point, you name it. Think you’ve got everything taken care of? Think again, because there’s always something you look back on and say you wish you’d addressed, something you wish you’d known earlier.

And that’s where this piece comes in: if you find out now what you’ll wish you’d known later, you’re bound to be better off this season. With that in mind, I asked some the best players in the game this question: knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself right before high school tryouts began? Here’s what they had to say:

John Galloway

Goalie, West Genesee Wildcats, Rochester Rattlers

Whether your goal is the Tewaaraton winner or Summer League MVP, add these workouts to your repertoire and prepare the best.

________________________________________________________________________________

Notre Dame is always coming up with new and innovative ways to keep their guys at the top of their game. We’ve featured their footwork drills before and today we are doing a great weight lifting drill for you. Looks challenging, fun, and very effective for some improved arm strength and grip.

And so 1000 Ways To Train For Lacrosse continues…

72. Flipping Weights

Until next time, only 928 to go!

An important note about training: You should always consider your own goals and decide what you want to accomplish during training. Most importantly though, always learn how to properly do an exercise before you start doing it. As very few of us are experts in Sports Science or Medicine, we always recommend doing your own research and finding credible trainers to teach you how to train. Train smart, train safe, train hard, lax on.

1,000 is a big number. Please share your favorite lifts and exercises in the comments section (or email us at info@lacrosseallstars.com) so we can add them to our list and reach the big 1-0-0-0.

The partnership builds on a promotional arrangement the two companies shared last year – the main difference being that this year new, unreleased Easton Lacrosse gear will be used by 3d select teams and displayed front and center at all of 3d’s marquee events.

FLG in 3D Summer Shootout (via 3dlacrosse.com)

Denver Shootout (via 3dlacrosse.com)

Players who attend 3d Lacrosse events this year can expect to get up close and personal with Easton’s new Core line, which includes shafts, a head and gloves, plus the Stealth US and HS heads and the Stealth scandium shaft.

“We will be at all 3d events with demo gear and will be working with all of their teams and coaches to incorporate Easton equipment into their training. The formula is better coaching plus better gear equals better players.” Doug Appleton, General Manager of Easton Lacrosse, explained via email.

This summer, a handful of 3d select teams will get the opportunity to compete using brand new Easton Lacrosse equipment, including Easton’s newest lacrosse helmet, gloves and shafts that won’t be officially released until the fall. The first of these opportunities will occur at the Denver Shootout, 3d’s flagship event. Easton will also have a large presence at 3d’s Spring Break Camp in Florida, the FLG in 3d Summer Shootout this July, and the FLG in 3d Fall Showcase.

See below for the full press release.

—

Press Release

Easton Sports and 3d Lacrosse Team Up to Create
the Next Generation of Elite Lacrosse Players

Partnership Aims to Improve Player Performance and Grow the Sport Nationwide

January 28, 2012 (Van Nuys, CA and Denver, CO) – Easton Sports and 3d Lacrosse share a common vision for helping lacrosse players up their game: better coaching and training plus superior equipment creates better players. It’s a simple yet powerful formula that has already helped thousands of athletes across the country at 3d Lacrosse events sponsored by Easton. So it only makes sense that these two innovators are strengthening their partnership to create a unique player improvement experience at 3d Lacrosse events nationwide.

3d Lacrosse has burst onto the national lacrosse scene as one of the country’s premier lacrosse organizations—specializing in superior training for individuals and teams, exceptional events and tournaments, and select travel teams. Meanwhile, Easton Lacrosse has quickly established itself as a leading innovator of high-caliber equipment including shafts, heads and protective gear for all types of players.

Through the partnership, Easton Lacrosse will be the presenting sponsor of the majority of 3d Lacrosse events and programs, with Easton product experts manning the Easton Gear Booth where players will have the opportunity to demo the latest Easton Lacrosse gear and get tips on what equipment is right for them. Easton will also setup a casual lounge environment focusing on player education and entertainment.

“We are excited to continue our strategic partnership with Easton Lacrosse in 2013,” states Jamie Munro, Chief Executive Officer at 3d Lacrosse. “Our goal at 3d Lacrosse is to make players better, and we believe that part of making players better is using superior equipment.  Easton has an outstanding line up in 2013 of new and innovative products, and we are honored to be part of that roll out and evolution.”

Bringing Sports Engineering to Lacrosse
Easton’s industry-leading innovations in sports engineering and, more specifically, the company’s advanced materials and technologies, have allowed the Easton Lacrosse development team to leverage successes from across Easton Sports in its new lacrosse products. This includes using materials that have gone into the development of Easton’s industry-leading baseball bats to make innovative new lacrosse shafts and designs for hockey protective gear to make some of the fastest and lightest lacrosse gloves on the market.

“Our mission at Easton Lacrosse is to deliver a performance advantage to every player, with products that feature the latest in advanced technology and materials,” said Doug Appleton, General Manager of Easton Lacrosse. “By combining the best in player development and tournament competition with innovative gear and new technology we’ll be rolling out this year, athletes get a premium experience designed to take their game to the next level.”

About Easton Sports
Easton Sports is a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse equipment for both sports professionals and enthusiasts.  Easton Sports focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and performance including the #1 bat in the College World Series®, Women’s College World Series®, Little League World Series®, and Slow-Pitch Softball.  Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton Sports employs over 1,200 people worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, Canada and Sweden.  For further information, please visit www.eastonsports.com.  

About 3d Lacrosse
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, 3d Lacrosse is fast becoming one of the premier training, event, and select club lacrosse operations in the country. Founded by former Division I coach Jamie Munro, 3d Lacrosse has operations, offices, teams and events throughout the nation. Munro earned All America honors at Brown, played professionally, coached at Yale and Denver, is a current men’s Division I analyst on ESPNU and is a regular contributor to Inside Lacrosse. For more information on 3d Lacrosse, please visit www.3dlacrosse.com.