Hey Team,
For the eleven of you who made it to Saturday's 8am practice I want to say GREAT JOB!!!! This was a non-mandatory practice and I realize that many of you had other responsibilities that prevented attendance. It's okay. To the Coaches that joined in the fun, there will be monuments erected in your honor!
If you weren't there, this is what you missed; The weather!!! Wow what a morning. Pulling into the parking lot of BHS at 7:40am was a little creepy. There was a thick bank of fog shrouding the bleachers and out on the turf, alone in the mist, was the silhouette of a lone Lacrosse Player with a bag of balls, working his shooting skills on the net. At first, Wyatt and I thought is was an ancestral ghost of the game. But as we approached we were thrilled to see it was our good friend Andrew working a sweat in the sunny haze of a warm and windless morning.
As the players tricked in promptly at eight, eight o'five, eight o'6, eight o'eight.....(with the exception of Player #2 who was ready for action by 7:50am) We took to the turf, a quick slightly unenthusiastic warm up, a move into some foot work (by now the blood started pumping). On to passing and shooting drills. Followed by 1v.1 with shots on the net. From 1v.1 we transitioned into 3 v. 2 sideways in 1/2 of the restraining box. A quick water break to replenish, since all were in full sweat, still no wind and the sun melting back the fog, not a more beautiful morning could be asked for. From there we launched into a bit of a scrimmage. A couple of penalty calls and a lot of fun!
Warm Up: Warm ups are dynamic, not static. We do this to loosen the muscles and circulate the blood. The motions we demonstrate are useful in our Lacrosse play. This is key to preventing injury. I'm often telling you to bounce, like a fighter ready in the ring before his fight. This charges and loads the the body with energy and keeps the body limber and prepared for action.
Foot Work: Always work on foot work. Steps in all directions, head up, apply stick skills to increase the value of your work.
Passing and Shooting: This when working with another player includes catching. But working this skill alone is very doable. Work your off hand 50% of the time. If not 50% then 60%. Action reaction method is applied to shooting and passing. Push with the top hand and pull with the bottom hand working dynamically together for power. Pointing elbow and shoulder to your target. Receiving Player is to provide a target by putting the head of your stick in the "box position" verbally communicating with the "open" command.
1 v. 1: This drill was fun and essential. we applied the footwork drill with an opponent. Remember the things we focused on. Not letting the Attack beat our defense, staying between the ball and the net, moving the attack away from the center. Shooting skills were worked as well in this drill. Shooting "over the top" right team? Remember what advise our friend Andrew gave us about defending here. The Tufts play off game scenario. (watch this if you have time! The reference that Andrew shared with us is at minuet 13:00, replay @ 26:10).
3 v. 2: Pass Pass Pass. We did this sideways drill confined in 1/2 of the restraing box. This is real life lacrosse. What we wanted to focus on here was drawing-pulling the defense to the ball and opening up an attack/midi for a pass. More on this tuesday! (I promise).
Scrimmage: This was just us having Fun right? Wrong! Sure it was fun, but whether you knew it or not, I was proud to see you moving about the field using the most important skill of communication. "I've got ball" "I've got back" "open". We don't just shout out the ball carriers name, but we give him information that will help him to make a decision.
Well that wraps up today's post. I've added the links to it. Remember to use the links on the previous posts and work on your cradling (top heavy) both dominant and off hands. See you Tuesday hydrated and ready for action.
Peace and Lax,
Coach Josh
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