A Lacrosse Weekend 4.2.22
Welcome to "A Lacrosse Weekend" my weekly compilation of thoughts, ideas, stories, myths, truths, about the great game of lacrosse. I hope you enjoy it!
If you are a men's or women's lacrosse player, coach, or parent, I think you will love the weekly content, videos, and analysis.
Advice To Lacrosse Parents
I work with a ton of individual athletes and their parents to help them plan a strategy and roadmap for two big picture topics: player development and exposure. The biggest piece of advice I give parents is don't listen to what other parents tell you, instead do your homework! Of course, it's always good to hear other people's perspectives, but you are going to run across a lot of opinions on what you should do with your kids for development and exposure coming from people who are not experts.
Many parents played college lacrosse, might have been a great player back in the day or they simply "Know the game" because they're from Baltimore, but that doesn't mean they are experts in player development. Usually, former players do pretty much what they did growing up.
Some parents have credibility because they have kids who have been recruited. It's good to learn their story, but just know that some athletes make recruiting look easy because they're just so gifted. Further, their successfully recruitment is great, but it's a small sample size and often times their advice is outdated. The landscape in recruiting changes rapidly.
How about the parent youth coach who has a lot of clout because he or she has been building a super team since 1st grade and they dominate while their kids are in youth lacrosse. This coach will go undefeated year after year and really have no idea about anything haha.
Some parents will tell you how great their speed training is or their strength training telling you their guy coaches NFL players, even though they have no idea what constitutes a great S&C coach or program.
You'll get advice on what showcases you have to go to, what sports to play.. love it when I hear people say they have their kid running cross country to get in shape.
Other parents might even make you feel bad about your own plan or worry that you're not doing enough because their plan seems so good.
This video from The "one upping" Sports Mom is genius!
The fact is you only have one chance to help your kids follow their dreams and it's important you get it right. The best thing you can do is educate yourself! Gather as much information from the smartest experts you can find, listen to podcasts read blogs, and following the science. There is so much incredible information out there and there is equally as much bad information out there. Don't be fooled into wasting precious time following the advice from the wrong people!
Unscripted Spain Looks
I have been coaching a lot of women's lacrosse over the past few years and this past spring break I had an amazing opportunity to coach a group of JM3 All Stars and Hotchkiss Girls Lacrosse on spring break, installing the Principles Based Offense. For me, coaching on the field is like getting in the lab and I can report that I've learned a lot!
I am SO fired up with the new teaching model I've been using to introduce the Principles Based Offense because it has allowed the the girls to play intuitively and with flow. Look at this amazing Spain action occur which occurred organically with a group of girls who had literally played together for this one day.
This sequence includes a Ram Screen (off ball pick before on ball pick) to a Repick (Pick, slip, carry and repick / slip) to a Spain (pick for the picker). The sickest thing is I would have never thought of this way of doing a Spain! By not restricting players they will come up with endless actions!
Below is another action that occurred naturally through the very basic instructions of picking on and off ball.
Here we see a Ram Screen (off ball pick before on ball pick) to a Spain (pick the picker).
If you want more information on how you could get your team running actions this naturally without scripting and plays, sign up for the jM3 Coaches Training Program and learn Principles Based Lacrosse.
Shooting on Dad
Two years ago in Covid Quarantine I started doing a lot of Backyard Lacrosse with my kids and one of the kids's favorite activities was Shooting on Dad! In all seriousness, this is by far one of the most powerful ways to get better and it is very fun! There are literally endless ways to finish yet 99% of kids get very little opportunity to dive deep into finishing.
Have your kids been able to Dive Deep into finishing?
The reason most kids haven't is because you need a goalie to learn how to finish and most kids don't have a goalie available. Of course dad is always available!
Question: who's going to b harder to score on: Dad in a 3'6'' x 3'6'' net or your varsity goalie in a 6v6 net? The answer is dad in the little net, with a goalie stick playing box style.
I promise you, if your kids finish on dad for 10 minutes a few times per week, you will see amazing progress in their ability to finish with all kinds of different shots!
When you see a finish like this sick hard pump twister and you wonder how to learn it, play shooting on dad in the back yard!
Below is a slick little BTB fake to a far side finish!
Learn more about how to implement levels of development through the various programs and systems from JM3 Sports.
Have a great weekend!